We all have them - scars from various mishaps and accidents. When these are in conspicuous parts of our bodies, they can cause embarrassment and destroy our self-confidence. Unsightly scars do not have to stick with you for life though. Modern cosmetic surgery has made it possible to remove or dramatically reduce the appearance of most types of scars. The procedures are quick, safe, and require little to no recovery. With the aid of a trained plastic surgeon you can get rid of all those little reminders of past falls and crashes.

Many small wounds heal completely without the manifestation of a scar, but larger wounds and wounds that become infected almost always end in scars. Scarring is what happens when there is too much or not enough collagen in the skin as a wound heals.

The Process

Plastic surgery called laser scar removal uses fine lasers to vaporize the top layers of skin over the scars. With the top layers gone, fresher skin is revealed and the look of scars is minimized. Laser scar removal is usually performed at an outpatient clinic and the patient receives local or general anesthesia depending on the extent of scar removal to be done. Most scar removal cosmetic surgeries take less than two hours to complete.

When It Can Help

Laser scar removal is good for those who have one of these three types of scarring: Atrophic, Hypertrophic, or Keloid. Atrophic includes scarring from acne and other skin conditions that cause sunken-in points in the skin. Cosmetic surgeons use CO2 lasers to eliminate these types of scars. Sometimes collagen injections are also used to fill out the skin under acne marks. Hypertrophic scarring means pink scars right on the initial wound site that are raised up and thick. Keloid is scarring that reaches beyond the initial wound area, turns reddish-purple, and is raised up above the surrounding skin. Plastic surgeons use either Er: YAG lasers or 585-nm pulsed dye lasers on hypertrophic and keloid scars.

When It Can't

Laser scar removal is not recommended for those with skin issues like psoriasis, dermatitis, and cystic acne. It also may not be particularly effective for those with dark skin.

Recovery from Laser Scar Removal

Pain and discomfort are usually minimal after laser scar removal and most patients go home on the same day. Any pain can be typically managed with over-the-counter pain medications. Other recovery care includes the use of antibiotic ointments, regular bandages, cool compresses, and possibly prescription antibiotics.

The Risks

Side effects and risks of this cosmetic surgery are rare but they do exist. They include the risks of hyper pigmentation (when patches of skin turn darker than the surrounding area), allergic reactions, and infection. Selecting a qualified plastic surgeon and following his or her directions exactly, will greatly reduce the risk of complications and improve the level of satisfaction with the procedure.

While there are few risks, the good news is that most scars respond well to cosmetic surgery techniques. Though laser scar removal techniques are expensive than dermabrasion or any other scar removal technique, but it's surely worth it..