Question:
I’m in Milwaukee and I have a small but deep scar just above my eyebrow. Are fillers a good choice for improving scars like these and what filler is best for scar removal?

Answer:
Fillers can occasionally be used to fill depressed scars and occasionally will be quite successful at camouflaging a depression; however, for scars right above the brow these frequently are very difficult to lift with a filler and you may be better served by a scar revision and laser treatment such as the ProFractional Laser by Sciton, which draws small little holes into the skin creating a large amount of new deep collagen that remodels the surface texture.  Ultimately, I would recommend a consultation so that I can evaluate your particular scar and then we can discuss treatment options. 

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Question:
How often are fillers used to improve scars?

Answer:
In certain instances fillers can definitely be used to improve scars depending on the specific scar and character.  If a patient has a depressed scar and this scar catches light and creates shadows, we can use filler to fill the depressed portion of the scar quite successfully and this immediately makes the scar much less conspicuous.

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Question:
Is surgery ever used to repair scars?

Answer:
Yes, surgery can definitely be used to repair scars that are unsightly.  Essentially, this is a scar revision surgery and we are trading an unsightly scar for one that has greatly reduced visibility.  There are a variety of different techniques that we can employ to make a scar less visible, and ultimately this needs to be customized for your particular circumstance.

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Question: My daughter has a few keloid scars on her hands and her face that she’s very embarrassed about. Is there anything that can be done to lessen their appearance?

Answer: Keloid scars can be extremely difficult in certain patients and, therefore, I would have to evaluate your daughter to decide what the best treatment option would be.  If the scars are relatively new, then injection of dilute steroid solution into the keloid can oftentimes greatly reduce the thickness and firmness of the resulting scar tissue.  If these are old, then we would want to have a conversation about the risks and benefits of resecting these since, in a small percentage of patients, you can actually end up with keloids that are worse when you are actually trying to make them look better.

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Question: What scar revision techniques are best for children?

Answer: In the far majority of cases, unless the scar is actually creating tension or tethering or pulling on some area of the face, I always recommend that patients avoid any sort of scar revision while they are still children simply because, more than likely as they continue to grow, the scar is going to widen and ultimately need another revision once they stop growing. Otherwise, if some sort of a scar revision procedure is necessary in a child, the techniques are virtually identical as to those in an adult.

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