A typical hypertrophic scar is visible months or years after a skin incision is made. Most hypertrophic scars are raised, thick scars that form beyond the footprint of the original skin injury. Unlike a keloid scar, hypertrophic scars usually are self-limited and have less signs of chronic inflammation. It is easy to mix up hypertrophic and keloid scars, as their morphology and growth patterns may overlap.
In our Los Angeles plastic surgery office, we see many patients with classic hypertrophic scars on the chest, shoulders, extremities, and back. These scars form as a result of skin trauma and rarely subside without some sort of intervention, whether that intervention is surgical or non-surgical. Finding the right option for scar removal begins with a consultation and examination of the characteristics of your scar.
Our office is a dedicated plastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology center in the heart of Los Angeles. Our board certified plastic surgeons collaborate with orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, breast cancer surgeons, obstetricians and gynecologists to help you acheive your desired results. We are a national center of excellence for scar removal and scar surgery.
Hypertrophic scars can form early in the stage of wound healing, or late as a result of continued wound tension. In some cases, hypertrophic scars fade away with time, but these scars should be treated early in order to avoid textural, topographic, and contour changes to the skin.
There are a number of treatments available for hypertrophic scars, including:
- Scar modulation using compression, topical occlusion, massage therapy, collagenase or protease therapy, or laser.
- Polysiloxane Scar Gels can help reduce scar formation and also speed up the process of scar remodeling and maturation. We recommend Plato’s Scar Serum at least twice daily on new and old scars.
- Intralesional injections using corticosteroids, hyaluronidase, calcium channel inhibitors, and scar modulating medicines. These can be performed in our Los Angeles plastic surgery practice as part of scar therapy.
- Surgical scar revision to reduce scar tension and reorient skin incisions so that they are less visible.
- Vbeam laser for scar reduction in Los Angeles. The Vbeam pulsed dye laser is ideal for new and old scars that are highly vascular or hyperemic.
About Our Office
Schedule Our Los Angeles plastic surgery office offers the most advanced surgical and non-surgical options for scar therapy. Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian is world renowned for his approach to scar revision and has been featured on Entertainment Tonight, People Magazine, The Daily Mail, Us Magazine, CNN, Al Jazeera, The Doctors, NBC, MSN, Good Morning America, Kelly Rippa, the Toronto Sun, and countless other international media for his innovative treatments for scars.
Schedule Now in Los Angeles
Schedule a consultation today by calling
(310) 998-5533. We offer online virtual consultations and in-office consultations in Los Angeles.
Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD FACS
Hratch Karamanoukian, MD FACS
804 7th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 998-5533