How Soon Can I Have A Scar Revision After A Traumatic Facial Injury?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve had a major accident that resulted in 4cm cut (about 0,5 cm deep) to my brow ridge (photos attached). After the accident stitches were put in for 7 days. The injury in question is approximately 19 days old at the time these images were taken. Can this be somehow improved surgically.

A: Scars will naturally start to turn very red within a few weeks after surgery which is a normal part of the healing process. How the scar will look when it matures (heals and the redness fades) and whether scar revision would be aesthetically beneficial is hard to project at this early time period after the injury. Usually good insight in that regard is known by 3 to 4 months, which is the time period you need to wait anyway to allow the tissues to heal to sustain another trauma. (scar revision) I suspect that scar revision will be desired based on how it looks now and given its prominent location.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon