Scar Revision New York City, NY

Keloids are thick, puckered, itchy clusters of scar tissue that grow beyond the edges of a wound or incision. They often appear red or darker than the surrounding skin. Keloids occur when the body continues to produce a tough, fibrous protein after a wound has healed. Keloids can appear anywhere on the body, but they’re most common in areas with little underlying fatty tissue, such as the ears, face, neck, and shoulders. The tendency to develop keloids reduces as you grow older. 

The most common treatment for keloid scars is the injection of a steroid medication directly into the scar tissue to reduce redness, itching, and burning. In some cases, steroid injections are effective in shrinking the scar, making it less visible. 

If steroid treatment does not result in a more attractive appearance of a scar, Dr. Antell can excise the scar tissue and carefully re-close the wound with meticulous attention to creating minimal scarring and avoiding the development of another keloid scar. As keloids tend to recur, Dr. Antell may combine the scar removal with steroid injections or radiation therapy.

Scar removal is an outpatient procedure, performed under local anesthesia. You should be back at work or resume other activities almost immediately, and any external sutures, if used, will be removed within 10-14 days. Manhattan scar revision by Dr. Antell is high-quality and heals as quickly as possible.

Hypertrophic scars are often confused with keloids, as both types tend to appear thick and raised. Hypertrophic scars, however, remain within the boundaries of the original incision or wound. They can also appear hyperpigmented (dark and usually red) or hypopigmented (light). They often improve on their own or with the help of a steroid injection, such as cortisone. If a conservative approach is not effective, hypertrophic scars can be improved surgically.

Dr. Antell will remove excess scar tissue and may reposition the incision so that it heals in a less visible pattern. Many scar revision procedures are performed using local anesthesia alone. However, when appropriate, we may recommend sedation (also known as twilight anesthesia) to enhance your comfort. 

We will discuss whether sedation is indicated for your procedure during your consultation. You may receive steroid injections during surgery or need injections at regular intervals for up to two years after the procedure to maintain the improved appearance of the scar.

Burns or other injuries that result in the loss of a large area of skin may leave a scar that pulls the edges of the skin together, a process called contraction. The resulting contracture may affect the adjacent muscles and tendons, restricting normal movement. If the contracture has existed for some time, you may need physical therapy after surgery to restore full function.

Correcting a contracture typically requires one of two methods of revision surgery:

• Skin grafting: This surgical technique uses a skin graft from another area of the body to replace damaged tissue, helping loosen the contraction and dramatically reduce scar visibility.
• Z-plasty: This surgical technique repositions the scar so that it more closely conforms to the skin’s natural lines and creases, making it far less noticeable and relieving tension caused by contracture.

Fractional and non-ablative lasers vaporize damaged tissue and stimulate collagen regeneration. They are highly effective at evening out skin tone and smoothing surface-level irregularities, helping you enjoy clearer, healthier-looking skin. Laser resurfacing is highly customizable to your scar type and depth.

Microneedling involves guiding a specialized device with tiny needles across the skin to create thousands of micro-wounds. These wounds trigger the body’s natural healing response, stimulating collagen and resulting in firmer, bouncier skin.