One of the most common questions we get regarding ANY procedure is, “Will it leave a scar?”
Scarring can certainly be a byproduct of a variety of cosmetic procedures, but if your facial plastic surgeon is skilled enough, the scar will be either completely invisible or nearly undetectable.
Doctor Jean-Paul Azzi, a Palm Beach double board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, understands the importance of looking good to feel good. He is an expert in minimizing the appearance of scars and his patients can’t believe the lack of scarring after their procedures.
Arrows point to facelift incision line
Arrows point to Lip Lift incision line
Arrows point to Mohs reconstruction area
Let’s dive in to scarring, in general, a little more. There are a variety of different types of scars, which can include discoloration and surface irregularities, hypertrophic scars, keloids, and contractures.
Discoloration and surface irregularities are the most-subtle types of scars and are identifiable by the darker pigmentation of the skin or extreme textured patches.
Hypertrophic scars are often red and raised having the capability of widening over time. Hypertrophic scars are thick clusters of scar tissue that develop in a wound site.
Keloids can be painful or itchy and often pucker beyond the edges of a wound. Although keloids have the ability to grow anywhere on the body, they typically develop in areas where there is little underlying fatty tissue, like the neck or shoulders.
Finally, contractures are scars that actually restrict the movement due to skin and underlying tissue that pull together during the healing process.
The most important thing to remember is to listen to what your doctor tells you to do, especially throughout the healing process – do not deviate from this. After you’ve healed, however, you may notice a scar has a formed and this is when you will have options. Of course, there’s over-the-counter creams, ointments and gels. This route tends to work best for scars that are made by shallow cuts or incisions. Before using any kind of ointment or cream it is important to consult your plastic surgeon just in case they prefer to give you a prescription version of an ointment or gel. Prescription ointments can include ingredients like steroids that OTC options might not offer.
Next, there’s the surgical removal process which may be a good option for scars that manifested due to deeper cuts. Surgical removal or treatment can mean laser surgery or skin grafting. If a scar is impairing the functionality of certain areas of your body, surgery may be the best option. Plastic surgeons do generally advise patients wait at least one year before making this type of decision about a scar because certain scars can change over time, as previously discussed.
Finally, scars can be treated via injection. These types of injections typically contain steroids and are great for treating protruding scars like keloids or hypertrophic scars. If you have a scar that gives the skin a pitted appearance, fillers may be used to fill the depressed area.
Dr. Azzi’s beautiful offices are conveniently located in Jupiter and Palm City, Florida. These offices serve patients in the following South Florida areas and beyond: Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Tequesta, Hobe Sound, Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach and Vero Beach.
Our offices provide every patient with personalized care. If you’re not sure whether a procedure is the best next step, call or click today for a consultation! (561) 429-5403