Do you ever feel self-conscious about scars or deformities on your face? It's understandable - they can be emotionally distressing and affect your confidence. Dr. Fedok has special skills and experience in managing these types of facial concerns.
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The appearance of unsightly or disfiguring scars and defects may be improved by well-planned and carefully executed surgery. However, there are very important facts that patients should consider if they are contemplating this type of procedure. These include the goal of the surgical treatment of scars, deformities and defects which is to make the deformity less noticeable than the current deformity and to improve function.
Each incision that is made into the skin, regardless of where it is placed, heals in the same manner as any other cut based on the patient’s own healing capacity. Any reconstructive procedure has to be optimally and strategically planned. It must be understood that not all the defects and deformities can be remedied by Dr. Fedok, or times even by other surgeons. It must also be understood that not all deformities and defects can be managed outside of a specialized tertiary care center and may not be able to be managed in our local community.
Dr. Fedok is committed to ensuring that his patients receive optimal outcomes from their treatments. The scar must be fully healed and stable before undergoing any scar revision surgery. The severity and location of the scar will determine if scar revision is appropriate. An in-person consultation is required to confirm whether you are a suitable candidate for scar revision or soft tissue reconstruction. Finally, the other fact to consider is that the surgeon is not in control of all the variables that would lead to success, but the patient’s ability to heal and general health are also important factors.
Dr. Fedok has extensive experience and training in facial plastic surgery, his scar treatment benefits include:
Reconstructive procedures and simple scar revisions depend on a number of general techniques, including scar revision, the use of flaps and tissue transfer, and possibly postoperative use of Laser and other techniques to optimize healing. Based on his years of experience, Dr. Fedok will advise you on the best method of treatment and its alternatives, limitations and possible complications.
When surgery is appropriate, Dr. Fedok works in conjunction with several local Moh’s surgeons to plan early reconstruction after a cancer procedure. Dr. Fedok has been working in conjunction with Moh’s surgeons like this for most of his career. We have found that it is best to plan the reconstructive procedure on a day different than the Moh’s procedure in most cases. By planning as a separate procedure on another day (usually the next day) we can keep the patient more comfortable, and avoid unnecessary delays and cancellations.
Scars and defects that are a result of an accident will take the same time to heal as any other type of scarring. It is necessary that the scar be on its way to maturity and become soft before the decision to undergo surgical treatment is made. Sometimes, the natural healing process produces results that do not require surgery. But if surgery is required, it will not be as complicated as it would be if the scarred area were treated immediately after the surgery. In some situations, however, there are scars and defects which require revision surgery before the scar is mature and soft. Scars that result in distortion of normal structures, such as the eyebrow, eyelid, lips or nostrils, may require immediate attention. Those that have an obvious wideness or depression as well as U-, C-, or V-shaped configurations may require plastic surgery to correct the underlying tissues and provide a good base for the scar to begin to heal. Otherwise, the scar areas may contract and distort other structures.
A variety of techniques are used to revise unsightly scars and to make them less noticeable. These techniques may be used over a period of time to produce a favorable result. Techniques include scar revision or camouflage techniques, laser abrasion, and others. The important fact to remember is there will always be a scar, but it will be less noticeable.
Patients may anticipate that surgery will produce immediate results; however, that is not the case. A maturation process will occur that will continue to change the appearance of the previously scarred area. Once healing is complete, the scars will be mature, and they will undergo no further change in appearance. This process takes place over a period of six to eighteen months, sometimes longer. Immediately following surgery, a fresh scar may look good, although it may be raised slightly above the skin’s surface. In the next two to three weeks, the area becomes reddened and somewhat lumpy in comparison to the surrounding skin, and may have a hard consistency. This is a natural part of the healing process: the tissue needs to develop a base on which to heal. Later, over the next several weeks and/or months, the scar will soften, flatten, and become paler than the adjacent skin.
With scar revision, the risks and side effects can include infection, bleeding, and the possibility of the scar returning in some cases. It is important to note that every individual’s healing process is unique and cannot be guaranteed to produce the same results. Dr. Fedok has a wealth of experience and expertise in this area, and takes all precautions necessary to minimize these risks.
Dr. Fedok has decades-long experience in performing plastic and reconstructive procedures on the face and other areas of the body that are the result of trauma, congenital deformities, cancer-related surgery, and other ideologies. Whether it’s wide, elevated or depressed scars, long, discolored marks or distortions in adjacent facial features, Dr. Fedok can help. You don’t have to live with the insecurity anymore – book a consultation with Dr. Fedok today and take the first step to feeling confident again.
By Dr. Fedok, a well-respected and widely published double board-certified plastic surgeon whose before and after gallery, RealSelf and Google Reviews reflect his trusted expertise.
