Scar revision is a group of treatments designed to make a scar less conspicuous and help it blend more naturally with the surrounding skin. Depending on the scar's type, age, location, color, texture, and effect on movement, treatment may involve topical therapy, injections, resurfacing, surgical excision, or a combination of methods.
No treatment can erase a scar completely. The goal is realistic improvement in appearance, comfort, or function while exchanging the existing scar for one that is usually finer, flatter, better positioned, or less noticeable.
Key Benefits
- Improve raised, depressed, widened, discolored, or irregular scars.
- Reduce tightness, discomfort, or restricted movement caused by some contracture scars.
- Match treatment to the scar with surgical, injectable, resurfacing, or topical options.
What to Expect
Consultation includes the scar's cause and age, prior treatments, symptoms, health history, medications, nicotine use, skin quality, and your goals. Many office or outpatient treatments take approximately 30 minutes to two hours; complex or staged reconstruction can take longer. Anesthesia may range from local anesthesia to intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the plan. After surgical revision, initial swelling, discoloration, and discomfort commonly improve over one to two weeks, while the scar continues to mature for months. Treatment costs may range from approximately $500 for a limited nonsurgical treatment to $5,000 or more for surgical revision, depending on the scar, technique, anesthesia, and facility needs. A consultation is required for a personalized quote.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 30 years of experience at Cary Plastic Surgery in Cary, NC, I understand that a scar can affect far more than appearance. I evaluate how the scar formed, how it behaves, and whether it affects comfort or movement before recommending treatment. I am honored that this individualized, patient-focused approach has helped our practice earn repeated “Voted Best Plastic Surgery” awards in the area.
Why Choose Dr. Hanna?
With board certification in plastic surgery and more than 30 years of surgical experience, I approach scar revision as a highly individualized problem. I assess scar type, skin tension, location, color, thickness, symptoms, and the original injury or operation before explaining which options are most likely to provide meaningful improvement.
As a repeated Best Plastic Surgery award-winner in Cary, NC, I believe good scar care begins with clear expectations. I will explain the tradeoffs of nonsurgical treatment, resurfacing, excision, and advanced closure techniques, including the possibility that a scar can recur or require staged care. My goal is to create the most refined result the surrounding tissue can safely support—not to promise that a scar can disappear.
Benefits and Candidates for Scar Revision
Scar revision may improve a scar that is raised, depressed, widened, irregular, discolored, painful, itchy, or restrictive. Potential benefits include:
- A finer, flatter, smoother, or better-positioned scar.
- Improved transition between the scar and surrounding skin.
- Reduced tightness or improved movement in selected contracture scars.
- A treatment plan suited to hypertrophic, keloid, depressed, surface, or contracture scars.
- Greater comfort and confidence when a prominent scar is difficult to conceal.
Visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website for additional information about scar revision.
Ideal Candidates
Scar revision can be considered for a bothersome scar almost anywhere on the body. Good candidates generally:
- Are physically healthy and have realistic expectations about improvement rather than complete removal.
- Do not smoke or are willing to stop nicotine use as directed.
- Do not have active acne, infection, or another skin disease in the treatment area.
- Have a mature or stable scar, unless earlier treatment is recommended to address function or abnormal scar formation.
- Understand that keloids and some hypertrophic scars may recur despite careful treatment.
Scar type matters. Hypertrophic scars remain within the original wound but become thick and raised; keloids can extend beyond it; depressed scars sit below the surrounding skin; and contractures can restrict movement, particularly after burns or across a joint. An examination is needed to determine the appropriate approach.
Scar Revision, Step-by-Step
Scar revision may be performed in the office, an accredited office-based surgical facility, an outpatient facility, or a hospital. The setting, anesthesia, and duration depend on the complexity of treatment.
- Anesthesia:
Local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia is selected for your comfort and safety.
- Scar Treatment or Excision:
The scar may be injected, resurfaced, released, or surgically removed according to the treatment plan.
- Repositioning or Reconstruction:
When necessary, the scar is redirected along natural skin lines or nearby tissue is rearranged to release tension and restore movement.
- Layered Closure:
Deep and superficial tissue layers are closed carefully to support healing and reduce tension at the skin surface.
