When plastic surgery first came out, scars were a tell-tale sign that someone had gone under the knife, but today scarring has become an “art form,” at least for a skilled board-certified surgeon with an aesthetic eye.
While scarring is an inevitable aspect of surgery and the body’s natural healing process, the highly-skilled surgeon takes scarring into account when planning a surgical procedure. Meaning, surgical incisions are carefully calculated to minimize the appearance of scarring.
Creating Well-Hidden Scars
As a board-certified surgeon, Dr. Yuly Gorodisky understands that patients want to minimize scarring as much as possible. So, regardless of the procedure, creating a well-hidden scar is always his priority. After all, one of the ways to create natural-looking results is to minimize the appearance of scars and the look that the patient had work done.
There are a number of factors that affect the scarring process: location, the type of procedure, the patient’s goals, the patient’s age, the patient’s weight and skin elasticity, genetics, and the patient’s willingness to listen to post-surgery instructions, so let’s explore a few of them:
Type of Procedure
The type of procedure will impact the location of the scar. With a tummy tuck for example, it is ideal to place the incision below the bikini line so it will be covered by underwear. However, when you have to remove seven or eight inches of skin, it’s not the same as moving one inch of skin. When the patient has less weight, the scar is smaller. Regardless of how much skin is removed, the goal is to have the best possible scar.
Location of Scar
In all procedures, our goal is to hide the scar if possible. With a facelift we’ll make the incision where other people won’t see it. It’s the same with a breast augmentation, we’ll plan the procedure so the scar is barely visible if possible.
The Patient’s Details
Each patient is different; factors such as age, weight, skin elasticity, and skin tone all make the patients who they are. These factors will all be taken into consideration when making a surgical incision. Age is one critical factor, particularly with breast augmentations. An incision for a twenty-year-old woman who has never had children will likely be different for a forty-year-old woman who’s breastfed three babies, especially if her procedure will require skin removal.
Following the Surgeon’s Instructions
One factor that affects plastic surgery results is the patient’s willingness to follow their surgeon’s post-operative instructions. Not wearing sun screen, resuming physical activity too soon, and weight gain can all compromise plastic surgery results and increase the appearance of scars. When skin is healing, it’s especially sensitive to sun damage, so make sure you follow your surgeon’s post-op instructions to a T.