Scar revision aims to improve the appearance of scars from surgery, injury, burns or acne. While no scar can be erased completely, the right treatment can make it flatter, paler and far less noticeable.
What affects a scar?
How a scar matures depends on its cause, location, your skin type and how it was originally treated. Some scars become raised, widened or tethered, while others cause tightness that limits movement. These can often be improved.
Treatment options
- Non-surgical: silicone, steroid injections, laser and other treatments can soften and flatten certain scars.
- Surgical revision: re-excising and carefully closing a scar can reposition or refine it, particularly for wide, raised or tethered scars.
- Combined approaches: surgery followed by non-surgical therapy often gives the best result.
Realistic expectations
The goal is improvement, not erasure. Results develop over many months as the revised scar matures, and good aftercare — sun protection, not smoking and following your plan — makes a real difference. Timing matters too: some scars are best left to mature before revision.
An assessment will determine which approach suits your scar. Learn more on our skin surgery page or book a consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Can a scar be removed completely?
No treatment can erase a scar entirely, but revision can make it flatter, paler and much less noticeable. The aim is meaningful improvement rather than removal.
What treatments improve scars?
Options include silicone, steroid injections, laser and surgical revision. The best choice depends on the scar type, and combined approaches often work well.
When should scar revision be done?
Timing depends on the scar. Many are best left to mature for several months before revision, while functional problems such as tightness may be addressed sooner.
How long do results take?
A revised scar continues to mature over many months. Good aftercare, including sun protection and not smoking, supports the final result.
This article is general information and not a substitute for individual medical advice. Results vary between patients and all surgery carries risks. Always discuss your circumstances with a GMC-registered consultant surgeon.
