Scars

Scars often have a large impact on many people’s lives. They can be both physically and psychologically disabling. Scar treatment requires a very thorough assessment in the first instance, at which point the most appropriate nature of treatment can be determined.

Milder scars can be treated with less invasive procedures and treatments, which are provided at very high level at our clinic by our nurses and therapists, all who have been trained by our medical director and laser dermatologist, Dr Shobhan Manoharan.

For more complicated scars or scars that require combination invasive treatments, our treatments are tailored and provided by our dermatologists. Our dermatologist’s scar treatment programs are the result of 15 years of experience treating scars. We work very closely with our plastic surgical colleagues to help provide excellent outcomes post surgery in scar revision.

At our clinic, Dr Shobhan Manoharan has a national reputation in the treatment of scars. He is extensively published and presents both nationally and internationally on scar treatments. He has created combination techniques to treat complicated scarring and teaches scar revision to dermatologists, registrars, nurses and therapists.

We suggest visiting us while the scar is still young as early scar treatments often provide the best outcomes. Below we outline different types of scars, and the treatment options for each of those types of scars:

• Acne Scars
• Post-surgical Scars
• Traumatic Scars
• Burns Scars

Acne Scars

Acne scar treatment is a common request. However, all scarring is not equal and can present itself in many forms, from ice pick scars to keloid scars. With many finding it affects their confidence, our dermatologists take a custom approach to developing every treatment plan so that your skin type, lifestyle and the nature of your scarring is taken into consideration for the best possible result.

Click here to read more about acne scars

Post Surgical Scars

Post-surgical scarring is another common concern for many patients. We often work collaboratively with our plastic surgical colleagues to achieve the best post-procedural scar results for their patients.

There are many factors that contribute to the quality of your wound healing, including age, genetic predisposition and the postoperative wound care.

Our dermatologists work closely with a range of surgeons to provide fast effective revision of all types of post-surgical scars, from skin cancer surgeries, facelifts, implants, tummy tucks, transplants and mastectomies. They will formulate a personalised and considered treatment plan to discuss with every patient.

Traumatic Scars

Traumatic scarring results from a significant, and often sudden, injury to the skin. The sources of the injury can include sharp objects that penetrate the skin, friction burns, scraping, thermal burns, chemical burns.

Traumatic scars are a passion for our clinic because not only do they have a very visual impact on our patients, but the psycollcial component behind traumatic scars can be life altering and disabling. Treating these scars not only provides a good aesthetic outcome but also a deep emotional outcome for our patients which is very rewarding.

Due to the nature of the injury, traumatic scars can occur in visible areas and often are repaired without immediate priority given to the longer-term aesthetics. In traumatic scarring cases, our dermatologists see a range of conditions from patients with subtle visible scarring to severe skin distortions that can restrict movement.

Our dermatologists have seen many patients where traumatic scarring has affected them physically, socially and psychologically, and work with them closely to produce real results and improve their outlook going forward.

• Atrophic Scars – Atrophic scars appear indented and are thinner than the surrounding skin. These scars are often treated using CO2 laser and fractionated laser treatment.
• Hypertrophic Scars – Hypertrophic scars are raised scars that arise due to excessive tissue growth. Tissue can also experience tightening which can prevent normal movement.
• Keloid Scars – Keloid scarring results in a raised scar that tends to overgrow the boundaries of the initial wound as a result of excessive tissue growth.

Burn Scars

Burn scars usually arise from traumatic situations, and we see many patients whose scarring has a real impact on their daily life and self-esteem.

Burn scars are usually a result of chemicals, radiation, heat or electricity. The harshness of the irritant and the length of time it’s in contact with the skin will determine the size and severity of the scar. Acute burn care, administered immediately after the event, also determines the way the scar will develop.

We also see some burn scars with contractures, where the skin has tightened and can prevent normal movement. Our specialists takes pride in creating personalised treatment plans with our patients to provide excellent restructuring of the skin surface to improve the appearance and function of the scars.