Does Cosmetic Surgery Leave Visible Scars?

Many individuals want to consider plastic surgery for their aesthetics and medical concerns. While considering this reconstructive approach, many of those people worry for - is cosmetic plastic surgery leaves scars. The answer is yes. There is no surgical method which cannot leave scars on the skin. However, these scars may vary depending on the size and visibility. In order to hide these scars, an experienced plastic surgeon has an essential role. 

Individuals need to be educated about the visibility of cosmetic surgery scars and their management. Regarding this, we used insights taken from Dr. Sandhya Balasubramanyan, a senior cosmetic surgeon in Bangalore, to prepare a short guide for you. In this blog, we will talk about how one can reduce the visibility of scars after cosmetic surgery. So, go through this blog carefully.   

Visibility of Cosmetic Surgery Scars

Cosmetic surgery is a type of plastic surgery which addresses one's aesthetic concerns and reverses them using a surgical method. Some of the popular cosmetic surgeries providing medical benefits include Rhinoplasty, Breast Reduction, Liposuction and Tummy-tuck. After any surgical procedure, scars are left. The appearance of the scars after cosmetic surgery is obvious. But these can be hidden. Regarding this, some of the tips are as follows-  

1. Meticulous Closure of Wounds

Compared to traumatic injuries, surgically created scars have a higher chance of remaining less noticeable. Unlike traumatic mechanisms like abrasions and crush injuries, which leave more irregular wound edges and damaged soft tissues, surgical scars are created with precise instruments. Traumatic wounds may also have a higher risk of complications during early healing, including delayed wound healing and infection. In some body areas, surgical closure may involve layered closure. Excessive tension and thicker skin areas may receive a layer of deep "dissolving" stitches. By releasing tension from the wound during its early healing phase, this may minimize the chance of scarring over time.

2. Plan Your Incisions to Resemble the Creases in Your Skin.

The planning of incisions and the subsequent scar placement along "relaxed skin tension lines" is a crucial aspect of plastic surgery. Generally speaking, these lines correspond to wrinkle lines that are parallel to natural skin creases. For instance, the removal of moles in the smile line region is planned to run parallel to this underlying structure. With time, this causes the scar to become less noticeable. At other locations, scars are situated at the organic intersections of various body parts. A good way to illustrate this is with the example of facelift surgery. The area where the ear and cheek meet is incised, and as scars deepen, they become harder to see. Implants are frequently inserted during breast augmentation by making an incision inside the fold beneath the breast.  

3. Skin Stitches Taken Out At A Predetermined Time
   
   

Skin stitches are extracted at a predetermined period following surgery, in contrast to deeper stitches that are buried and eventually dissolve. This reduces the possibility that the incision line will become permanently marked. After surgery, the surgeon usually removes the facial sutures five to six days later. After surgery, sutures are typically taken out of other body parts ten days later.

Dissolving sutures is a common question for patients. These stitches are usually not made through the skin's surface by many surgeons. As they are reabsorbed, they frequently cause greater inflammation. Sometimes, the stitches resorb too quickly, leading to a dehisce or widening of the wound. The scarring may then become more noticeable. Resorbable sutures may also come out too late in other situations.

4. Enhance Your Scar Management
   
   

Scars age and fade, so it's essential to stress scar management. There are numerous products available on the market to treat scars, but there is a shortage of evidence-based studies in this area. As scars develop, cosmetic surgeons counsel patients to use sunscreen (SPF 30) every day for a year after surgery. Excessive UV radiation exposure can cause hyper- or hypopigmentation in immature scars. This implies that the scars might always be lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. Scars may still be exposed to background UV light in the winter and on cloudy days.

There are Numerous Benefits to Sunscreen.

• Optimization of scars

• Decreased chance of developing skin cancer

• Tardy signs of ageing on the face

• Reduced scar sensitivity and thinning scar tissue are two additional potential benefits of scar massage. When scar maturation is complete, rubbing the scar multiple times a day can accelerate it mechanically.

Conclusion

Thus, do scars from plastic surgery remain? Regrettably, despite the aspirations of numerous patients, plastic surgery does not leave scars! The good news is that a variety of surgical, wound-healing, and scar optimization techniques have the potential to reduce the visibility of scars gradually.