Treatment for Scars in London & UK

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Scars are incredibly common, most adults will have at least one scar on their body.  Generally they don’t cause any real alarm, and people can continue to live their lives with the scar left as it is.  However, scars can cause real concern to some people, especially if they are somewhere noticeable on your body such as on your face, arms or legs.  It can also be the case that a scar is a reminder of an incident that you simply wish to forget.  There are many ways that scarring can occur, through disease or infection, or through accidents, and there are also many different types of scars that can occur on your skin.  Some are barely visible, and will cause you little concern, others are a lot more noticeable, depending on their size, and as a result you may wish to look at the options available to you to reduce their visible effect or to try to eliminate them entirely.  No scar can ever be completely neutralised.  There is no way of removing a scar from your skin once it has occurred, however there are new ways that can serve to reduce their appearance or decrease their size. 

Scar Development

Large scars are more likely to occur when the lower parts of the skin are affected.  The deeper the injury the more likely it is that the scar that forms will be large or noticeable.  This can be very alarming at first.  While your skin heals initially it can seem very red, inflamed or the wound might appear a lot larger than you might expect.  Over time this will change, as the scar develops and as the healing process continues you will see improvements to your scar.  This healing is usually completed within 2 years of the initial wound, although everyone will heal differently so it is possible that your scar will stabalise faster or slower than this. 

Treating scars using surgery

Generally facial scars are the ones that most people wish to have treated, with scars on visible parts of the body, (arms, legs etc), also being of concern.  There are many options for you if you do decide that you want to try to reduce the appearance of the scar.  The most extreme scar reduction method is surgery.  This is a very big step to take, and carries the risk of making the scar appear worse along with all the normal risks involved with performing surgery.  Scar revision surgery has come a long way, and basically involves either changing the scar so it looks more natural, fitting in with your features, or performing a skin graft so that the scar is less noticeable.  Experienced plastic surgeons can perform wonders to large, unsightly scars, although surgery isn’t an option for everyone and can be very expensive.  It is best to have a fully trained and experienced plastic surgeon perform you scar reduction surgery, and to have an in-depth consultation before the surgery, to ensure that it is the right choice for you.  Your surgeon will need a full medical history, and will need to examine the scar and discuss the likely outcome with you.  It is best to go to this consultation with realistic expectations of the surgery.  No scar can be completely erased, however a lot can now be done to hide them.

Alternative treatments to scar reduction surgery

Other scar reduction methods include creams, micro-dermabrasion, laser resurfacing and injections to lessen the appearance of your scar.  Not all of these are guaranteed to work, and some may work for one person, but not another.  Not all scars are the same, just as not all people are either.  Each has their pros and cons, but it is up to you which method you wish to try to reduce your scar.  It is always a good idea to ask the advice of your GP, especially if you are considering having surgery.  They are likely to be able to help you make the right decision, and will know of the best surgeons near you. 

Some scars can be successfully covered up and hidden using body camouflage available privately or on the NHS.  This make-up lasts for a long time, and can quickly become a part of your normal daily routine. 

There are many ways to deal with scars, and the one that you turn to is an individual choice.  Your doctor can guide you along the way, and some routes might not be suitable for you, but there are so many options it is very likely that you will be able to find some treatment that will work for you. 

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