Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Magazine #68

feature
Scars no longer
have to be a lifelong
legacy. Tara
Casey investigates
the different types
of scars and their
treatments.
Scars are often an inevitable part of surgery, as well as accidents, some
diseases and skin conditions such as acne.
Most scars fade over time, usually over a period of a year to 18 months,
although some can mark our bodies permanently.
Studies suggest one in three scars becomes a permanent, often unsightly
fixture with a raised ridge of hard tissue. Some can even continue to grow long
into the healing process. One study found that nine out of 10 people who had
undergone a routine surgical procedure within the past six to 12 months were
unhappy with their residual scars.
But the good news is that with advances in scientific research and medical
technology, scars no longer have to be a lifelong legacy. While it is important
to have realistic expectations about scarring with any kind of cosmetic
procedure, you should also be aware of the scar treatment techniques available
today which can significantly reduce the appearance of a scar – both before
and after it has healed.
What is a scar?
Any wound that penetrates through the epidermis and into the dermis will cause
scarring. However, the severity of the scar depends on the success of the skin’s
repair response and the behaviour of your collagen.
Collagen is the fibre-like protein that aids healing of skin and wounds by
adhering together. In normal, healthy skin, the bundles of collagen are in a woven
criss-cross pattern. The best case is when the epidermis around the edges of
the wound closes together with the gluey collagen, staying flat and occupying
the narrowest possible level surface.
The worst-case scenario is when cells that repair the hole in the skin, known
as fibroblasts, go into overdrive and a whole new system of blood vessels is set
up to cater to the scar – triggering a collagen overload. Instead of neat criss-cross
patterns, bundles of collagen form rigid, parallel lines, sometimes gluing layers of
tissue and tendon together and forming lumps. The collagen also overflows onto
the skin surface, creating rubbery scars that smother healthy tissue.
Exactly why this happens with some scars and not with others is not fully
understood. A wound does not become a scar until the skin has healed
completely. After the wound has healed, a scar continues to alter as new collagen
is formed and the blood vessels return to normal. This is the reason most scars
will fade and improve over the two years following an injury to the skin. However,
there will always be some visible evidence of the injury, and hair follicles and
sweat glands do not grow back.
Why do we scar?
There are a number of possible answers to this question when it comes to
undergoing a surgical procedure and bearing subsequent scarring. Poor surgical
technique can contribute, so it’s important to select an experienced doctor with
a good reputation. An individual’s genetic predisposition also weighs in, as
does the location of the wound. Certain areas are likely to trigger worse scars,
particularly those above moving joints.
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