Would Repeat Scar Revsion On My Arm Be More Successful?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I got the scar 10 years ago from a car accident my air bag deployed and broke my radius and ulnar. I had staples in place the first time and during the revision done in August of 2012 the doctor sutured it from the inside and glue it but it still widened. I’m not sure what to do next or if i should or could do anything else. Currently I get acupuncture and massage on it every week and I am using essential oils. I don’t really understand what re-excision means so could you please explain. Does it mean you have to go in it again with surgery? I really appreciate and thank you for getting back to me. I’m going to see the doctor who performed the surgery on Friday for a check up and I want to tell him I’m unhappy with the results but I don’t really think that will change anything. I feel hopeless, disappointed and embarrassed. If there really isn’t anything I can do then I won’t and live with the scar. I just want an honest opinion.

A: Given your recurrent hypertrophic scar, the only way to have any chance of improvement is to recuit out the scar and reclose it. (re-excision) I was interested in knowing how it was closed to try and figure out why you developed this scar widening. Sometimes the scar revision technique can influence the result. If a repeat scar revision is considered youw ant to make sure that the exact prior technique is not repeated. For these type of scar revisions, I use a subcuticular skin closure using barbed sutures to try and prevent scar hypertrophy and widening which you are prone to develop given your skin type, ethnicity and the location of the scar. While it remains to be proven if re-excision would offer great improvement, it is hard to believe that what you have now is the best scar revision result that is possible.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana