The face that you child has may be precious no matter what, but if an injury or illness leaves them with an unsightly scar, it can cause a great deal of concern for their future outlook and their self confidence. Even though small scars will usually diminish in visibility as your child grows, large scars may require facial scar revision to correct. If this is a form of facial plastic surgery that is recommended to you for your child, there is no question that you will have some concerns. Here is your guide to understanding pediatric facial scar revision.
Is facial surgery the only form of treatment that can help diminish the sight of a large scar for a child?
Facial surgery is considered a last resort when it comes to scar revision at any time, especially with children. This is because surgery will involve anesthesia, which can always create more risks. Some of the other forms of scar revision may include:
Will a skin graft be necessary?
The child's skin is usually much more supple and elastic than an adult. Therefore, it is possible that enough skin can be stretched over the surgical site without having to rely on grafted skin from other parts of the body. However, in extreme cases when the scar is quite large and removal would leave a large opening, a skin graft may be necessary.
How painful is surgical facial scar revision?
There will be some pain associated with the facial scar revision surgery. The severity will depend heavily on the type of surgery performed and whether skin grafts were part of the procedure. You should expect to see some swelling, redness, and bruising immediately after surgery. The pain can be eased with cold compresses and ice, but medications should only be given if you have consulted with a physician. Once your child has gone through the surgical procedure, following the doctor's orders will be crucial to proper recovery, but also helping to alleviate pain. This can be a challenge with little ones who do not understand why they are being forced to take it easy.
Your child's facial appearance is something that they will have to deal with for the rest of their life. As a parent, you always want to ensure that your child has the ability to put their best face forward and with scar revision surgery, you can rest assured that this is possible. Be sure to talk with the specialist like Hecht Aesthetic Center about any further questions you have.
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