Each time that skin is cut, healing occurs by scar formation. As plastic surgeons we are focused on producing the very best possible scars, regardless of whether the surgical procedure is of a reconstructive or cosmetic nature.

Many factors influence the final quality of a scar and of these the most important are the surgical design and execution, an individual’s genetic makeup, and the post-operative care and attention.

I hope the information provided in this section can assist you in obtaining the best possible outcome for your skin.

What you should know about scars

The body heals any wound by producing scar tissue. This new scar tissue is red and firm and reaches its peak production at around 4-6 weeks. Hence scars are often at their worst in terms of being red, raised and tight at this time. This is due to the fact that the body’s normal healing response is to make more scar tissue than is absolutely necessary.

Fortunately for us, scars subsequently enter a “maturation” process where the excessive scar tissue is gradually removed and remodeled. You will notice that by 3 months the scar has softened and become increasingly pale. This full maturation process takes 6 to 12 months, depending on the body location and the skin type of the individual. The ideal result is a fine, flat and pale scar.