Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Magazine #68

scarring
Ask
the facial
plastic surgeon
SYDNEY ENT AND FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON
DR ALAN EVANS EXPLAINS HIS APPROACH TO REDUCING
SCARRING IN AESTHETIC SURGERY.
How important is scar minimisation as part of your
work as a facial plastic surgeon?
Scar minimisation is crucial, it is the signature an artist puts on his
painting. It appears to be the one single aspect of surgery that raises the
most concerns in the patient.
Almost all patients invariably raise concerns about the scar when
undergoing any form of surgery, let alone aesthetic surgery.
Stratamed is a
breakthrough in
post-procedure care
and abnormal scar
therapy
How do you approach surgery in order to minimise
scarring?
The patient’s personal history relating to their skin type, thickness and
previous keloids should be checked, as well as medications and drugs
that infl uence the repair processes. To minimise skin scarring, the
incision needs to be placed within natural facial or low tension lines
and accurate incisions. Careful handling of the skin edges with delicate
instrumentation helps.
What scar treatments do you use following surgery in
your practice?
Following surgery, ointment usually prevents cicatrisation of the incisions,
and silicone ointment has been shown to be useful for this. Other early
treatments may include local antibiotic creams, minimising trauma to the
incision and keeping the incision site clean. Taping the incision to reduce
tension is sometimes needed.
How does Stratamed and Strataderm fit in with your
treatment protocols?
Strataderm appears to help reduce raised or thickened scars if used
regularly over 4-8 weeks post-operation. Stratamed has been useful to
place early in the postoperative scar while still healing. I have also found
it to be useful on early laser wounds to prevent drying and crusting. It is
well tolerated and I have not seen it excite any infl ammatory response,
which is good.
How long have you been recommending these
products?
I have been using silicone preparations for approximately a decade and
Strataderm for about fi ve years.
I have not had any complaints from any patients about the use of
topical silicone preparations and their feedback overall has been positive.
For more information visit www.shirecosmetic.com.au
www.cosbeauty.com.au 87