In order to be able to remove a scar, a dermatologist or a plastic and aesthetic surgeon must first perform a precise analysis of the tissue. Only in this way it is possible to choose the optimal treatment method to remedy the blemish.
Types of scars
How strongly visible a scar is formed depends not only on the genetic disposition, but also on the type of injury and the post-treatment immediately after the scar is formed.
Contracture
Burns and chemical burns usually cause large-scale scars, which make the skin inelastic and firm. Not infrequently, they are associated with movement restrictions and pain. These scars are called contractures.
They are usually treated by skin grafting or flap surgery. This form of scar repair is an operative procedure.
Keloids
After surgery or injury, so-called keloids can develop. The mostly spherical, darker growths of scar tissue grow beyond the scar line and can make the appearance of the scar unsightly and very noticeable. The desire to remove them can be very great.
Keloids can be downsized by a regular injection treatment. For particularly stubborn keloids, surgical removal followed by injections and compression therapy may be required to completely inhibit their growth. Since keloids tend to occur again and again, it is often not easy to ensure permanent removal.
Hypertrophic scars
Hypertrophic scars are scars that are particularly pronounced and have bulges or elevations, but do not grow beyond the injury area. They are caused by excessive production of connective tissue, caused by inadequate immobilization of the wound immediately after surgery or injury or by additional infection of the affected skin areas.
Hypertrophic scars can also be reduced by injection of cortisone-containing substances. If this form of correction of scars is not sufficient, surgical removal of the scars with subsequent injection treatment is also possible here.
Acne scars
Acne scars can develop after acne vulgaris, the most common skin disease. Young people are particularly affected during puberty when the hormonal balance changes. Depending on the severity and healing process, these scars are more or less visible. There are two forms: atrophic and the hypertrophic scars. The former are sunken deep and hole-like in comparison to the surrounding skin. They are caused by loss of tissue, because too few connective tissue fibers were produced to cover the destroyed tissue. Hypertrophic scars appear as an excessive bulge of the skin or scar tissue. Too much new tissue has been produced that does not have the same structure as healthy skin tissue. Acne scars can be alleviated by injection treatments (see: hypertrophic scars).
Stretch marks
Stretch marks are caused by a strong stretch of the lower skin tissue. Especially when gaining weight, stripe-like marks can appear on the abdomen, chest, hips, buttocks, thighs and upper arms. They are often caused by the weight gain of pregnancy. In part, stretch marks are also an expression of a predisposed connective tissue weakness. The skin can rip at even small increases in weight and shows itself as thinner or thicker stripes. One way to effectively remove stretch marks is by microneedling. Fine needles penetrate deeply into the skin and stimulate the production of collagen. New, healthy tissue is created.