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CLEARER SKIN. RENEWED CONFIDENCE.

Scar Revision & Treatments

Specialist surgical and non-surgical procedures to reduce scar visibility, correct skin deformity, and restore skin that blends naturally with the surrounding tone and texture.

ABOUT THIS PROCEDURE

Scars Don't Have to Define Your Skin

Scars are a natural part of how skin heals — but not every scar heals well. Some become thick, raised, pigmented, or tethered to the tissue beneath. Others cause discomfort, restrict movement, or simply affect the way a person feels about their appearance. Scar revision and treatment exist to address all of these outcomes.

The range of approaches is broad: from surgical excision and flap techniques that remove and reposition scar tissue, to non-surgical treatments including steroid injections, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, and fat transfer to restore volume beneath depressed or tethered scars. The right approach depends entirely on the type, age, size and location of the scar, and on what the patient wants to achieve.

It is important to understand that no procedure can remove a scar entirely — but the right treatment, planned at the right time, can make a scar significantly less noticeable, smoother, flatter, and far closer in appearance to the surrounding skin. For many patients, that improvement is genuinely life-changing.

IDENTIFYING YOUR SCAR

What Type of Scar Do You Have?

Scar type determines the most effective treatment approach — no two are managed the same way.

RAISED SCARS

Hypertrophic & Keloid Scars

Thickened, raised scars that form when the skin produces excess collagen during healing. Hypertrophic scars stay within the original wound boundary and may improve over time. Keloid scars extend beyond it and can continue to grow — requiring a combination approach to treat and prevent recurrence.

CONTRACTURE SCARS

Burns & Contracture Scars

Scars that tighten and pull the skin inward, often following burns, skin loss, or injury across a joint. Contracture scars can restrict movement as well as affecting appearance. Treatment focuses on releasing the tension and restoring both function and a more natural skin surface.

FLAT & ATROPHIC

Atrophic & Surgical Scars

Depressed or sunken scars that sit below the surrounding skin surface, often resulting from surgical incisions, acne, or tissue loss from injury. These respond well to fat transfer, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, or surgical revision to improve surface texture and restore a more even skin profile.

PROCEDURE AT A GLANCE

What Scar Revision Involves

Parameters vary by technique — your surgeon will confirm details at consultation.

~2 Hours

Procedure Time

Local / Sedation

Anaesthesia

Day Case

Hospital Stay

2–3 Days

First Follow-up

3–4 Weeks

Return to Exercise

The exact surgical approach — augmentation, reduction, lift or combination — is determined at consultation based on your individual anatomy and goals.

RECOVERY TIMELINE

Back to Normal Faster Than You Might Expect

Days 1–2

Immediate Recovery

Scar revision is performed as a day case — you go home the same day. Some tenderness, swelling and redness around the treated area is normal. Most patients return to light work and gentle daily activity within 1–2 days.

Days 2–3

First Follow-up Appointment

You are seen at your first follow-up within 2–3 days of the procedure. The treated area is assessed, sutures or dressings are checked, and any early concerns are addressed. Aftercare advice is confirmed at this appointment.

Weeks 1–2

Healing Continues

The treated area continues to heal. Any sutures are removed at the appropriate stage. Redness and mild swelling reduce progressively. Scar management products or silicone sheeting may be recommended to support the healing process.

Weeks 3–4

Return to Full Activity

Most patients can return to strenuous exercise and full physical activity from 3–4 weeks post-procedure. The final scar result continues to improve over 12–18 months as the treated tissue matures and softens.

WHAT TO EXPECT

What Scar Revision Can Achieve

The degree of improvement varies by scar type, technique used, and individual healing. Most patients experience meaningful improvements across several areas:

  • A flatter, smoother scar surface that sits closer to the surrounding skin
  • Improved skin tone and colour match in the treated area
  • Reduced tethering, pulling or restricted movement where applicable
  • Greater confidence in the appearance of affected skin
  • A result that continues to improve over 12–18 months post-treatment

WHY SCAR REVISION

Why Consider Scar Revision & Treatment

A Tailored Plan, Not a Single Fix

Different scar types respond to different treatments. Your revision plan is built around your specific scar — not a generic protocol — combining surgical and non-surgical techniques where needed for the best outcome.

Minimally Invasive Options Available

Many scars respond well to non-surgical approaches including steroid injections, laser resurfacing, dermabrasion and silicone therapy — without the need for any surgical incision or downtime.

Rapid Return to Daily Life

With no overnight hospital stay and a return to light activity within days, scar revision fits around your life. It is one of the most accessible cosmetic procedures available in terms of recovery time.

Long-Term, Improving Result

Scar revision outcomes improve progressively over months. Unlike some procedures where the result is immediate, the best version of a revised scar typically appears 12–18 months after treatment — and continues to improve beyond that.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TREATMENT

Surgical vs Non-Surgical: Which Approach Is Right for You?

Surgical revision is most appropriate for scars that are wide, misaligned, thickened, or positioned in a way that non-surgical treatment cannot adequately address. It involves excision of the existing scar and careful re-closure using techniques such as Z-plasty or W-plasty to redirect the scar along natural skin tension lines and achieve a far more aesthetically acceptable result.

