Scar Revision Surgery FAQs
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Scar revision is one of the most commonly enquired-about plastic surgical procedures, and it generates a particular set of recurring questions: what realistic improvement can be expected, when is the right time to operate, how does the procedure actually work, and what happens to the new scar after the old one is removed. This FAQ answers the our consultants address most often at consultation.
For the underlying biology and the full menu of scar types, start with . For the wider service overview, see at Centre for Surgery’s CQC-regulated Baker Street hospital.
What is a scar?
A scar is the body’s natural repair tissue. When an injury or surgical incision breaches the deeper dermal layer of the skin, the body responds by laying down collagen to bridge the gap. This replacement collagen is different from the original skin — more disorganised, less elastic, often a different colour and texture. The scar is what remains visible at the surface.
Scar formation moves through three phases. in the first week clears debris and recruits repair cells. Proliferation over weeks one to six lays down new collagen and the scar appears red, firm and raised. Remodelling over the following 12 to 18 months gradually reorganises the collagen and the scar matures into its final form — typically paler, flatter and softer than during the early phases. This timeline matters because it is the reason scar revision is for at least 12 months after the original injury.
What are the different types of scars?
Every patient heals differently, and scars vary by location, depth, technique, skin type and several other factors. The main categories:
Different scar types respond to different treatments, which is why the consultation begins with identifying which type of scar you actually have. For full discussion see and
How long does scar healing take?
The skin surface closes within 1 to 2 weeks of an injury or incision. Scar maturation, however, continues for 12 to 18 months. The appearance during the first few months is not the final appearance.
Typical maturation timeline:
The implication: most scars look worst between weeks 6 and 12, and best between months 12 and 18. This is one reason scar revision is generally not performed until at least 12 months after the original injury.
Most scars are entirely benign and cosmetic — they cause no functional problem and serve simply as a visible of the injury. Some, however, can cause genuine functional or symptomatic issues:
Scars causing problems benefit from earlier rather than later assessment. Cosmetic concern is also a legitimate reason to seek treatment, when the scar is in a visible area or causing distress.
When is the right time for scar revision?
The standard guidance: wait at least 12 months from the original injury before considering surgical scar revision. The reasons:
This guidance applies to surgical scar specifically. Non-surgical scar management — silicone, sun protection, gentle massage, steroid injection for scars — should start during the maturation window, ideally as soon as the wound has fully closed at around 2 weeks post-operation. Early non-surgical management is the most cost-effective intervention for influencing the final scar appearance.
For specific scar types the timing varies. Acne scarring is typically treated once active acne is controlled. Hypertrophic scars often improve naturally over 12–24 months and can be non-surgically during that period before considering revision. Keloids need active rather than watchful waiting.
What does scar revision surgery actually involve?
Scar revision is performed by excising the existing scar and re-closing the area with optimised technique. The procedure varies in complexity from simple linear excision to more involved geometric rearrangements:
Most scar revisions at Centre for Surgery are performed under local anaesthetic as day-case procedures. More cases — multiple scars, large areas, contracture release with skin grafting — may need TIVA (total intravenous anaesthesia) or general anaesthesia.
What about non-surgical scar improvement?
Many scars substantially with non-surgical treatment alone, without surgical revision. This is generally the first-OnabotulinumtoxinAAbobotulinumtoxinAIncobotulinumtoxinAPrabotulinumtoxinALetibotulinumtoxinARimabotulinumtoxinBHyaluronic Acid FillersCalcium Hydroxylapatite FillersPoly-L-lactic Acid FillersPolymethylmethacrylate FillersAutologous Fat GraftingForehead Lines TreatmentGlabellar Frown Lines TreatmentCrow’s Feet TreatmentBunny Lines TreatmentChemical Brow LiftLip FlipGummy Smile CorrectionMasseter ReductionJaw SlimmingDimpled Chin SmoothingCobblestone Chin SmoothingNefertiti Neck LiftMicro-BotoxMesotoxHyperhidrosis TreatmentChronic Migraine ReliefBruxism TreatmentTMJ TreatmentCervical Dystonia TreatmentNeck Spasm TreatmentBlepharospasm TreatmentLip AugmentationLip ContouringCheekbone EnhancementTear Trough FillersNasolabial Fold SofteningMarionette Line FillersLiquid RhinoplastyNon-Surgical Nose JobJawline ContouringJawline DefinitionChin AugmentationTemple VolumisingHand RejuvenationAcne Scar Subcision Filling approach because it carries less risk and lower cost. include:
Many patients benefit from combining several modalities. The treatment plan is tailored to the scar type, location, skin type, and the patient’s goals.
