Reduce and diminish your scars at Sculpted ClinicScarring is an unavoidable consequence of surgery. At the Sculpted Clinic we aim to limit visible scarring as much as possible, be it by hiding them in hairlines or natural skin folds or managing them post-operatively to get the best result.Wound healingFollowing an injury to the skin (in this case surgical incision) there are 4 stages to healingHaemostasis. Within the first few minutes cells in the blood of the affected area begin to stick together and form a plug to prevent further bleedingInflammation. Any dead or damaged cells are cleared away by white blood cells.Proliferation. Growth of new tissue and vessels occurs with collagen deposition.Maturation. Collagen realigns and vessels regress so the scar loses its redness. This process takes up to 12 months.Factors that may delay wound healing and increase the chance of bad scarring:SmokingWound infection or breakdown during healingPoor blood supplyDiabetes MellitusChronic diseases such as congestive heart failure, renal failureIncreased ageMalnutritionAlcohol consumptionFor the first couple of weeks following surgery, the wound is only at 25% of full strength. Thus the initial weeks are critical in avoiding exercise and tension to the wound. At 6 weeks, the wound is roughly at 80% of full strength. At the site of injury, the skin will never reach full strength.What can be done to limit scarring?Tapes are applied to the wound to help relieve tension. These are changed at intervals, but should remain on for 4 to 6 weeks following surgery. It is ok to shower with these tapes and pat them dry after.Avoid sun exposure to the scar as much as possible. If the wound is on the face or somewhere hard to cover up, start with discreet dressings until sutures are removed and the wound is healed. Once healed, use SPF50+ sunscreen at all times.Hydration – drinking lots of water is important to keep the skin hydrated and aid wound healing.Avoid tension or stress to the wound. Exercise should be avoided for the first few weeks following surgery. Silicone gels or dressings can be applied to reduce the chances of over-scarring, especially in patients predisposed to hypertrophic or keloid scarring. At Sculpted Clinic we advise using silicone after the wounds are healed and sealed, usually at least two weeks post surgery. Silicone can irritate the skin and is best used once the healing process is underway.After the wounds have healed, around 6 weeks following surgery, massage can be started. Bio oil and silicone gel maybe appropriate for certain wounds and we can recommend these if appropriate. What are the types of over-scarring?As the wound heals, it is initially red and noticeable. Over months, the scar usually becomes flat and pale. However, in certain patients, there can be an overgrowth of scar tissue.Hypertrophic scarsRaised and red scar that doesn’t extend beyond the original scarThe leading cause is tension on the healing woundDue to excessive amounts of collagen depositionThese may resolve over time with massage or require more interventionKeloid scarsFirm, smooth growth due to spontaneous scar formation following injuryIn contrast to hypertrophic scars, keloids can extend and grow beyond the initial scarThis can occur soon after or months laterAre rare in Caucasians, but increased risk is associated with darker skin, especially Hispanics, Asians and AfricansMay form on any part of the body, but more commonly develop on the chest, ears and shouldersOften require intervention to resolveNote, these do not change into skin cancersIf I develop a bad scar, what can be done?Massage with bio oil. Hypertrophic scars may resolve with massage and bio oil aloneSilicone gels / dressings. Silicone acts as a tacking substance to help hold wounds together, provides a moist environment and aids the healing process. This can also be used on existing hypertrophic or keloid scars to reduce the scar tissue.Steroid injections. Steroid injections into a keloid or hypertrophic scar can flatten the scar and reduce redness. Laser resurfacing. This can be used to both flatten the scar and reduce the redness.Surgical scar revision. For keloid scars, this is risky as a new keloid scar can form again and even grow bigger than the previous existing scar you are treating.Dr Sawhney and our clinic staff will advise you on how to manage your specific wounds dependent on the procedures performed. Scar TreatmentRepair unwanted scarsScar Treatment“Reduce and diminish your scars at Sculpted Clinic”Scarring is an unavoidable consequence of surgery. At the Sculpted Clinic we aim to limit visible scarring as much as possible, be it by hiding them in hairlines or natural skin folds or managing them post-operatively to get the best result.Wound healingFollowing an injury to the skin (in this case surgical incision) there are 4 stages to healingHaemostasis. Within the first few minutes cells in the blood