Burn and Scar Care

Dr. Cohen performs surgeries for repairing both burns and scars to restore both appearance and function. Each treatment is specialized to the patient, with consideration for their goals and the size and location of the damaged skin.

Burn reconstruction

Burn reconstruction repairs skin and underlying tissue that is damaged from severe burns. Skin grafts are most commonly used to repair burned areas. With a skin graft, skin is removed from a less-visible area of the body and is transplanted to the area that needs to be repaired. Depending on the amount of damage, only the outermost layers of the skin may be replaced instead of the entire dermis.

Recovery times vary depending on how many layers of skin have been replaced and the size of the burn that the surgery reconstructed. Dressings will be applied to the area and will be kept on for three to five days so the skin graft doesn’t move during the healing process.

Scar Revision

Scar revision surgery minimizes the appearance of a scar to make it more consistent in tone and texture with the surrounding area. This procedure will not entirely erase a scar, but it will significantly reduce the appearance of large, dark scars. Less severe scars can often be treated with minimally invasive procedures. Topical treatments like chemical peels are used for minor scars that are obvious because of their pigmentation, while injectable treatments like dermal fillers can fill scars that cause indentations in the skin. The sublative and CO2RE lasers are also excellent, minimally invasive methods for treating scars. Dr. Cohen will help determine the best treatment to achieve the maximum result for your scarring.

Recovery from the surgery may take up to two weeks, and swelling, discomfort, and discoloration may occur. It may take several months before the final results are seen. Recovery times for less invasive treatments are generally very minimal.

Dr. Cohen is committed to ensuring her patients are informed and comfortable with their decision. Below, you will find a link to our frequently asked questions. If you would like to discuss this procedure further, please don’t hesitate to contact us.