You Don't Have to Live With Burn Scars: See What Reconstructive Surgery Can Do for You

The trauma of being burned severely can go beyond the injury. You may be left with severe scarring. As your body rushes to repair the damage, fibrous tissue will replace the areas of missing skin. Unfortunately, this tissue may come in raised, uneven, and not appearing like your surrounding skin. Furthermore, it may inhibit your natural movements.

If you have scars from a burn, Dr. Elliott H. Rose of The Aesthetic Surgery Center can help. Dr. Elliott is a world-renowned burn reconstruction specialist and an author of an authoritative textbook on the subject. In this blog, he shares how reconconstructive surgery can help you.

How reconstructive surgery benefits a burn victim

If you have burn scars, you may know that their appearance isn’t the only issue. Scars can make the area tight and inhibit the movement of your neck, shoulders, arms, hands, or legs. Reconstructive surgery can help relax the area and increase your range of motion.

Certain structures and functions may be similarly affected. Reconstruction can help return these areas to normal, and skin grafts can substantially improve their appearance. Scars that are particularly wide, thick, or discolored may also benefit from reconstructive techniques.

Common reconstructive procedures for burns

There are many techniques, and the ones used for you will depend on the type, severity, and location of your burns. Some of the common procedures for burns include:

Debridement

With debridement, burned tissue is removed to reduce the chances of infection and to allow the site to begin healing. This is often the first step before reconstructive surgery. A debridement may be done more than once on the same area.

Skin grafts

Skin grafts are often used to cover large areas of skin damage. The donor skin, which is taken from another part of your body, often consists of the first two layers of skin.

Z-plasty

The Z-plasty technique can shift the location of your scar so it’s not as noticeable. Scars can be shifted so they’re more in line with natural body creases and therefore camouflaged better than their original position.

Tissue expansion

To encourage the generation of new skin, balloon expanders can be placed under your skin. The balloons are then gradually filled with a saline solution, and over time, your body generates new skin to cover the expanding area. This extra skin is then used for skin grafts and other reconstructive procedures.

If you have scar tissue from a burn, Dr. Rose can evaluate you and put you on the best path to recovery. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with The Aesthetic Surgery Center today.