What Can Be Done For The Burn Scars On My Face?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have extreme burn scars on my face as I got burned with boiling oil when I was 2 years old. I am now 26 years old. I had skin grafting surgery back then but after these 23 years still there are scars which really destroys my appealing facial aesthetics. I’ve heard a lot about you. Please respond to my email. I have attached facial pics from different angle for you to see. Thanx.

A: From a burn/skin grafting scar standpoint, I not believe that you can make any significant improvement in their appearance. The old scars/skin grafts would have to be excised and regrafted and the likely outcome with that effort is from guaranteed to be better. With your dark skin pigment, I don’t envision that would be a substantial improvement. I do, however, see numerous other facial issues which can be improved. These include correction of the left lower eyelid retraction with a skin graft and lateral canthoplasty, left eyebrow reconstruction with hair transplants, left temporal/side burn alopecia camouflage with micropigmentation tattooing, and left lower lip retraction correction with release and skin grafting. I think correction of these four areas would be very beneficial with predictable improvement.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana