Scar revision · Scar treatment
Scar revision: Compare practices from our network
Scar revision aims to make a scar less noticeable, more comfortable, or less restrictive. It cannot erase a scar, but it can change how one looks and feels.
Our network
Scar revision providers from Adoreal's partner network.
East Grinstead · United Kingdom
PANTHEONS Clinic
Surgical and non-surgical scar revision, including C-section scars, usually under local anesthesia, with a personalized treatment plan.
East Grinstead · United Kingdom
PANTHEONS Clinic
Surgical and non-surgical scar revision, including C-section scars, usually under local anesthesia, with a personalized treatment plan.
Ready to see who performs scar revision near you?
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How to choose a practice for scar revision
Board certification is the starting point. The details below are worth weighing carefully when you're choosing the practice who's right for your goals.
Here's what to look for before you decide:
The right method depends on the type of scar.
Raised, sunken, stretched and tight scars respond to different treatments, from silicone and injections to laser and surgery. A practice that identifies your scar type before naming a treatment is planning around you.
Ask whether your scar has finished maturing.
Scars keep changing for a year or more, and many fade without treatment. A surgeon who suggests waiting when a scar is still settling is protecting you from an operation you may not need.
Expect a clear answer about what will remain.
Revision replaces one scar with another that should be less noticeable. A surgeon who describes the likely new scar honestly, rather than promising it will disappear, is setting expectations you can trust.
Combination plans are common, and should be explained.
Surgery is often followed by silicone, injections or laser to support healing. Ask what each step is for, how many sessions are likely and how long the whole plan takes.
Aftercare shapes the result.
Sun protection, scar massage and silicone products all affect how a new scar heals. A practice that gives you a written aftercare plan and follows you up is investing in the final result.
Before your consultation, prepare this question
“What type of scar is this, and what will the scar look like after treatment?”
A practice that names your scar type and describes the likely new scar honestly is planning around you, not around a single treatment.
Find a Scar Revision ProviderAbout the treatment
About scar revision
A scar is the mark left when a wound or injury heals. Most scars fade over time, which can take up to two years or more, but some stay raised, sunken, wide, discolored, itchy or tight. Scar revision is treatment to improve how such a scar looks or feels.
It covers a range of methods, from topical treatments and injections to laser and surgery, and plans often combine several. The method depends on the type of scar, where it is, and how it has healed. Scars can come from surgery, injury, burns, acne or a cesarean section, and they can matter for comfort and movement as well as appearance.
Common types of scar
- Hypertrophic scars, raised and firm, staying within the original wound; they often flatten and fade over time.
- Keloid scars, raised and growing beyond the original wound; they do not usually flatten or fade without treatment.
- Atrophic scars, sunken or pitted, often after acne or chickenpox.
- Contracture scars, tight scars that can restrict movement, often after a burn or across a joint.
- Wide or discolored scars, after surgery or injury, which can be smoothed or narrowed.
What is scar revision?
Scar revision is treatment to make a scar less noticeable, more comfortable or less restrictive. It cannot erase a scar.
It can help scars from surgery, injury, burns, acne or a C-section.
The treatments available
Your practice chooses the method from the type of scar:
Topical treatments, such as silicone gels and tapes.
Injections, steroids to flatten raised scars, or fillers for some sunken scars.
Surface treatments, laser, dermabrasion or chemical peels.
Surgical revision, removing the scar and closing it carefully, sometimes with Z-plasty, W-plasty or a flap.
Are you a candidate?
Scar revision can be done at any age. Your surgeon will usually want you to be:
Bothered by a scar anywhere on your body
In good general health
A non-smoker
Free of active acne or other skin disease in the area
Realistic that the aim is improvement, not removal
The treatment, step by step
01. Consultation and assessment. The scar's type and history are assessed, and you discuss methods and timing.
02. Preparation. Instructions on medication, smoking and skin care, and an agreed plan for combined treatments.
03. Anesthesia. Often local anesthesia.
04. Treatment. Non-surgical methods, surgical revision, or both.
05. Supporting treatment. Dressings, then silicone, injections or laser where planned.
Recovery and aftercare
The new scar needs protecting while it heals.
Swelling or discoloration usually settles within one to two weeks
Protect the scar from the sun, ideally for at least a year
Use silicone or scar massage once the wound has healed, if advised
After larger revisions, full activities usually return at four to six weeks
The scar keeps refining for up to a year or more.
Risks and side effects
Complications are possible, and the new scar can still heal less well than hoped:
Unfavorable scarring, thick, wide or discolored.
Infection, uncommon, and usually treated with antibiotics.
Bleeding or hematoma, after surgical revision.
Pigment changes, lighter or darker skin.
Changes in sensation, temporary or lasting numbness.
Further treatment, sometimes more than one session or revision.
When to seek medical attention
- A scar or wound that becomes swollen, painful or warm to the touch
- Pus or other discharge from the wound
- Fever, or redness that spreads around the area
- A wound that opens or bleeds and does not stop with gentle pressure
- Shortness of breath or chest pain after a procedure under sedation or general anesthesia
Contact your surgeon's practice directly, or seek emergency care, if you experience any of the above.
Common questions
Scar revision questions, answered.
If your question isn't here, ask us directly. A real person answers, and we won't push you toward anything.
Talk to us →Can scar revision remove my scar completely?
No. A scar cannot be erased, and surgical revision leaves a scar of its own. The aim is a scar that is less noticeable, blends better with the surrounding skin, or no longer restricts movement.
How long should I wait before having a scar revised?
Scars keep changing for a year or more, and many fade without treatment. Surgeons often prefer to wait until a scar has matured; for a C-section scar, some practices ask for at least twelve months. Some raised scars are treated earlier with non-surgical methods.
Which treatment will I need?
It depends on the scar. Raised scars are often treated with silicone or steroid injections, sunken scars with fillers or surface treatments, and wide or tight scars with surgery. Many plans combine methods.
Is scar revision painful?
Most revisions are done under local anesthesia, so you feel the injection but not the procedure. Some tenderness afterwards is usual and is managed with simple pain relief and aftercare.
How many treatments will I need?
It varies with the scar's size, type and complexity. A single surgical revision may be enough for some scars, while injections or laser are often given as a series. Your practice will give you an estimate at consultation.
Can keloid scars be treated?
Yes, keloids can be treated, often with injections, silicone or a combination of methods. They do not usually flatten without treatment, and they can be harder to improve than other scars, so ask your practice what to expect.
Can a C-section scar be revised?
Yes. Options include surgical revision of the old scar, laser and other skin treatments, or a combination. Practices usually want you to be at least a year after the birth, at a stable weight and not planning further pregnancies.
What can I do at home to help a scar?
Once a wound has fully healed, massaging the scar, using silicone gels or dressings, and keeping it out of the sun with clothing or SPF 30 or higher can help it heal and fade.
What if my scar is affecting how I feel?
That is common, and it is a valid reason to seek help. Talk to your doctor: alongside treatment of the scar itself, support such as talking therapy can help if a scar is affecting your mental health.
How long do the results last?
Results are generally long lasting. Scars can still change over time with aging, sun exposure or new injury, so sun protection and following your aftercare advice help maintain them.
