Treating facial scars is about more than replacing the look of smooth, evenly toned skin. Scars form when a wound damages multiple layers of skin--in addition to cosmetic damage, there may also be muscle, tissue or nerve damage. Surgery can restore normal facial movement and function, in addition to improving your physical appearance and boosting your self-confidence.
Types
The type of scar you have dictates the type of surgery you need. According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, keloid scars--thick, glossy bundles of collagen that often spill over a wound site--can be treated with steroid injections to shrink them, followed by surgery to remove them entirely. To treat a burn victim's puckered "contracture" scars, surgeons remove the scar and close the incision with flaps of healthy skin in a procedure called a "Z-plasty." For extensive scarring or cases where skin is too damaged to heal properly, doctors may take a portion of healthy skin from somewhere else on the body and graft it onto the scarred area.
Closure Techniques
To keep facial scarring to a minimum, surgeons use a technique called "layered closure" to seal their incisions. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, doctors fill the incision with layers of non-removable sutures designed to break down naturally. When the layers reach your skin's surface, your surgeon closes the wound. Depending on where the scar is situated, your surgeon can even reposition it to a less noticeable location, called "complex flap closure."
Surface Treatments
Surgery isn't the only way to treat facial scars. Cosmetic surgeons can treat smaller scars or simple discolorations with non-invasive techniques that alter the surface of the skin. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, these treatments include skin bleaching, chemical peels, dermabrasion and light or laser therapy. These techniques may be used in conjunction with surgery or alone, although more than one session may be required to treat dark or deep scars.
Scars and Topical Treatment
You may have read accounts of people treating their scars with topical vitamin E. Although Internet forums are full of people who claim it works, the University of Maryland Medical Center warns against it. They write that although topical steroids, anesthetics and antihistamines can help with itching and other scar-related discomfort, there is no proof that vitamin E speeds healing or aids in scar prevention.
Considerations
According to the Cleveland Clinic, most scars fade on their own over time. They suggest you wait at least one year before deciding to undergo surgery. If your scar does fade or shrink, you may be able to treat it with non-surgical procedures instead. They also note that no scar can be removed completely. It's important to manage your expectations before undergoing any surgical procedure. Even after surgery, it may take as long as a full year to see visible improvement.
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