Scar Treatments in Charleston, SC With Dr. Gabriella
Vasile | Réforme Dermatology
What Is a Scar?
When the skin is damaged during an injury, what often results after healing is called a scar. Collagen fibers help bind the skin and result in thickness or discoloration where the wound took place. Scars can range from tiny, unnoticeable lines to large, attention-grabbing marks. Some scars can have a raised appearance due to excess collagen. Others can be shallow craters in the skin due to a lack of collagen. These are often the result of acne breakouts.
Treating scars takes precise surgical skill and expert dermatological knowledge. At Réforme Dermatology & Aesthetics in Charleston, SC, we offer the latest in treatments to remove and reduce the appearance of scars so that you can confidently embrace your skin and put injuries behind you.
If you’re interested in pursuing a scar treatment in Mount Pleasant, Johns Island, Daniel Island, James Island, and the greater Charleston area, contact Réforme Dermatologist to schedule your personalized appointment.
What Is a Scar Revision?
Scar revision is a treatment intended to improve the appearance of a scar, including the texture and tone so that it blends back in with the surrounding skin. There are various surgical and non-surgical treatment options to minimize the appearance of scars. The proper treatment will depend on your type of scar, its location, thickness, age, and skin type.
What Are the Different Types of Scars?
Scars come in a variety of different appearances. Your age, skin color, genetics, and medications can also affect how your skin heals. If you have more than one scar, you’ll likely notice that no two scars look the same. This is because so much plays a part in what your scar will look like, including the cause, wound size/depth, where you wounded your skin and how the wound was cared for.
Flat Scars
Medically named cicatrix, flat scars are the most common type of scar. When this scar first appears, it tends to be pink or reddish in color and slightly raised. As your skin continues to heal, the scar will flatten and lighten in color.
Raised Scars
Raised scars, or hypertrophic scars, appear above the surface of the skin. Over time, raised scars may flatten, but this can take months to years. Some raised scars present irritating symptoms like itching or discomfort. If they are on a joint like the shoulder, elbow, or knee, it can constrict movement.
Depressed Scars
Depressed scars, or atrophic scars, sit below the skin’s surface, giving the appearance of a sunken or pitted look. Most depression scars are the result of chickenpox or severe acne.
Keloid Scars
Keloid scars can appear as growths or masses and involve an area larger than the wound that caused the scar. A keloid is caused by excess collagen in the skin during healing. Keloids are often lumpy or ridged and often appear after a piercing, surgical incision, or acne flare-up.
How Can Scar Tissue Be Treated?
During your initial appointment at Réforme Dermatology, your dermatologist will carefully evaluate your scar to discern its characteristics and type. Incorporating your health history, lifestyle constraints, and personal cosmetic goals, your dermatologist will recommend a personalized treatment plan that best addresses your specific needs.
Microneedling
Microneedling treatments involve a device equipped with hundreds of tiny needles being inserted into the skin to break apart scar tissue in a controlled manner. The body will then stimulate the production of collagen to replace lost or damaged tissue. Microneedling is commonly used to treat scars, stretch marks, or depression scars caused by acne.
Dermal Filler Injections
Dermal fillers are an efficient treatment for filling in depressed or concave scars. Results can last for months or up to a year, depending on the filler chosen.
Scar Excision
Severe scars that have not or will not respond to other treatments may require a surgical revision of the area. This in-office procedure is performed using a localized anesthetic and requires less than an hour to complete. Utilizing their extensive training and dermatological experience, your dermatologist will develop an operative plan that best addresses your goals while optimizing the best aesthetic outcome.
What Can You Expect During A Scar Revision Treatment?
The procedure experience depends on the scar revision therapy. Patients undergoing microneedling treatments will be numbed before their procedure with a topical anesthetic cream. During a microneedling treatment, you shouldn’t feel any pain, only some mild pressure-like sensations as the needles target the scar tissue.
For surgical revisions, an injection of a local numbing medication will be administered prior to your procedure. During a surgical revision, you will not feel any pain; however, you may notice some light pressure or pulling being applied to the targeted area.
Filler injections will have topical numbing applied beforehand, as you will only feel a slight prick as the needle is inserted into the skin. A controlled amount of filler is injected into the target areas and moved around with gentle pressure by your dermatologist. Some results are seen instantly and will continue to progress over the next few days.
Other than your safety, your comfort is our number one priority. If at any time during your treatment you start to experience discomfort, please inform your dermatologist, and they will provide you with the measures to ensure your comfort.
Schedule a Consultation
Explore the fully customizable and transformative dermatological treatments with double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Dr. Gabriella Vasile, who combines her extensive knowledge of skin health with her passion for finding innovative reparative and preventative treatments. Dr. Vasile’s collaborative, personalized approach to skin health and vitality meets the specific needs of her patients by utilizing state-of-the-art technology, science-based skincare products, and peer and patient-reviewed techniques and treatments.
With a keen aesthetic eye and precision, Dr. Vasile creates balanced and natural results for a variety of aging and skin-related concerns while prioritizing patient comfort and safety. Schedule your consultation today and experience a self-esteem boost with beautiful, healthy, vibrant skin.
How Many Treatments Will You Need For Your Scar?
The number of treatments you need will be contingent on the type and severity of your scar, your skin color, and the age of your scar. During your appointment, your dermatologist will be able to provide an estimate of how many treatment sessions you will need to create the most ideal outcomes.
Are You A Good Scar Revision Candidate?
Scars often leave physical as well as emotional marks on a person, which can significantly impact their self-confidence. Helping patients remove this physical reminder of trauma is one of our passions at Réforme Dermatology, as the procedure extends beyond appearance. No matter the location, size, or type of scar, our expert dermatologists will make suggestions that are tailored to your specific needs.
The best candidates for scar treatments are patients with healed scars who are not currently sunburned or tan. While smoking does not interfere with treatment, we strongly advise against smoking in the time surrounding your treatment in order to ensure optimal healing and results.
Patients with active acne or ongoing skin problems in the scar area should first clear up these conditions and allow them to heal before pursuing scar revision therapy. Patients on oral medication or topical medication for acne, including tretinoin or Accutane, should wait a few weeks after completing their acne medication before starting scar revision treatment.
Why Choose Dr. Gabriella Vasile For Scar Revision?
Having completed a double fellowship training in dermatology and Mohs surgery, Dr. Vasile has spent the majority of her career cultivating expertise in improving the appearance of her patient’s skin health and appearance. Scar revision therapy is a staple in her practice, and she is proud to help her patients overcome their scars and infuse their lives with self-confidence. Her position as a dermatologic and cosmetic surgeon requires advanced technical training to minimize scar formation. Her comprehensive and detailed understanding of a scar’s lifestyle allows Dr. Vasile to provide you with innovative and personalized therapy that capitalizes on scar correction.
Ready To Schedule Your Appointment?
You are unique, and so is your scar. For that reason, we make it our mission to work with your particular scar, skin type, medical history, and lifestyle to find a treatment plan that is personalized to your goals. From the moment you contact Réforme Dermatology & Aesthetics, we make you our priority. Dr. Vasile and her staff are there for you to ensure all your questions are answered and your needs are met. Contact us today to schedule your scar revision appointment. We look forward to working with you on transforming your goals into reality.
