How effective is scar removal these days?

August 16, 2010 1:09 AM

Is there a procedure to get rid of my scars?

10 years ago when i asked my cosmetic surgeon how to get rid of the light scars on my arm, he said the best thing to do would be cut them out and resew them back together to have a more controlled healing process.

Since then, have there been new developments to address scar removal? I heard the laser stuff doesn't work that well. These scars are not that deep or discolored but they are certainly visible.

posted by ilovehistory to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

A procedure exists for scar removal. It is called dermabrasion, which can be done either with sandpaper or with lasers, to remove an upper layer of skin. I have no doubt that your light scars can be either completely removed or at least made much less visible. The main question that I would want you to consider is, do you really need to remove those scars? I can understand that facial scars can be a problem, but scars on an arm, especially light scars, probably won't bother anybody - unless, perhaps, you are planning a career as a professional model. I will also point out that lots of people think that scars are interesting, and some people have themselves deliberately scarred for decorative purposes, a process called scarrification. So scars are not necessarily a bad thing. But yes, if you don't like them, they can be removed.
posted by grizzled at 6:13 AM on August 16, 2010

IANAD, but the last I knew there was no way to completely remove scars, only ways to minimize or reduce them.

Have you tried Maderma? Anecdotal stories I have heard say it works ok.
posted by I am the Walrus at 6:15 AM on August 16, 2010

It is probably not worth the effort.

This being said, I had an annoying penny-size scar at my elbow from a bicycle accident as a teenager. It was uneven, sometimes itchy and never really healed properly. When I had access to liquid nitrogen in a lab I just removed (iced) a couple of skin layers. Healed perfectly after...
posted by yoyo_nyc at 7:07 AM on August 16, 2010

As an umbrella term, this is often called "scar revision." The specific procedures up for consideration depend on where your scar is, how extensive it is, the nature of the scar (raised? fresh/old? pink/white?), and your skin type.
posted by adipocere at 7:21 AM on August 16, 2010

Lasers are the newest thing for scars. This was a recent story on the Today show. The results on these girls were amazing.
posted by cecic at 10:32 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

When I had access to liquid nitrogen in a lab I just removed (iced) a couple of skin layers

NOT RECOMMENDED
posted by en forme de poire at 3:00 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]

cecic: "Lasers are the newest thing for scars. This was a recent story on the Today show. The results on these girls were amazing."

They were on The Doctors as well.

If your scars are flat, they probably aren't that noticeable. I have a bunch of scars around my elbows from when I tried the Kenalog allergy shot for my sinuses... no one warned me that steroids can make you break out in body acne. (Nurse practitioner said it's rare. Whatever.) I was very self-conscious about these scars for a long time but no one really notices them unless I point them out.
posted by IndigoRain at 10:08 PM on August 16, 2010

sorry, to clarify: what I mean by NOT RECOMMENDED is that liquid nitrogen is quite dangerous and ill-suited to DIY projects conducted on your person
posted by en forme de poire at 10:12 PM on August 16, 2010