Non-surgical treatments are often the first line of management for raised, pigmented or textured scars. Steroid injections, laser resurfacing, dermabrasion and fat transfer can all produce substantial improvement without any incision — and are frequently used in combination with surgery to optimise and maintain results.

Available Treatments

  • Surgical excision and resuturing
  • Z-plasty and W-plasty scar redirection techniques
  • Corticosteroid injections for raised and keloid scars
  • Laser resurfacing and dermabrasion
  • Fat transfer and silicone gel therapy
PATIENT STORIES

What Our Patients Say


I had a keloid scar on my shoulder for years that I covered constantly. After treatment it is barely visible. I wish I had come sooner.

— N.O.


The surgical scar on my abdomen was affecting my confidence every day. Prof. Hindocha revised it and the difference is remarkable. It has faded so much more than I expected.

— A.K.


Very straightforward procedure and the recovery was nothing. I was back at work the next day. The result has kept improving every month since.

— T.B.

PATIENCE PAYS OFF

“Operating on a scar too early rarely produces the result patients are hoping for. Timing is one of the most important factors in achieving a genuinely good outcome.”

When Is the Right Time for Scar Revision?

Most scars should be allowed to mature for a minimum of 12 months before surgical revision is considered. During the first year, a scar goes through significant natural changes — it typically softens, flattens and fades considerably on its own. Intervening before this process is complete risks operating on tissue that may have continued to improve, and can produce a less predictable result.

The exception is when a scar is causing functional impairment — restricting movement, distorting surrounding tissue, or affecting daily life in a meaningful way. In these cases, earlier intervention may be warranted. Some non-surgical treatments, such as steroid injections for keloid or hypertrophic scars, can also be initiated before the 12-month mark.

  • Surgical revision: ideally 12+ months after the original injury or surgery
  • Steroid injections: can begin earlier, often from 2–3 months post-injury
  • Laser and non-surgical: typically 6–12 months or once the scar is stable
  • Functional impairment: earlier intervention may be considered

IS THIS FOR YOU?

Who Can Benefit From Scar Revision?

Scar revision is suitable for a wide range of patients. You may be a good candidate if you:

  • Have a raised, thickened or keloid scar that has not improved on its own
  • Have a scar from burns, injury, or previous surgery affecting your appearance or confidence
  • Have a scar that causes discomfort, tethering, or restriction of movement
  • Have allowed the scar to fully mature — ideally at least 12 months since the original injury or surgery
  • Are a non-smoker or willing to stop smoking before the procedure
  • Hold realistic expectations about what revision can and cannot achieve

EXPLORE FURTHER

Other Skin Procedures

Other skin procedures available with Prof. Hindocha.

SKIN

Skin Cancer Treatment

Surgical removal and reconstruction for skin cancer — from diagnosis to restored appearance.

SKIN

Tattoo Excision & Treatment

Surgical and non-surgical options for tattoo removal and skin restoration.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

Find Out What's Possible for Your Scar

A private consultation with no obligation.

The right treatment for a scar depends on understanding its type, history, and behaviour. A consultation with Prof. Hindocha gives you a clear, honest assessment of what can be achieved and a personalised plan to get there.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Scar Revision Questions, Answered Clearly

Honest answers to what patients ask us most.

No procedure can remove a scar entirely — skin that has been damaged will always leave some trace of that injury. What scar revision achieves is making a scar significantly less noticeable: flatter, narrower, better matched in colour and texture to the surrounding skin. For most patients, this level of improvement is highly meaningful even if perfection is not achievable.
Most scars should be allowed to mature for at least 12 months before surgical revision. During this time the scar softens, fades and settles, and the full extent of what needs to be addressed becomes clear. Operating on an immature scar can interfere with its natural healing process and may produce a worse result. Some non-surgical treatments, such as steroid injections, can be started earlier.
A hypertrophic scar is raised and thickened but stays within the boundary of the original wound. It often improves over time without intervention. A keloid scar grows beyond the wound boundary, invading surrounding skin, and does not resolve on its own — in fact it can continue to grow. Keloid scars are more challenging to treat and typically require a combination approach including surgery, steroid injections, and pressure therapy to prevent recurrence.
Surgical scar revision does create a new incision — and therefore a new scar — but the goal is for that new scar to heal in a far more controlled and aesthetically superior way than the original. The incision is planned carefully to follow natural skin tension lines, minimise tension, and optimise healing conditions. Non-surgical treatments avoid creating any new scar at all.
The range includes: surgical excision and resuturing; Z-plasty or W-plasty to redirect scar lines; steroid (corticosteroid) injections to flatten raised scars; laser resurfacing to improve texture and pigmentation; dermabrasion to smooth the surface; fat transfer to restore volume beneath depressed scars; silicone gel and sheeting; and pressure therapy for burns scars. The right combination is selected after assessment.
This varies by scar type and the technique used. A surgical revision is typically a single procedure, though secondary refinements may be needed once healing is complete. Non-surgical treatments such as laser and steroid injections often require a course of sessions spaced several weeks apart for optimal results. Your surgeon will outline the expected number of sessions and intervals as part of your treatment plan.