A scar may mean that the original trauma to the body has healed, but it can also become a painful reminder of the experience and an eyesore to the individual who must flaunt it day after day. For some, treatments to diminish the appearance of a scar are highly desirable and worth every bit of time and money to set that blemish packing. While no treatment will get rid of scarring completely, there are plenty of options today that can effectively diminish the appearance and create a better self image overall.
Dermabrasion
This scar therapy can work well on slightly pitted or raised scars, although it probably will not bring satisfactory results on deeper marks. This process involves removing the top layer of skin using a rotating brush. The skin is usually treated with a topical anesthetic to reduce pain and patients can expect to have redness for a number of days afterward. This is a common scar therapy for mild acne scarring.
Tissue Fillers
These treatments are similar to Botox injections that are used to reduce the look of wrinkles, and involve injecting collagen into the scar to "plump" the area and diminish the appearance. This scar therapy works best for pitting and depressed scars that are too deep to respond well to dermabrasion. To keep the desired results, maintenance procedures will have to be performed every few months.
Laser Surgery
Lasers are used for many types of procedures today, including scar therapy of scars that are large or discolored. Lasers are intense beams of light that can target very precise areas, making them a good choice for scars of all shapes and sizes. Lasers can also reduce discoloration that is left from a scar, so that the skin tone appears smoother and more uniform. Often laser treatments are combined with microdermabrasion for maximum benefit. Laser surgery is often done in a series of treatments to achieve the desired results.
Light-Based Treatment
Following on the heels of laser treatment, light-based technology is scar therapy that can be highly effective and non-invasive. There are different types of light that can be used for treatments, which will be based on the type of scarring that has taken place and the light that it will respond best to. Recovery from light therapy can be even less extensive than laser procedures, and many people find that they can squeeze in a session on a lunch hour for extreme convenience.
Traditional Surgical Procedures
Some scars are too big to respond well to other forms of treatment, and will require traditional cosmetic surgery for positive results. In these situations, the original scar tissue is surgically removed and the skin is rejoined for a smoother appearance. This process requires the biggest commitment and recovery time for the patient, so it is not a scar therapy to be entered into lightly. However, it may be the best choice for significant improvement to a scar.
No one likes to deal with a scar, especially if it is in a visible place that can cause one to be self conscious. The good news is that there are plenty of options in scar therapy today, so that unsightly mark doesn't have to stick around forever.
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