Effective Removal Of Acne Scars

Acne can cause scarring when the lesions fail to heal properly. An acne scar may need to be removed for cosmetic purposes, but the removal of a scar can also restore function to the affected body part. For example, scar tissue on a joint may prevent that joint from moving freely. Dermatologists frequently remove a scar by performing a surgical procedure known as a scar revision.

Fusiform Excision

A fusiform excision involves making an incision around the scar in the shape of an ellipse. The surgeon then removes the scar and stitches the resulting wound closed. The scar from the incision should be much thinner than the original scar and can be hidden by reorienting the surgical scar.

Local Flap Coverage

The surgeon may use flaps of surrounding skin to fill the excised area. This allows the surgeon to break up the lines of the scar in order to make it less noticeable. Local flaps may also be used to camouflage scars by moving them into natural folds of skin.

Flap Types

The shape of the flap used in a scar revision is named after the letter it resembles. For example, a Z-plasty resembles the letter Z and is used to elongate the tissue. The length of the central limb of the Z determines the gain in tissue length. A W-plasty is primarily used to modify the orientation of a long, narrow scar. A W-plasty will shorten the length of the scar and require the surgeon to sacrifice skin.

Tissue Expanders

Tissue expanders are small bladders that are inserted under the skin and gradually inflated. This stretches the skin to provide the surgeon with more flexibility in shifting the position of the surgical scar. Tissue expanders are most common for scars on the neck and head where the availability of usable skin is often limited.

Shave Excision

Shave excision is a technique that involves shaving an elevated scar parallel to the surface of the skin. The wound is then dressed with compressive and silicone dressings to prevent the treatment area from scarring again. Shave excision is commonly used for removing raised scars.