Scar revision

Scars occur when skin integrity is damaged and the body heals an injury. Normal scars appear skin colored, flat and smooth. Abnormal scars, such as hypertrophic and keloid scars, result from abnormal healing signals which cause excess scar formation. Treatment for scars include non-surgical and surgical methods. Massage, scar reduction creams, silicone gel, ultrasound, radiation, and steroid injection are non-surgical techniques used to improve the appearance of scars. Laser treatments are sometimes effective in reducing the appearance of pigmented scars. Scars can be improved with surgery which removes excess scar and repositions scars so that they are less noticeable. It is not possible to eliminate scars completely. Some scar revisions are covered by insurance, but many revision procedures are considered cosmetic.