The famed motivational speaker and decorated USAF veteran Steve Maraboli once said, “My scars tell a story. They are a reminder of times when life tried to break me but failed. They are markings of where the structure of my character was welded.” As with all things in life that are permanent or semi-permanent, there has been much written, sung, and said about scars, both in romanticizing them and in learning from them. But for plastic surgeons who make skin their business, the subtext of scars isn’t as interesting as the context of scars. That is to say, where the scars came from and how they can be treated.

Where Do Scars Come From?

The human body is a remarkable thing. With every injury it sustains, it attempts to heal itself as much as it is able through processes honed over thousands of years of evolution. Ultimately, a scar is a physical manifestation of that healing in action. When layers of the skin become injured, the affected areas go through a series of actions that include closing the wound by clotting the blood platelets, which then in turn form scar tissue by producing collagen that eventually hardens to protect the injured dermis. This is a scar. 

When it comes to forming a scar, the most crucial element is the production of collagen, the body’s most abundant protein. The role of collagen includes:

  • It is the primary component of tissue in the body: Tendons, ligaments, muscles, and skin are all made using the building blocks of collagen. Little wonder then that in order to connect the parts of the injured skin back together, the body uses this protein to do the job.
  • It enhances the structure and strength of your skin and bones: One of the most popular forms of plastic surgery is the non-invasive procedures of filler injections. Adding collagen to specific points on the face can cause it to look more youthful and full. Naturally, this protein is a major component of the health of your skin and can even prevent bone loss.
  • It relieves joint pain: While scar tissue itself can lead to stiffness and prolonged pain, especially if scars cover joints or major pressure points, the actual collagen protein is meant to help the body move more freely, more easily being able to deal with the external pressures placed upon it. Studies have shown that athletes who regularly supplement their diets with extra collagen have less pain in their body over a prolonged period of time.

Because of its restorative properties, collagen is the ideal protein in rebuilding muscles and restoring damaged tissues. However, depending on the type of injury and the amount of collagen produced by the body, no two scars are the same, while some are more permanent than others.

Are Scars Permanent?

At the end of the day, scars are permanent. No matter how much the tissue heals, the addition of so much new scar tissue will leave some record of the trial that you’ve undergone. However, all scars can be treated, and with frequent applications of these treatments, much of the scar can disappear. Of course, the effectiveness of such actions depends on the type of scar﹘an electrical scar or a chemical burn will respond differently, since so much of the damage occurs beneath multiple layers of skin. Treatments include:

  • Application of topical balms: Some of the most helpful treatments are in applying special over-the-counter creams or balms to the scar to help heal the scars. These include cocoa butter cream or vitamins. Our clinic can carry out these applications in addition to other services in our spa. 
  • Steroidal treatments: Steroid treatments like injections are more commonly administered in plastic surgeons’ offices to help heal raised scars and treat other attendant issues like chronic pain.
  • Radiotherapy: In extreme cases of scarring, using radiotherapy on concentrated areas might shrink or change certain scars. This must be administered with great care, however, since radiation can cause other complications if used too frequently.

Plastic surgery is only growing in popularity, and the surgeons at Barr Aesthetics have perfected the techniques used for every type of major procedure, from rhinoplasty to hair restoration, in order to cause as little scarring as possible. If you have any questions about the chances of scarring and treatments you can undergo, please give us a call.