Scars can be really unsightly and affect one’s confidence (rolling scars, boxcar scars and ice-pick scars), especially if they are in prominent, visible areas like on the face. Some scars can actually cause issues with movement (contracture scars) and some can be quite uncomfortable and painful (advanced keloid scars). It is very difficult to completely remove scarring and return the skin to being absolutely normal, but quite a lot can be done to improve the appearance of scarred skin, making the scarring much less visible.
Depending on the type of scarring, it’s depth, it’s size, its location on the skin and the skin type being treated, there are a number of possible treatment combinations that can help:
- Mesotherapy with TAC (for Keloids)
- Botulinum Injections (for Keloids)
- Subcision
- Laser Genesis
- Needling with Dermapen
- RF Needling with Secret RF or Endymed Intensif
- Pearl Fractional Laser
- CO2 Laser
- Fraxel DUAL Laser
- Endymed FSR (Fractional Skin Resurfacing)
- Carboxytherapy
- Dermal Filler injections
- 3D Peel
How are scars formed?
When the skin is cut or broken, the body mobilises a wound repair process. The blood vessels constrict and clots form to minimise blood loss. A scab, or hardened crust, forms over the top of the wound. The scab acts like a natural covering to protect the area while the body continues the repair process. Tiny fibres of collagen fill in the hole and eventually reconnect the ends. By the time the scab naturally falls off, much of the initial repair has been finished. However, the area is far from healed. Depending upon the size, depth and location of the injury, it can take months to years for the skin to return to normal strength.
Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process. A scar forms from excess amounts of collagen in the wound as the body attempts a repair. Many scars eventually fade. But they tend not to go away completely. Generally, the larger the wound, the longer it takes to heal and the greater the chance of a visible scar.
How to treat scarring with Botulinum Toxin:
On average most scars take at least one year to fade. However, researchers have found a way to lessen their severity by injecting the drug, BOTOX® near the site of the wound. When a person experiences another kind of injury, like a broken bone, doctors place the area in a sling to immobilise the limb and allow the body to heal. BOTOX works in a similar fashion. When injected into muscles near the wound, the drug prevents the muscles from pulling on the wound site, allowing the area to heal without excessive disruption.
Studies have shown BOTOX is effective in reducing scar formation from facial wounds. Researchers still need to determine if the drug may be effective for other places on the body. The sooner after an injury the patient receives BOTOX, the better the results.
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