You are not born with it, but sooner or later your once-perfect skin may develop scar tissue. It is the body’s way of healing broken skin that results from accidents, surgery, acne or certain disease. Unfortunately, this natural repair job may not turn out as cleanly as you would like, particularly if the scar is large and conspicuous. Fortunately, cosmetic surgeons can often take over where nature left off.

Naturally, smaller, less noticeable scars are best left alone. Candidates for scar revision include those whose scars distort eyebrows, lips or nostrils; scars that produce deformity when contracted, such as those that lie across natural creases; and those curved in the shape of a “U” or “J.” Scars should be given a fair amount of time to heal on their own. Often, the scar which first appears to be unalterably disfiguring eventually turns out to be a fine, smooth line that is easy to tolerate. However, if after six months the scar is still unacceptable – aesthetically as well as emotionally – cosmetic surgery could be the best course.

The goal of scar revision is to render slightly disfiguring scars smaller and less noticeable. They can be narrowed, flattened, repositioned into less conspicuous places, even their direction can be altered. The particular technique selected depends upon the type of scar, its location and the patient’s individual characteristics. The best time to perform this procedure is when the scar is white and soft. It can be extremely gratifying for the surgeon and patient alike, although final results may not appear for several months. Unlike other cosmetic procedures in which the surgeon controls scar placement, the location of incisions in these cases has been predetermined by fate. What can not be moved must therefore be carefully modified. Sometimes damage is so extensive that repair must be carried out in several stages over a period of months.

Surgical scar revision seeks to turn noticeable scars into fine lines that match the adjacent skin as closely as possible in color, texture and thickness. It must be clearly understood at the outset that scars can not be completely removed – only improved, so as to be less apparent.

Indeed, many prominent scars have been rendered almost invisible after scar repair. The key word is “almost.” Because surgical incisions are subject to the same healing processes as any other cut, there will always be some trace of the original injury. Whenever skin is broken, scar tissue is formed. And, whether the cut was made by accident or a surgeon, the period of maturation will be the same: six to twelve months.