Management of Scarring Following Aesthetic Surgery

Abstract

Patients undergo cosmetic surgery to improve their appearance and so, even though surgical scars cannot be avoided, they must be minimized as part of the aesthetic care process. The challenge is to make scars as inconspicuous as possible, and there are many techniques to be considered, including proper patient selection, preoperative preparation, the choice of surgical techniques, and postoperative care. The proactive management of tissue healing with prophylaxis of pathological scarring is particularly important. As the scarring process passes through multiple phases over a 6-week to 6-month period, cosmetic surgeons should not only plan to prepare patients well in advance of surgery but also be prepared to provide support to patients well after.