- Dressing and Aftercare:
A dressing is applied, and you receive instructions for wound care, activity, sun protection, and any topical scar therapy.
Recovery & Aftercare
Recovery varies with treatment depth and location. Following surgical revision, localized swelling, discoloration, and discomfort commonly last one to two weeks. Many patients can resume light daily activity within several days, but work, exercise, lifting, and stretching restrictions depend on the treated area and closure tension.
- First several days: Protect the dressing and incision, use medication as directed, and avoid tension or pressure on the area.
- Weeks 1–2: Swelling and discoloration begin to improve; sutures may be removed when appropriate.
- Following weeks: Activity increases gradually while sun protection and recommended silicone or scar care continue.
- Several months to one year: The revised scar continues to soften, flatten, and fade as it matures.
Contact the office for increasing pain, spreading redness, fever, drainage, wound separation, or another unexpected change. Final results take time, and some scars require additional treatment.
Risks & Complications
Scar revision risks include bleeding, infection, fluid collection, delayed or poor wound healing, skin loss, persistent pain, numbness or other sensation changes, discoloration, prolonged swelling, asymmetry, and an unfavorable or widened new scar. A hypertrophic scar or keloid can return, and additional injections, radiation, pressure therapy, or surgery may be recommended in selected cases.
Anesthesia, blood-clot, cardiac, and pulmonary risks also apply to surgical treatment. Results cannot be guaranteed, and a second procedure may be needed to address recurrence, a complication, or an incomplete improvement. Dr. Hanna will review the risks relevant to your scar, health, skin characteristics, and treatment plan during informed consent.
Individual results vary.
Cost & Financing
Scar revision costs vary widely because treatment may range from a limited office procedure to a more complex operation requiring anesthesia and facility time. A practical planning range is approximately $500 for a limited nonsurgical treatment to $5,000 or more for surgical revision. The final fee depends on the scar's size and location, the chosen technique, the number of treatment sessions, and anesthesia or facility needs.
Most health plans do not cover treatment performed only to improve appearance. Coverage may be considered when a scar causes documented functional impairment, but requirements vary and coverage cannot be guaranteed. Financing through CareCredit and major-card payment options are available. A consultation is required for a written, personalized quote.
Schedule a consultation to receive a personalized scar revision treatment plan and cost estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can scar revision remove a scar completely? No. Scar revision is intended to make a scar less noticeable or improve its function. Every surgical revision creates a new scar, although careful planning may make it finer, flatter, or better positioned.
- When is a scar ready for revision? Many scars improve as they mature, often over a year or longer. Timing depends on the scar's cause, age, location, symptoms, and behavior. Earlier treatment may be appropriate for a contracture, active keloid, or another functional concern.
- What is the difference between a hypertrophic scar and a keloid? A hypertrophic scar is raised but stays within the original wound. A keloid grows beyond the original wound and may continue enlarging, itching, or hurting. Keloids have a higher recurrence risk and often require combined treatment.
- How long does scar revision take? Many office or outpatient procedures take approximately 30 minutes to two hours. Large, complex, or staged reconstructions may take longer.
- What type of anesthesia is used? Small revisions may require only local anesthesia. More extensive resurfacing, excision, tissue rearrangement, or reconstruction may use intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.
- How long is recovery? Initial swelling, discoloration, and discomfort after surgical revision generally improve over one to two weeks. Activity restrictions depend on the treated area, and the scar may continue maturing for several months to a year.
- Will I need more than one treatment? Possibly. Injections, resurfacing, and keloid care commonly require a series of treatments. Complex scars may also be treated in stages.
- Can a revised scar come back? Yes. Any scar can widen or remain noticeable, and hypertrophic scars and keloids can recur. Following wound-care, activity, sun-protection, and scar-management instructions can support healing but cannot eliminate recurrence risk.
- Does insurance cover scar revision? Cosmetic scar revision is usually not covered. A plan may consider treatment when a scar causes documented pain, contracture, or functional impairment, but policy requirements vary.
- How much does scar revision cost? Treatment may range from approximately $500 for a limited nonsurgical treatment to $5,000 or more for surgery. A consultation is needed to determine the technique, setting, and personalized fee.