In some cases, scars may require additional intervention, like laser treatments or injections. For patients
with thick and raised scars, steroid injections can help them soften and flatten. In other cases, either
pigment or texture issues can be helped with laser therapy. A word of caution: be sure that the provider
who is performing the laser treatments knows their laser well, and has the correct device for the specific
concern. Lasers are powerful machines, and they can do as much damage as help depending on how
they are used.
Finally, there is the ultimate component to scarring: TIME. Scars will go through many phases before
settling into their final appearance. In some cases, that can be as little as 6 months; but in most
instances, it is closer to two years. The lotions and potions will have some effect early on, but after a
period of time, it is really just a waiting game.
The bottom line is that, any time you make a full thickness cut in the skin, there will be scar in that spot
after it heals. Scars are forever, but they can vary tremendously in how they look, and whether or not
they are even detectable in some cases. Personal factors, surgical technique, sun exposure, and scar
care will all play a part in how things turn out. But the moral of the story remains: The way to decide on
a cosmetic procedure is to weigh the scar with the probably outcome. If the problem you are trying to
fix bothers you more than the scar you would gain, then you go ahead. Most patients are so happy with
their results that the lines do not bother them at all. After all, everything is a tradeoff. Thankfully, in the
vast majority of cosmetic surgery cases, this is a very good trade.
