Scarring can be a major concern after any kind of surgery. “While Mohs surgery gives patients the comfort in knowing there is less than 1% chance of their skin cancer ever returning, they still have to contend with the scar that might be left behind after their surgery,” says Dr. Adam Mamelak, board certified dermatologist and fellowship trained Mohs micrographic surgeon in Austin, Texas.
Fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons are trained extensively, both in the removal of skin tumors but also reconstruction. “Whether it’s a simple side-to-side closure or a skin graft or flap, minimizing scarring and optimizing cosmetic outcome are some of the major considerations we give when deciding on the best approach to close a surgical wound.”
Still, there are some aspects that are hard to control. “A patient’s predisposition to form keloid or hypertorphic scars, or someone with underlying rosacea that causes dilated and broken blood vessels on the skin are things that can affect a cosmetic result.” Dr. Mamelak has observed thicker, stiff and red scars in certain patients due to some of these underlying factors.
It is for these reasons that scar treatment have gained so much attention and become so popular among patients after their surgeries. Whether it is silicone gel, vitamin E, Mederma, or even injections, patient continue to look for post procedure ways to minimize their scars.
“Over the past few years, lasers have gained a lot of attention in scar management because of their ability to remodel collagen and destroy blood vessels and vascular lesions on the skin,” says Dr. Mamelak. For example, the pulsed dye laser (PDL) has emerged as the safest, most-effective laser for treating vascular lesions such as port wine stains, telangiectasias, and hemangiomas. It also appears to benefit scars from various causes, with significant long-term reductions in redness, rigidity, and itching.
“Medical studies have shown that early treatment of scars minimizes many of the undesirable cosmetic results, such as hypertrophy, increased redness, and hard, contracted scars,” claims Dr. Mamelak.
A series of treatments may be necessary to achieve the best results. In the appropriate setting, laser therapy can be started almost immediately after suture removal, and subsequent treatment was separated by a few weeks.
The healing process is a crucial part of any cancer therapy. Curing disease is paramount, but it should not always have to come at a cost of scarring and morbidity after treatment.
Contact Us
Dr. Mamelak performs Mohs surgery as well as other treatments on skin cancer patients at Sonova Dermatology and the Austin Mohs Surgery Center. If you are concerned with a spot on your skin, or are having difficulty managing a scar after a surgical procedure, please contact us today.
Join Us
