Scars on the face resulting from injury, trauma, burns and/or cancer removal can make some feel self-conscious. Though some scars may not be removed completely, it is possible to minimize, camouflage or hide them. Some facial scars are cosmetic only, while others may interfere with facial expression and other facial movement. The Washington University Facial Plastic Surgery Center physicians use advanced scar revision techniques to diminish appearance and restore facial function.

Different types of scars respond to different cosmetic surgery techniques, so the timing of your treatment is an important decision. In the case of injury, you may be advised against scar revision for a period of up to a year to allow your body time to fully heal.

Severe burns that destroy large sections of skin may cause skin to heal irregularly, resulting in a puckered appearance. As the skin heals, muscles and tendons may be affected by this contracting movement.

Keloid scars are a result of the skin’s overproduction of collagen after a wound has healed. These scars generally appear as growths in the scar site.

Hypertrophic scars, unlike keloids, do not grow out of the boundaries of the scar area. Because of their thick, raised texture, hypertrophic scars can be unsightly and may also restrict the natural movement of muscles and tendons.

Because each patient is unique, maximum improvement in facial scars may require more than one procedure, and more than one technique may be employed.

During a consultation, our board-certified physicians will discuss in detail which technique(s) will provide the best result for you. These procedures can be performed in-office with local anesthetic, or under general anesthesia at a surgery center.

For appointments, call 314-996-3880.