Do some patients scar more than others?
Yes. Several factors influence how prominently a patient scars:
Knowing your individual risk profile lets your surgeon plan technique and post-operative scar management accordingly.
Are scars permanent?
Yes, in the strictest sense. Once the deeper layer of skin has been damaged and repaired with collagen, that structural change is permanent. What treatment can achieve is significantly reducing the scar’s visibility, sometimes to the point where it is hard to find without close inspection.
This is why realistic expectations matter. A patient who arrives expecting “the scar will be completely gone” is likely to be even with an excellent result. A patient who arrives “the scar will be much less noticeable” is likely to be delighted with the same outcome. Good consultation includes a frank discussion about what is realistically achievable for the specific scar in question.
What about recovery from scar revision?
Recovery depends on the technique used. For simple linear excision and re-closure:
More complex revisions — tissue expansion, contracture release, skin grafting — have longer recovery profiles that are discussed individually at consultation.
What we don’t recommend
Frequently asked questions
No — there will be a new scar in place of the old one. The aim is for the new scar to be much less noticeable than the original. The outcome depends on the technique used, the patient’s skin type, and how the new scar is managed during its 12–18 month maturation.
Costs vary by . Simple local anaesthetic revision starts from around £1,500–2,500. More complex cases involving tissue expansion, multiple stages, or general anaesthesia are priced accordingly. is available. For full see
NHS funding for scar is restricted. Cases with impairment (restricted movement, recurrent ulceration, contracture) may qualify; cosmetic revision usually doesn’t. Most patients seeking scar revision proceed privately.
Simple linear revisions take 30–60 minutes under local anaesthetic. More complex techniques (Z-plasty, multiple-stage closure, tissue expansion) take longer. The consultation establishes the right approach and the expected procedure duration.
For simple linear revision under local anaesthetic, most patients return to non-physical work within 1–2 days. Heavy work or work involving the wound area should be avoided for 2 weeks. More complex may need longer.
Often yes — multiple small scars can be addressed in a single appointment. We assess this at consultation based on the number, size, and locations.
The local anaesthetic injection produces a brief sting. The procedure itself is painless. Mild soreness for 1–2 days afterwards is normal and managed with paracetamol.
Yes — there is no upper limit on how old a scar can be before revision. The technique and realistic are discussed at consultation.
For most patients it will. For those at higher risk of problematic healing — keloid history, darker skin types, high-tension areas — the post-operative scar management is intensified, sometimes with steroid injection or laser treatment, to optimise the result.
Yes — scar is often combined with adjacent such as facelift surgery, abdominoplasty (which itself produces a scar that benefits from optimised technique), or other plastic surgical procedures.
Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated plastic surgery clinic at 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone. All are performed by GMC-registered plastic surgeons. We offer the full range of surgical and non-surgical scar treatments, calibrated to your specific scar type and skin. No GP referral is .
For related guides, see , , , , , and
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Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private on London’s Baker Street, delivering plastic and cosmetic surgery through GMC-registered specialist surgeons. Our expertise spans facial procedures including and , , for men, and body procedures such as and . Patient safety, surgical excellence and natural-looking results sit at the heart of we do.
Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s iconic , offering plastic and cosmetic surgery led by GMC-registered consultant surgeons.
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