Can Plastic Surgery Really Get Rid Of Your Stubborn Acne Scars?
Was aggressive acne a common visitor during your teenage years? Perhaps it left a few reminders that followed you into adulthood. The severity of acne scars can vary significantly. For some people, the light scars left behind by their acne aren't even recognizable as scarring. For others, the imperfections on the skin can still be all too conspicuous. You may have tried certain methods for having them removed, such as various skin peels and perhaps even botox or other injectables. But the results may have been ultimately unsatisfying. Have you ever thought about how plastic surgery can permanently consign your scars to history?
Scar Tissue
You might have been hesitant to explore plastic surgery as an option, maybe because it seems excessive for something like scarring. After all, plastic surgery is more commonly associated with nose jobs, facelifts, and other similar procedures. But plastic surgery is a wide-ranging medical discipline and has a number of specific procedures developed for the removal of unsightly scar tissue.
Goals
During a consultation with a surgeon, your goals will be discussed. Your surgeon will then formulate a treatment plan that will help you to achieve these goals. In some cases, a variety of different treatment methods may be employed, and the actual approach will vary depending on your needs and the prominence and depth of your scarring. What are some of the treatment methods that might be utilized?
Subcision
Facial scarring can be prominent because the upper layer of skin (the dermis) is attached to the damaged scar tissue in the underlying subcutaneous layer. Releasing the dermis from these damaged tissues can restore the surface appearance of your skin. This process is called subcision. A small needle is inserted beneath the dermis and used to release this upper layer from the scarred subcutaneous layer. No incisions are needed, and the only sign of the procedure is the puncture marks made by the needle, which quickly heal. Your skin will need time to recover before being reassessed, and you may need several sessions of dermal subcision.
Punch Excision
When a scar is too deep for subcision to yield the desired results, a slightly more involved method called punch excision may be recommended. A surgical punch punctures the dermis, removing both the upper layer and the scar tissues located in the subcutaneous layer. These multiple hole punches will result in numerous small wounds on your skin. Suturing is required after punch excision, but after healing, both your acne scars and the effects of the excision process will be gone.
Plastic surgery isn't only for major procedures and may prove to offer the most effective solution for your acne scars.
Contact a plastic surgeon to learn more.