Scarring

At RiverEnd Aesthetics we provide advice on the best course of action to treat scar tissue. Scarring is a very common cosmetic concern, and most of us have scars following acne, surgery, accidents, diseases or any other significant trauma to the skin.

Unfortunately, it is rare that a scar can be completely removed (as we would essentially be replacing an old scar with a new scar), however, we can significantly improve its appearance on the skin.

In order to determine the right treatment for your scarring concerns, we recommended booking an initial consultation to assess your particular concerns.

What is Scar Tissue?

Scar tissue is a hard, fibrotic type of tissue that develops as a result of collagen remodelling during the natural wound healing process. The composition and arrangement of collagen fibres in scar tissue is different to that of normal, healthy skin tissue, resulting in scarring.

There are 4 phases of the wound healing process resulting in scar formation:

1. Injury Occurs: When the skin is injured, whether it’s a cut, burn, or other trauma, the body responds by initiating the healing process.
2. Inflammation Phase: The body’s immune system responds to the injury by sending white blood cells to the site to fight off infection and remove damaged tissue. During this phase, blood vessels widen to allow more blood flow to the area, causing redness and swelling.
3. Proliferation Phase: This is when the body starts to rebuild the damaged tissue. Fibroblasts (specialised cells in the skin) produce collagen, a tough protein that provides structure and strength to the skin. Collagen fibres are laid down in a random pattern, resulting in the formation of scar tissue. Elastin, another protein responsible for skin elasticity, may also be produced during this phase.
4. Remodelling Phase: Over time, the scar tissue undergoes remodelling, where collagen fibres are reorganised and realigned to improve the strength and flexibility of the scar. However, the new tissue often differs in texture and appearance from the surrounding skin, leading to the visible presence of a scar.

Are There Different Types of Scars?

There are many different types of scars, some of which are unfortunately unable to be treated. The most common scars seen are either a thicker, elevated or lumpy demarcation on the skin’s surface (hypertrophic scars) and appear a different colour to that of the surrounding skin. In some cases, scar tissue can develop and appear more sunken and depressed into the skin. These sunken types of scars are usually a result of acne (eg. ice pick, boxcar and rolling scars).

On the rarer occasions, there are scars that can develop outside the margins of the original wound area and appear very raised; these are “keloid scars”. These scars can develop spontaneously and not just from trauma. Unfortunately, this type of scar tissue is very challenging to treat due to its uncontrolled nature.

Treatment for scarring

At RiverEnd Aesthetics we offer comprehensive assessment and advice regarding the best treatment modalities to treat scarring. Depending on the individual’s skin type, the most common treatments for scarring are microneedling, laser therapy, “subcision” with a cannula, and newer technologies such as polynucleotide injections (Rejuarn-S). Often, a combination of treatments are required.

To determine which treatment options are best suited to your particular situation, a consultation with one of our doctors is recommended.