From: cyborg upgrade 20/05/2001 10:07:09
Subject: scar tissue post id: 303708
I was in a terrible car accident on August 13th last year where I have a scar on my head and under my left shoulder. They may be very small but I would like to no ways I can minimise them? The less I have to affect my appearance and a not show evidence of the accident which will make me remember being in a rehabilitaion hospital for about 2 and a half months and treated like an animal
From: Zardoz ® 20/05/2001 11:29:16
Subject: re: scar tissue post id: 303742
The treatment of scars with laser involves one several different types of treatment.
1) Scars that have an uneven surface can be smoothed with treatment using an ultrapulsed carbon dioxide or an erbium yag laser. During such laser treatments the elevated bumps and ridges of the scar are vaporised and flattened to produce a smoother surface. The skin is removed during the process requiring a few weeks for the skin to recover by growing a new layer of skin over the area of the scar that has been treated. When extensive scars on the face are treated, it is best to treat the whole face, giving an even texture and colour to the entire face. This is especially important if there are visible signs of sun damage such as wrinkles, pigment spots and broken blood vessels. In younger people it may be possible to smooth the scars alone without treating the whole face.

2) Red and brown scars can often be improved with treatment using one of the coloured light lasers or an intense light device called the Photoderm. During this process the redness, abnormal pigmentation and texture of the scar is improved. Some scars will require both vaporisation and treatment with a coloured light laser. Other scar treatments may combine laser surgery with plastic surgery and other medical treatments such as cortisone injections, micropigmentation tattooing, silicone dressings, pressure bandages etc. to achieve the best overall results. Some scars such as keloids may require multiple treatments at one to two month intervals over a period of months or years.

http://www.lasaway.com/home/scarQAnew.html



From: isilder 20/05/2001 12:22:46
Subject: re: scar tissue post id: 303765


There are two types of scars that result from the joining of the skin after it is seperated by a car accident or surgery.

Usually the skin will join leaving a thin white line which is the scar tissue joining the original skin . This tends to fade and shrink and hide away.

But sometimes the scar expands into being a large red blotch with shiny texture, and this does look unsitely. As this red patch is "extra" skin, the skin wrinkles and adds years onto your looks, and can be hard to ignore ...

I think the plastic surgery can treat these big red scared because the plastic surgeons scalpel work will heal quickly and cleanly.

He cuts the skin at angles to allow the layers to join back correctly, and he ensures the blood supply is maintained, and he will check the growth of the scar and can use steroids to prevent the wrong type of scar tissue.

IF you dont have the big red stripe effect, then there isnt much treatment you can expect.

If you have the big red stripe, you could , after full recuperation from other injuries, persue plastic surgery to trim it back. This carries a risk (infection) with no medical benefit. (its cosmetic ) and so you have to persue this on your own. you can try to get it put onto compensation/insurance claims though, if applicable.



From: steve (Avatar) 21/05/2001 5:25:21
Subject: re: scar tissue post id: 304260
I have a number of scars that I have acquired over the years from a reasonably active life. My appendix scar is practically invisible, just a thin pale line, as is the scar on the back of my hand from when I walked into a plate glass door. The most unsightly one is a large keloid scar on the inside of my right elbow, about 15cm long and 3cm wide. This is an operation scar from when I broke my arm falling out of bed. The scar spread after surgery. I could have it removed but it is not worth it to me.

If you have keloid scars then cosmetic surgery can remove them but you will always have some scarring. While to you any scars may look huge and unsightly other people will probably not notice them at all unless they are really obvious. You know they are there, other people don't.

Talk to a good plastic surgeon about them. The scars can be reduced but no treatment will make them disappear entirely.
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