Scar Removal

Scar removal attempts to lessen the visibility of a scar so that it blends in with its surrounding skin tone and texture.

Scars are visible marks that remain when a wound has healed. They can be the result of injury, burns, surgery, self-harm, acne or chickenpox. Some scars heal better than others.

A good scar fades significantly over time and blends in with the healthy skin around it. A poor scar, such as a keloid or hypertrophic scar, will fade but stay visible and may cause skin irritation. Scars may be noticeable due to their size, shape, colour, texture, location or if they are raised or depressed.

There are different options for scar removal treatment which may be used depending on the type and extent of scarring. They include:

• Silicone gels or sheets - to help soften and flatten a scar and relieve itching and discomfort.
• Steroids – to reduce any swelling and flatten a scar. They are used to treat some keloid and hypertrophic scars.
• Laser skin resurfacing – can reduce redness and make pitted scars flatter. It removes your skin’s top layers to stimulate deeper-layer collagen production.
• Cryotherapy – uses liquid nitrogen to freeze keloid scars in the early stages to help flatten them and stop their growth.
• Dermal fillers – inject substances into pitted scars to plump them up.
• Skin needling – rolls a small device with hundreds of tiny needles across your skin to improve scar appearance.
• Pressure dressings – to flatten and soften large burn scars or skin graft scars.
• Skin creams – such as Vitamin E cream or a moisturiser massaged into your scar can help manage it.
• Scar removal surgery – to make your scar look more natural and less conspicuous. It can also

improve the movement of a tight scar near a joint and reduce pain and itchiness. Surgical scar removal, also known as scar revision surgery or scar reduction surgery, is usually the most effective treatment for reducing noticeable and unsightly scarring.

Scar removal surgery can surgically cut the scar out or place skin grafts of healthy skin from another area of your body over your wound.

Scar marks cannot be completely removed but they can be made less visible.

During your scar revision consultation, your cosmetic surgeon will:

• examine your scar in detail as well as the thickness, colour and elasticity of your surrounding skin
• find out about your general health, previous surgeries and any drugs, medications and supplements you take
• tell you about your scar removal options and recommend a treatment plan
• discuss the likely outcome of your scar removal
• advise you of any scar removal treatment risks or potential complications.

You will also have the opportunity to discuss any questions you may have about your scar removal.

The costs of scar removal vary from patient to patient. They will depend on the scar removal treatment and your Ramsay hospital of choice.

You will receive a formal quotation price for your scar removal after your consultation with one of our cosmetic surgeons. This formal quote will be valid for 60 days.

The costs of your scar removal may be covered by medical insurance. Health insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery procedures, but procedures to minimise scarring from an injury or to improve movement may be covered. We advise you get written confirmation from your insurance provider before your scar removal treatment.

If you are paying for yourself, we offer a variety of payment options including interest-free finance.

The recovery process after scar removal will be individual for each patient and depend on your treatment.

Non-surgical techniques such as dermal fillers will require minimal recovery. After a dermal filler treatment, you can resume most activities right away, apart from intense physical activity which you should avoid for the first 24 to 48 hours to minimize swelling and bruising. You will see immediate results that continue to improve over time.

After scar removal surgery, you can go home the same day. You may take pain relief medication. You should rest for a couple of days before going back to work. Avoid any activities that could put tension or pressure on your operated scar area. You should keep out of the sun for several months after treatment and then use sunblock or cover-up. The full results will be visible after 12 to 24 months.

At Ramsay Health Care, we work with highly skilled cosmetic and plastic surgeons to reduce the visibility of scars. Our scar removal treatments aim to improve the cosmetic appearance of your scar, restore function to a part of the body that may have been restricted by the scar, or make a scar less itchy.

We offer a range of scar removal treatments including dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing, and scar revision surgery.

Our expert surgeons will examine your scar and offer treatment advice and recommendations to give your scar the best cosmetic appearance and function.