Ethnicity, Scarring and Plastic Surgery

Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, & Maryland

You may not have considered what affect your ethnicity may have on the outcome of your plastic surgery procedure, but this is a consideration that you may need to take into account. Many patients ask about the risk of scarring after plastic surgery, and most are surprised to learn that individuals with darker skin pigmentation may be at a higher risk for scarring than those with lighter skin pigmentation.

 

Types of Scars

 

There are different types of scars that may develop from an injury or surgery: hypertrophic and keloid. A hypertrophic scar is a scar which will become relatively stable and only affects the area of injury or incision. A keloid scar does the opposite, and may change size and shape over time and even overtake healthy tissue that was not touched by the surgery or injury. Individuals with darker skin pigmentation are at higher risk for developing keloid scars.

 

Scarring has been directly related to collagen in studies that show hypertrophic scars to have 3-4 times as much collagen as surrounding tissue, and keloid scars to have as much as 15-20 times more collagen.

 

Not all scars are hypertrophic or keloid. Many scars will never increase their mass, and for that reason some minor scarring is acceptable in most plastic surgery procedures. The placement of incision will often determine how noticeable the scarring is, and scars may be effectively hidden around the hair or jaw lines.

 

Preventing Scarring

 

While some scarring is always a risk in any surgical procedure, there are some steps that can be taken to prevent or minimize scarring. One of the most important steps you can take to minimize scarring is to quit smoking.

 

While ethnicity may have an impact on the risk of scarring after plastic surgery, an individual who smokes is at an even greater risk. Not smoking for two to four weeks before your procedure and continuing to not smoke while you are healing is one of the two most important steps you can take to prevent scarring from plastic surgery.

 

Following Dr. Hamrah’s instructions for recovery is the other most important step in preventing scarring. You should avoid doing too much too soon, be sure to drink plenty of water, and attend all your follow-up appointments at the times when they are scheduled. Follow-up appointments allow Dr. Hamrah to look for early signs of complications and possibly prevent unnecessary scarring that may otherwise go unchecked.

 

We invite you to learn more about ethnicity and scarring after plastic surgery today when you contact Dr. Hamrah at Nova Surgicare, serving Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland.

 

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