Although scarring frequently results from skin healing from injury or damage, scars are often permanent. If they are on certain parts of the body, covering them up or trying to hide them can be a nuisance or, in some cases, impossible. By using laser energy, doctors and aestheticians can significantly reduce the appearance of scars.
During a short, in-office treatment session, your doctor will use a handheld device to focus laser energy on and around the targeted scar. When ablative lasers are used, the laser energy removes the top layer of skin, and giving your skin a “restart” around the scar will allow it to heal more even than before, creating a more even-looking skin tone and texture.
Non-ablative lasers, on the other hand, heat the skin cells below the surface. This helps stimulate collagen growth and trigger a healing process that can reduce the appearance of mild or superficial scars.
In both cases, patients need a series of laser treatments to get the full benefit. However, the convenience of the short in-office treatments means minimal disruption to your life.
A Z-Plasty procedure might be the best option for more severe and visible scars. A Z-Plasty is a slightly more invasive surgical procedure that can be completed in 1 to 3 hours and is performed in an outpatient center. Although it is more invasive than laser treatments, it is often more successful when addressing more prominent and visible scars.
Although both treatment methods are very successful and reduce the appearance of scars, each patient is different in how they will respond. The scarring may not be entirely removed but will be significantly less visible.
Call the team at American Surgical Arts Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Mullica Hill, NJ, at 856-362-8898 or visit www.americansurgicalarts.com to schedule a consultation to see how you can reduce the appearance of any unwanted scar.