Are you a burn victim, constantly reminded of the traumatic event you experienced because you were left with permanent scars? Perhaps, it’s like the injury is still causing you pain even after it’s healed because looking at the distortion makes you unhappy. Fortunately, thanks to reconstructive surgery, you do not need to cope with these burn scars any longer.
Burn scars look distorted because as your body rushes to repair the damage, the new fibrous tissue that replaces the missing skin grows in raggedly and raised. It isn’t smooth and even like the surrounding skin.
In addition, the burn scar can be stiff and inhibit your natural movements, making it difficult to bend your arms, legs and fingers or move your neck, shoulders, hands and feet. It can also cause sensation loss.
So, as you can see, appearance isn’t the only issue. The situation is especially problematic when the burn scars cover your face, affecting the function of your mouth, nose, eyes or facial muscles.
How Can Reconstructive Surgery Help?
An expert plastic surgeon like Dr. Maurice Khosh can reduce the appearance of scars, reform features and help restore function. Reconstructive surgery can also relax the affected area, allowing for an increased range of motion.
Each burn victim’s circumstance is unique. Therefore, every individual gets a customized treatment plan tailored to their scars’ severity, type and location. However, all plans are designed to restore the skin’s healthy appearance and improve function during burn scar removal.
Some of the procedures may include:
- Skin grafting for surface burn scars. This involves taking donor skin from another body part to replace the damaged skin. The graft is transplanted and held in place with stitches and dressing.
- Resurfacing or laser techniques for surface burn scars.
- Reconstructive surgery for deeper structural damage, including lip and ear reconstruction, rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery.
It’s important to note that grafting, laser techniques and reconstructive surgery are the second, final step toward recovery from a burn accident. The first step is to let the burn heal completely. However, sometimes a debridement is necessary if the area isn’t healing well. This involves the removal of burned skin tissue to help nudge the healing process and reduce the risk of infection.
Resume a Normal Lifestyle
Dr. Khosh can help you recover from your burn accident so you can resume a normal lifestyle. All you need to do is contact his office in Manhattan today and book a private consultation.