of the affected area begin to stick together and form a plug to prevent further bleedingInflammation. Any dead or damaged cells are cleared away by white blood cells.Proliferation. Growth of new tissue and vessels occurs with collagen deposition.Maturation. Collagen realigns and vessels regress so the scar loses its redness. This process takes up to 12 months.Factors that may delay wound healing and increase the chance of bad scarring:SmokingWound infection or breakdown during healingPoor blood supplyDiabetes MellitusChronic diseases such as congestive heart failure, renal failureIncreased ageMalnutritionAlcohol consumptionFor the first couple of weeks following surgery, the wound is only at 25% of full strength. Thus the initial weeks are critical in avoiding exercise and tension to the wound. At 6 weeks, the wound is roughly at 80% of full strength. At the site of injury, the skin will never reach full strength.quick enquiryI would like to*I would like toAsk a QuestionBook a ConsultationFirst Name*Last Name*Your Email* Your MobileI'm interested in*I'm interested in:BreastFaceBodyNon-surgicalPreferred Time*Preferred Time *MorningLunchAfternoonPreferred Day* DD slash MM slash YYYY Your Message*PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.what can you expect from Scar treatment?scar treatmenthide in natural skin foldstreat keloid scarsWhat can be done to limit scarring?Tapes are applied to the wound to help relieve tension. These are changed at intervals, but should remain on for 4 to 6 weeks following surgery. It is ok to shower with these tapes and pat them dry after.Avoid sun exposure to the scar as much as possible. If the wound is on the face or somewhere hard to cover up, start with discreet dressings until sutures are removed and the wound is healed. Once healed, use SPF50+ sunscreen at all times.Hydration – drinking lots of water is important to keep the skin hydrated and aid wound healing.Avoid tension or stress to the wound. Exercise should be avoided for the first few weeks following surgery.Silicone gels or dressings can be applied to reduce the chances of over-scarring, especially in patients predisposed to hypertrophic or keloid scarring. At Sculpted Clinic we advise using silicone after the wounds are healed and sealed, usually at least two weeks post surgery. Silicone can irritate the skin and is best used once the healing process is underway.After the wounds have healed, around 6 weeks following surgery, massage can be started. Bio oil and silicone gel maybe appropriate for certain wounds and we can recommend these if appropriate.What are the types of over-scarring?As the wound heals, it is initially red and noticeable. Over months, the scar usually becomes flat and pale. However, in certain patients, there can be an overgrowth of scar tissue.Hypertrophic scarsRaised and red scar that doesn’t extend beyond the original scarThe leading cause is tension on the healing woundDue to excessive amounts of collagen depositionThese may resolve over time with massage or require more interventionKeloid scarsFirm, smooth growth due to spontaneous scar formation following injuryIn contrast to hypertrophic scars, keloids can extend and grow beyond the initial scarThis can occur soon after or months laterAre rare in Caucasians, but increased risk is associated with darker skin, especially Hispanics, Asians and AfricansMay form on any part of the body, but more commonly develop on the chest, ears and shouldersOften require intervention to resolveNote, these do not change into skin cancersIf I develop a bad scar, what can be done?Massage with bio oil. Hypertrophic scars may resolve with massage and bio oil aloneSilicone gels / dressings. Silicone acts as a tacking substance to help hold wounds together, provides a moist environment and aids the healing process. This can also be used on existing hypertrophic or keloid scars to reduce the scar tissue.Steroid injections. Steroid injections into a keloid or hypertrophic scar can flatten the scar and reduce redness.Laser resurfacing. This can be used to both flatten the scar and reduce the redness.Surgical scar revision. For keloid scars, this is risky as a new keloid scar can form again and even grow bigger than the previous existing scar you are treating.Dr Sawhney and our clinic staff will advise you on how to manage your specific wounds dependent on the procedures performed.Ask a question or book your consultationPlease fill in the online enquiry form to ask a question or book your consultation. The friendly team at Sculpted Clinic look forward to seeing you in our clinic soon!I would like to*I would like toAsk a QuestionBook a ConsultationFirst Name*Last Name*Your Email* Your MobileI'm interested in*I'm interested in:BreastFaceBodyNon-surgicalPreferred Time*Preferred Time *MorningLunchAfternoonPreferred Day* DD slash MM slash YYYY Your Message*PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.