TREAT SCARS & WOUNDS WITH
SCAR REVISION OR SKIN GRAFTING SURGERY IN DUBAI

Certain diseases, injuries and surgeries can result in prominent scarring.

Scar revision surgery seeks to minimize the scar to make it less conscpicuous. It is performed for aesthetic reasons, to restore function to a body part that is restricted due to the scar, or to help with an itchy scar.

It is essential to note that while scar revision surgery is often referred to as scar removal surgery, it does not completely erase the scar. Rather, it reduces its impact or appearance.

Though most scars usually fade over time, but sometimes they may remain prominent, which, besides looking unsightly, may also affect the function of the body part, or be uncomfortable and itchy. To help improve/ minimize the appearance of scars, there are multiple treatment options. The choice of treatment option will be made by your plastic surgeon based on your specific case. Factors determining this include what type of scar you have – minor discolorations, hypertropic scars, keloids, or contractures; your age; and the size, depth, and location of the scar. Treatment options include:

Topical treatments – silicone gel, massage treatment, topical agents

Surface or minimally-invasive treatments – laser peeling, radiation, chemical peeling, steroid injections, cryotherapy, dermabrasion, filler injections

Scar Revision Surgery – if non-surgical methods do not work, surgical revision of scar involving advanced wound closure techniques may be the only alternative

Scar Revision surgery may be performed under local, IV sedation, or general anesthesia depending on your specific case.

Skin grafting is a useful way to help in wound healing, especially in areas where there is skin loss as a result of a disease, injuries such as burns, or surgical removal of tumors. Certain wounds may be too difficult to heal without involving any reconstructive techniques, and that’s where skin grafting surgery comes in.

Skin graft surgery is done by taking a piece of skin from one area of the body (donor site) to bring back skin coverage in other areas (recipient site). Skin grafting helps heal the wounds that will not heal sufficiently without such surgical intervention. Skin grafts are of great use in situations where there are enough subcutaneous tissues to give support and blood supply for the skin graft.

Skin grafts are classified according to the thickness of the skin to be grafted from one part to another area of the body.

One type of skin graft is a “split thickness” skin graft, which does not involve the entire skin thickness – only the layers of skin closest to the surface are used from the donor site. A larger body area is used in this type of skin graft and the donor site can heal on its own.

Another type is the “full thickness” skin graft, which involves the full thickness of the skin and deeper tissues. This type of skin graft is often used for specific wound coverage applications where thicker skin is required. In full thickness graft, the donor area is limited in size since this area cannot be used more than once. All layers of skin from the donor site are used for this type of skin graft surgery.

A third type is the “composite” skin graft, which involves removing all layers of skin, fat, and cartilage too (if needed) from the donor site and grafting it to the recipient site. This type of skin grafting surgery provides the most support for the skin being repaired.

Skin Graft surgery may be performed under local, IV sedation, or general anesthesia depending on your specific case, and also based on which type of skin graft surgery is to be performed – i.e. split thickness, full thickness, or composite.

While Skin Graft surgery is used for treating deeper, more serious cases of skin loss, a Skin Flap surgery is used to treat less serious skin loss. Skin Flap surgery usually involves partial detachment of healthy skin and tissue to cover a nearby wound. Usually, the skin flap remains connected on one end to the underlying blood vessels at the original site. However, in some cases, the flap is completely detached and moved to a new site and the blood vessels are reconnected via microsurgery.

There are various techniques of Skin Flap surgery which depend on donor flap location and the structures that need repairs. These include:

Local Flap – This is the most common type of flap surgery, which is used to cover skin loss in areas close to the donor areas. The skin remains attached at one end to the original blood vessels and at the other end, the flap covers the area of skin loss.

Regional Flap – This type of skin flap surgery uses a section of tissue that is attached to a specific blood vessel.

Bone/ Soft Tissue Flap – This type of skin flap surgery uses skin and underlying bone that are moved to a new location.

Muscle and Skin Flap – This type of skin flap surgery uses skin and underlying muscle that are moved to a new location. It is used for covering larger areas with need for increased blood supply – for example, to rebuild breasts after a mastectomy.

Free Flap – The flap is completely detached and moved to a new site and the blood vessels are reconnected via microsurgery.

Skin Flap surgery may be performed under local, IV sedation, or general anesthesia depending on your specific case, and also based on which type of skin flap surgery is to be performed – i.e. local, regional, free flap, or other.

A plastic and reconstructive surgeon often performs surgical excision/ removal of skin cancer. Surgery is a common treatment option for skin cancer since the cancer does not go away spontaneously.

Surgical excision of skin lesions is used to remove malignant (cancerous) moles, lesions, or skin tumors. It can be used to treat melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancers – i.e. basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

There are various techniques to remove skin cancer, including Mohs surgery and various other reconstructive surgeries. Once the skin cancer/ lesion/ tumor has been removed, there will be an open wound that requires closure and this may involve different surgeries for the reconstruction of the skin.

Reconstructive surgeries include flap surgery, skin grafting or a more complex reconstructive procedure, which depends on the severity of the open wound left behind after the removal of the skin cancer. The plastic surgeon will determine which surgical procedure is suitable for the closure of the wound and provide a result that is functional and least disfiguring. At times, you may need more than one session to achieve desired results.

Skin Flap surgery may be performed under local, IV sedation, or general anesthesia depending on your specific case, and also based on which type of skin surgery is to be performed.

Skin surgery is safe with a skilled plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgeon, but the following complications may be seen:

• Scarring
• Bleeding/ swelling
• Hematoma
• Infection
• Temporary or permanent loss of sensation in treated areas
• Damage to underlying blood vessels, nerves, cartilage, bone, or muscle
• Wound dehiscence or delayed wound healing
• Need for revision surgery
• Loss of skin graft