Why Do Scars Form?

Scars and marks on the skin are a reality of life for many of us. When the skin is wounded due to an injury that penetrates through the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) and into the dermis below, the body responds to repair the damage. 

Scars form as part of the natural healing process after the skin has been injured. Acne scars and scars from injuries or surgeries But, we don’t necessarily have to live with a scar that affects our appearance and esteem. We must be patient and allow the body to heal. Once the healing is complete, however, we can give nature a little help with scar removal or revision. 

This healing process can be broken down into several key stages:

  • Hemostasis (Stopping the Bleed): Almost immediately after an injury, blood vessels constrict to reduce bleeding, and platelets create clots to seal the wound.
  • Inflammation: Following hemostasis, the area becomes inflamed, which is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and sometimes pain. This is the body’s way of removing damaged cells, pathogens, or irritants from the wound area. 
  • Proliferation: After the inflammation stage, the body begins to repair the damage by generating new, healthy tissue. Fibroblasts (a special type of cell) migrate to the scar area where they produce collagen and other proteins to form new tissue to close the wound. 
  • Maturation (or Remodeling): This last phase can last for months or even years in some cases. During maturation, the newly formed collagen is remodeled to increase the strength of the wound. Over time the new tissue gradually gains strength and flexibility. 

How Can Scars Be Removed or Revised?

Tissue that forms is made up of the same protein (collagen) as the tissue it replaces, but the fiber composition of the protein is different; instead of a random basketweave formation of the collagen fibers found in normal tissue, in scar tissue, the collagen cross-links and aligns in a single direction. This results in a tissue that is thicker, less flexible, and can have a different color than the surrounding skin tissue. Scars form because the body cannot always rebuild the exact original architecture of the skin or tissue, leading to a visible mark.

Scar Removal vs Scar Revision — What’s the Difference?

Total scar removal isn’t always possible. However, we can often reduce the signs of a scar so substantially that it’s barely noticeable. Scar revision is similar, but usually delivers somewhat less dramatic results — the goal being to diminish the visibility of a scar as much as possible. 

Scar removal and scar revision present a valuable opportunity to meaningfully reduce the signs of scarring and improve your overall look and the way you feel about yourself. 

Scar Removal Options Include:

  • Laser Treatment: At The Herschthal Practice, we use lasers to reduce the color and prominence of scars by removing the damaged outer layer of skin and stimulating collagen production. Laser treatment can be effective for many types of scars, including removing acne scars. 
  • Surgical Removal: For more prominent scars, such as keloid or hypertrophic scars, a surgeon might cut out the scar tissue and close the incision in a way that leaves a significantly less visible scar.
  • Dermabrasion: Similar to laser treatment, this procedure removes the top layers of skin with a special device (rather than a laser) to make the scar less visible.

Scar Revision Options Include: 

  • Surgical Revision: A scar revision procedure consists of surgically removing visible scar tissue and re-closing the wound. Ideally, this is done in such a way that tension along the skin is reduced thereby minimizing the new scar’s visibility.
  • Z-Plasty and Other Tissue Rearrangement: These surgical methods work by changing the direction of a scar or redistributing the tension by creating flaps, which can lessen the scar’s visibility. 
  • Injectable Treatments: Dermal fillers are remarkably versatile. In addition to lessening fine lines and wrinkles, fillers can be used to raise depressed scars to the level of surrounding skin, diminishing their appearance.

Scar Removal at The Herschthal Practice

The compassionate professionals at The Herschthal Practice are dedicated to wellness. Our main objective is to help our clients look and feel their very best. We pride ourselves on treating every client as we would a family member.  

We invite you to contact us with any questions about scar removal or revision today. 

If you would like a consultation or ask about our services, please call us at (561) 391-9200 or simply follow this link to book your consultation.