Treatment of Scarring Resulting from Trauma, Surgery, or Burns
Scarring can be caused by accidents, injuries, burns, surgery, medical conditions such as acne, and other disorders. Scars can be disfiguring and a source of emotional distress for many patients. Fortunately, advances in laser technology, as well as our understanding of scars, has led to the ability to treat them more effectively. Dr. Biesman has a strong interest in treating all types of scars. Both local and out-of-town patients seek his expertise for their specific scarring concerns.
Treatment of scarring often requires a combination of approaches including topical medications, injections, laser treatments, or scar revision surgery. Some patients have a combination of different scar types and may require several different types of treatments. For example, scars which are red in color (whether they are flat or elevated) often respond better to treatment with laser treatments that target the red color.
Contracted and tight scars can cause pain and limitation in movement of the face, jaw, arms, legs, and fingers. In these cases, resurfacing laser treatments can help release this contraction and improve function of the affected area. In some situations, elevated, thickened scars are treated first with a resurfacing laser and then with medications that are able to penetrate deeper into the scar. These medications work to reduce inflammation and further relax scar tissue. The combination of laser resurfacing followed by application of medications into the channels created by the laser is known as Laser Assisted Drug Delivery (LADD) and is a cutting-edge approach to the treatment of scars.
When surface texture changes are the primary concern (as can be the case following some burn scars for example), treatment with non-ablative resurfacing lasers either alone or in combination with superficial ablative fractional resurfacing can produce dramatic improvement in both skin texture and feel.
Treatment of scarring often requires multiple treatment sessions in order to achieve the best outcomes. However, we are pleased to be able to offer hope for patients who have been previously told that they have no good options to improve the appearance of their scars. If you have a scar which is of concern due to its appearance, symptoms such as pain or itching, or because it limits your ability to function, please let our staff know.