As an Asian plastic surgeon, Dr. Edmund Kwan is accustomed to working with many different types of patients. This matters when it comes to scar removal treatment in Fort Lee NJ. There are many different types of scars. Some patients are more susceptible to certain scars due to their skin type or color. Knowing the true nature of any condition is the first step in developing an effective treatment plan and minimizing the risks of side effects from treatment, which are associated with some skin types.
The anatomy of a scar
Nearly everyone gets at least one scar. Many times, there are stories behind these scars. Some of those stories may be painful, and you don’t want to be reminded of those memories every time you look in the mirror. They’re so prevalent because scars occur in response to damage to your skin. Throughout the course of your life, even the most graceful among us can get into a scrape or take a tumble. Some conditions like acne and chickenpox can also leave scars.
As part of the healing process, your body makes new tissue. Damage that goes deeper than the top layer of your skin creates tissue that is thicker as the wound heals. This thick tissue stands out from the surrounding skin and is what you know to be your scar. Scars tend to change color as they age, becoming lighter or darker than their original pink-red hue.
A Board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Kwan is skilled at minimizing the appearance of even the most hard-to-treat scars. Your doctor understands many scars can be quite visible, and knows that when the scar is treated, confidence and quality of life are also healed.
- Raised scars – When your body makes too much collagen during the healing process, hypertrophic or keloid scars form. These areas are elevated above the surrounding skin. Hypertrophic scarring tends to form on the chest, back, and shoulders and can flatten over months or years. Unlike other raised scars, keloid scars can be much more prominent because they grow beyond the wound that created the scar in the first place. Keloids may appear several months after the skin was first injured; for example, a keloid that appears as a large mass on the earlobe can form well after a patient’s ears are pierced or sustain other injury. Keloids can be very bothersome as well as hard-to-miss; as they expand, you may experience pain and itching. All raised scars have the potential to limit your mobility, especially if it forms over the elbow or shoulder or grows well beyond the site of injury. Unlike hypertrophic scars, keloids never fully go away on their own without medical intervention.
- Depressed scars – Also known as atrophic scarring, depressed scars arise when too little tissue is present during the healing process. The resulting scars sit underneath the surface of the skin and appear as sunken areas or pits. They often develop on the face, and acne and chickenpox are frequently to blame. Acne can produce both icepick and boxcar scars. The former look like small holes, while the latter are rounded or oval – like scarring from chickenpox.
Treating what nature can’t heal on its own
Scars are complex. Don’t trust the beauty and health of your appearance to just any clinician promoting “scar removal.” The right treatment for you depends, in part, on the type of scar. It’s also important for Dr. Kwan to rule out insidious conditions that can resemble innocuous scars, such as some types of skin cancers.
After your consultation, surgery may be recommended if you have a large keloid or a scar that has limited your mobility due to its size or location. Injectable steroids or other medications can reduce or flatten scars and relieve itching and pain. The use of silicone gel helps to both prevent scarring after surgical procedures, as well as reducing the size, firmness, swelling, and redness of existing scars. The gel adhesive is applied after the wound closes and must be used daily, often for months.
While scars come in many different forms, the offices of Edmund Kwan, M.D. have many different types of treatment available and suited to your needs. Free yourself of the physical and emotional scars. To schedule a consultation at the Fort Lee office, call (201) 992 6742 .