Scars are a natural part of the healing process, but that does not mean you have to love how your scars look or feel. A scar may be raised, discolored, and more noticeable than you’d like, especially following a serious injury, surgery, or other trauma to the skin. In some cases, a scar can also cause tightness or discomfort.
At Ashpole Plastic Surgery, we offer scar revision with a focus on careful evaluation, personalized treatment planning, and natural-looking results. Led by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Bradley Ashpole, our practice can address scars using both surgical and non-surgical techniques based on the type of scar, its location, and your skin.
The goal of scar revision is not to erase a scar completely. Instead, treatment can make it less noticeable and help it blend more naturally with the surrounding skin.
If you have a scar that bothers you, call (847) 884-8346 to schedule a consultation and find out which treatment options may be right for you.
What Is Scar Revision?
Scar revision refers to treatments used to improve the appearance of a scar. Because scars can develop in many different ways, there is no single treatment that works for everyone.
Some scars can be thick or raised. Others spread beyond the original wound or heal with a different color or texture than the surrounding skin. A scar can also become depressed below the surface or pull on nearby tissue.
During your consultation, Dr. Ashpole will evaluate characteristics such as the scar’s size, depth, texture, color, location, and age. He will also consider how your skin originally healed before recommending treatment.
Depending on these factors, your options may include scar revision surgery, laser treatment, injections, or another approach.
What Types of Scars Can Be Revised?
Scar revision can be considered for many types of scars, including scars left by previous surgery, injuries, burns, acne, or other skin trauma.
Treatment may be helpful for:
- Raised or thick scars
- Wide or stretched scars
- Depressed or indented scars
- Scars with uneven texture or discoloration
- Hypertrophic scars that remain raised within the original wound
- Keloids that grow beyond the boundaries of the original injury
- Scars that restrict movement or cause physical discomfort
What works for one type of scar may not work for another. This is one reason a professional evaluation is so important before deciding on scar removal or revision treatment.
Scar Revision Surgery
Scar revision surgery may be recommended when a scar’s shape, width, position, or depth cannot be adequately improved with a surface treatment alone.
During surgery, Dr. Ashpole may remove the existing scar and carefully close the area again using techniques intended to create a finer and less noticeable scar. More complex scars may require additional techniques to change the scar’s direction, release tight tissue, or improve how the surrounding skin comes together.
Placement also matters. Whenever possible, a revised scar can be positioned to follow natural skin creases or lines, helping it become less noticeable as it heals.
Scar revision surgery still creates a scar because every surgical incision must heal. The objective is to replace a more noticeable or problematic scar with one that heals in a more favorable way.
If you are considering surgical scar revision, call Ashpole Plastic Surgery at (847) 884-8346 to schedule a personalized consultation.
Laser Scar Revision and Laser Scar Removal
Not every scar requires surgery. Laser scar revision may be appropriate when the primary concerns involve color, texture, or surface irregularities.
Laser energy can be used to target damaged skin and encourage the body’s natural remodeling process. Depending on the technology used and the characteristics of your scar, treatment may help soften uneven texture, reduce discoloration, or make the scar less noticeable compared with the surrounding skin.
Although patients sometimes refer to these treatments as laser scar removal, lasers do not literally erase a scar. Instead, treatment is intended to improve its appearance. Some scars require a series of laser sessions, while others may respond better to surgery or a combination of treatments.
In addition to laser treatment, we may recommend other skin treatments, such as Morpheus8, microneedling with PRP, or Erbium laser resurfacing to improve the texture of your skin.
Ashpole Plastic Surgery offers advanced laser and skin resurfacing technology, giving our team several options when developing a treatment plan. Your consultation allows us to determine whether laser treatment, surgical revision, or another technique makes the most sense for your particular scar.
Choosing the Right Scar Revision Treatment
One of the most important parts of successful scar treatment is knowing when to use each technique. A raised scar, for example, may require a very different approach from an indented surgical scar or an area of discoloration.
At Ashpole Plastic Surgery, treatment begins with an evaluation rather than a predetermined procedure. Dr. Ashpole will examine your scar and explain what can realistically be improved. If more than one option is appropriate, you will have the opportunity to understand the advantages and limitations of each before deciding how to proceed.
This individualized approach is especially valuable for patients searching for a scar revision specialist because scar treatment often requires an understanding of both the skin and the deeper anatomy beneath it.
Why Choose Ashpole Plastic Surgery for Scar Revision?
Ashpole Plastic Surgery offers a boutique approach to cosmetic and reconstructive care with an emphasis on thoughtful planning, surgical precision, and attentive support throughout your treatment journey.
Dr. Bradley Ashpole is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. His background in both plastic and reconstructive surgery allows him to evaluate a scar not only for how it looks, but also for how the underlying tissue has healed.
For patients who require surgery, our practice has an on-site QUAD A-accredited surgical facility designed to provide a private and comfortable experience while meeting rigorous standards for patient safety.
We also offer surgical and non-surgical aesthetic treatments under one roof. That flexibility allows your treatment to be based on what your scar actually needs rather than being limited to a single technique.
Call (847) 884-8346 to schedule your consultation and learn more about your scar revision options.
What Is Recovery Like After Scar Revision?
Recovery depends on the treatment you receive. After surgical revision, you may have temporary swelling, tenderness, or bruising around the treatment area. Dr. Ashpole will provide instructions for caring for your incision and let you know when you can return to exercise and other activities.
Recovery after laser scar revision is typically different. Depending on the type and intensity of treatment, you may experience temporary redness, sensitivity, swelling, or peeling as the skin heals.
Scar improvement also takes time. A newly revised scar can initially appear red or prominent before gradually softening and fading. Your final outcome may continue to develop for several months as the tissue remodels.
Following your aftercare instructions, protecting the area from the sun, and allowing enough time for healing can all play an important role in your results.
Can Scar Revision Completely Remove a Scar?
It is important to have realistic expectations about scar removal. No treatment can guarantee that a scar will disappear completely.
Instead, scar revision is intended to make the scar significantly less noticeable. Depending on the original scar, that could mean making it narrower, flatter, smoother, less discolored, or better aligned with the surrounding skin.
During your consultation, Dr. Ashpole can explain what degree of improvement is realistic for your scar so you can make an informed decision about treatment.
Schedule a Scar Revision Consultation
You do not have to guess which scar treatment is right for you. Whether you are interested in scar revision surgery, laser scar revision, or another approach, an evaluation can help you understand why your scar healed the way it did and what can realistically be done to improve it.
At Ashpole Plastic Surgery, Dr. Bradley Ashpole will take the time to evaluate your scar and develop a treatment plan based on your skin, anatomy, and goals.
Call (847) 884-8346 today to schedule your consultation and learn more about your options for improving the appearance of your skin.
