Each year, 100 million individuals in the developed world acquire a scar of some kind. 55 million of them will have some kind of surgery to revise their scar and make it less obvious to those around them.

Scar revision surgery can boost confidence and allow individuals to feel more at home in their bodies. Although in many cases a scar cannot be completely removed, a good plastic surgeon can make it much less noticeable.

If you have a scar that needs to be diminished, you may wonder how much a scar revision surgery costs. We’ve got you covered. Read on for more information about the procedure.

Scar Revision Surgery Cost

The cost of your scar revision surgery depends on where the scar is and how extensive it is. You may need a skin graft if the scar is very severe.

The type of scar is also taken into consideration when determining the price.

You can, however, expect to pay around $500 for a smaller and less noticeable scar. If you need a skin graft for a bigger and more complex scar, you may pay as much as $4,000. This hefty price tag typically includes a skin graft.

Keloid Scars

One very noticeable type of scar that often requires surgery is a keloid scar. This is when small irregular clusters of scar tissue grow on or over the site of the wound. This can occur after an injury, but many experience it after traumas like major surgery. You can also develop keloid scars after smaller traumas, like an infected piercing.

Keloids form as the body attempts to heal itself, and they can appear up to one year after the trauma occurred. They are often a different color than your skin and are often more obvious on darker skinned individuals.

Some keloid scars are not only unsightly but can develop itching, redness, and burning that many find unbearable. To mitigate this, some doctors inject steroids into the scar.

A keloid scar is one that doctors often see for removal or minimization. How your doctor goes about treating your scar will depend on the scar itself, but there are several different techniques.

Surgical Techniques for the Removal of Keloid Scars

Your surgeon may decide to use a non-invasive procedure instead of cutting into the keloid scar. This is often accomplished with a laser to help lessen its appearance.

However, this is often done in conjunction with injecting steroids or attempting to freeze off the scar.

If your keloid scar is especially bad, your surgeon may decide to perform a skin graft, which is more expensive. He or she will take healthy skin tissue from another area of your body. They remove the keloid scar and replaced it with this skin graft. Although it will not completely erase the appearance of a scar, it will make it less noticeable.

This also helps individuals who have trouble with itching, redness, and tenderness.

Discoloration or Surface Irregularities

Discoloration or surface irregularities are small scars on the skin that are not as noticeable. They cause no symptoms and typically do not bother the sufferer. They can, however, be a cosmetic issue.

These scars are typically caused by acne, small wounds such as piercings or punctures or Chicken Pox scars. They are cheaper to have repaired and do not require a skin graft or other advanced technique to repair. Often, nonsurgical lasers reduce their appearance.

Contracture Scars

Like keloids scars, contracture scars cause discomfort as well as self-consciousness due to their appearance. These types of scars most often form over a joint or a group of muscles. Because the skin is tighter due to the trauma and injury you’ve suffered, it can restrict movement in an area.

This type of scar is often seen after a burn and often occurs on the face, neck, fingers, arms, and hands. Individuals with this type of scar face daily discomfort, and surgery can help the scar heal to relieve pain and make it more aesthetically pleasing.

Contracture scars are often the type that requires a skin graft or flap, so they can be more expensive types to treat.

A contracture scar is typically removed before the surgery begins. Then, a skin graft or skin flap replaces the skin. A skin graft is a slice of skin from a healthier part of the body. The skin flap contains its own blood vessels, along with part of the muscles, fat, and blood supply of that particular area. This is important for parts of the body burned off that may not have these layers underneath any longer.

Some surgeons also use a tissue expansion surgery together with a skin flap. This is a newer type but can help expand the tissue without having to use too much of a skin flap.

When repairing a contracture scar, there will still be a noticeable scar, but it will be more comfortable.

Hypertrophic Scars

Hypertrophic scars are those in which the incision has raised or discolored. They are typically asymptomatic but can bother the patient because of their appearance.

To remove a hypertrophic scar, a doctor may inject steroids into it. If this does not work, he or she may remove the scar and reposition the incision to make it less noticeable.

Which Option is Right for Me?

You will need to speak to a plastic surgeon to determine which surgery is best for you and how much a scar revision surgery cost. The cost of the scar revision surgery depends on how extensive your scar is, the location, and if you have had previous scar removal surgery. While your doctor may not be able to remove the scar completely, he or she can help relieve symptoms and help you feel more confident.

For more on all things Baton Rouge plastic surgery, visit our website.