New device developed that could minimise cosmetic surgery scars
All cosmetic surgery procedures, whether they are to the face, breasts or body, entail making incisions in the skin and, therefore, scarring is an inevitable side-effect of the surgical operation you decide to embark on. Even though scars can fade and flatten over time, it is not possible for them to disappear completely.
This is why new developments in how to minimise cosmetic surgery scarring are always greeted with interest and researchers in the US have developed a device that will help cosmetic surgeons plot their incisions.
However, it can also be very difficult to predict how a patient will scar as it depends on their body’s unique healing response, but there are certain steps that can be taken to ensure optimal scar healing, on behalf of both the patient and the surgeon.
How your cosmetic surgeon approaches scarring
The first step is to take a full medical history during the pre-surgery consultation because there are certain pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer or thyroid problems, that could affect how the patient heals.
Mr Alan Park will also ask how any previous scars have healed. If you have a susceptibility to keloid scarring than it may be advisable to avoid surgery or for your post-surgery scar management to be considered beforehand.
Mr Park will carefully plan your cosmetic surgery procedure, particularly in terms of placement of the incisions. For example, the incisions of a facelift will be made in the hairline or follow the face’s natural creases. A tummy tuck incision is a lengthy scar that stretches from hip to hip, so the incision is made below the bikini line.
The skin is made up of lines of cells which stretch in one direction and Mr Park will use his knowledge of these lines of tension to plot the incisions as wounds heal better and produce less scarring when a cut is made along the direction of the aligned collagen. This new device, developed in the US, proposes to quickly scan the skin and indicate exactly how the collagen is aligned and might be of use in the future.
What you can do to minimise cosmetic surgery scarring
Post-surgical infection can affect the healing process, so if you notice the wound is not healing well or there is discharge, swelling or pain, then make an appointment with our medical team to check all is well.
The most important step you can take to promote good scarring post-procedure is to stop smoking. Nicotine constricts the blood vessels which means there is less oxygen reaching the wound and this can affect the healing process. A healthy diet of foods rich in iron, zinc and vitamin C is also recommended.
Wearing a specially-designed compression garment in the post-surgery period is also recommended as it supports wound integrity as you heal and can prevent the overgrowth of scarring tissue.
During your cosmetic surgery consultation, Mr Alan Park will discuss the potential scarring that you can expect as well as give advice on how best to promote the healing process and minimise scarring. Call 01926 436341 to arrange your cosmetic surgery consultation.
