Scars & Lesions

Introduction
Every time the skin is cut or damaged through its full thickness it will heal with a scar. Some people naturally make better scars than others. We cannot accurately predict this, but in general we are aware that patients with black skin and, at the opposite end of the spectrum, patients with fair freckled skin and red hair will tend to produce poor scars, including hypertrophic scars and keloids. Time is the best healer as eventually normal scars and hypertrophic scars will mature and become pale. We tend however to try and treat the more severe hypertrophic scars and keloids. The easiest to treat are earlobe keloids which sometimes appear after piercing and often simple excision is adequate. Elsewhere, a course of steroid injections is the main treatment.

Scar Revision
The appearance of an unsightly scar can often be improved using a range of plastic surgery techniques, usually performed under local anaesthesia. The old scar is removed by one of several techniques, ranging from simple excision to Z-plasty and closure using skin flaps. (A Z-plasty is a technique used to change the direction and tension in a scar, making it more comfortable and less conspicuous.)

Removal of Skin Lesions
Lesions on the skin are lumps or bumps such as moles, cysts or skin tags. Most are benign (non-cancerous), and do not cause serious problems, but you may want to have them removed for practical or cosmetic reasons. Surgery is also usually recommended to remove a skin lesion that shows any sign of turning cancerous, for example, a mole that has changed shape or colour. After these have been removed, a small sample of the removed tissue is sent to a laboratory for examination under a microscope.

Surgery to remove a skin lesion is usually a quick and straightforward procedure performed under local anaesthetic. The technique for removing the lesion depends on factors such as its size and location. Mr Ng will advise which method is most appropriate for you.

Post operative pain is usually minimal. Sutures are usually removed in 4 to 6 days from the face and 7 to 10 days from other parts of the body. Scars may be red and lumpy initially, but eventually soften and fade with time.

Fees
Most of these procedures will be covered by health insurance. Mr Ng practises within the limits of the major insurance companies. It is your responsibility to ensure that your policy will cover the cost of the proposed procedure.