Scar healing in cosmetic surgery is a fundamental parameter of the surgical result and patient satisfaction. However, even if the aesthetic surgeon produces the most beautiful suture possible, a beautiful scar is never guaranteed.
Why is this? And how can the UrgoTouch laser help achieve a satisfactory result?
The quality of the patient's skin and its reaction to a scar is the primary factor determining healing.
In other words, some patients have skin that will heal very well, while others will have more difficult healing.
For the moment, there are no criteria for knowing in advance whether or not a patient has good healing capacity.
There are, however, a few indicators:
Some parts of the body heal less well than others.
For example, the thighs (thigh lift) or arms (arm lift) often give way to large, unsightly scars, as the tension applied to these scars is great.
Healing of the back is also difficult, even for the removal of small lesions of the nevi, cysts or lipomas.
Joints are also parts that heal poorly. Indeed, they are constantly put to the test by movement.
A good plastic surgeon always strives to practice the most beautiful suture. In most cases, a two-plane suture is used: a deep suture using stitches and a superficial suture using an intradermal overjet (technique of closing a wound without the suture appearing on the surface). Absorbable sutures are widely used, especially as they are embedded in the skin and limit post-operative care.
These threads dissipate between 3 weeks and 3 months.
For several years now, a laser has been used to improve the healing process. This is the Urgotouch laser. It is used during surgery and requires only a single application.
It is applied while the patient is still asleep in the operating room. Application of the Urgotouch laser is therefore totally pain-free.
The principle: the laser heats the scar to a high temperature at the end of intervention. By diffusing into the skin, the heat generated by the UrgoTouch laser modulates the inflammatory reaction process and promotes the healing process.’organization of the collagen fiber network. This technology inhibits the proteins responsible for an inflammatory cascade in the scar.
In short, it stimulates the scarring process immediately after surgery. improves scarring results.
To date, it is the only treatment that has been scientifically proven to be effective.
Scar treatment by Dr Djian in the operating theatre.
The price of Urgotouch laser treatment in the course of a surgical operation depends above all on the length of the scar.
To apply the laser, the plastic surgeon order a consumable whose length is proportional to the size of the scar.
For example, abdominoplasty treatment with a large scar will be more expensive than treatment of a scar from the removal of a small skin tumor.
Your surgeon may recommend laser treatment for any of the following procedures plastic surgery or aesthetic medicine.
However, it is strongly recommended for surgery that leaves large scars:
Aspect of an Urgotouch laser-treated scar at 1 month:
No, the Urgotouch laser is completely painless as it is applied under general anaesthetic during surgery. No additional post-operative procedures are required. This treatment works by locally heating the scar to modulate the inflammatory reaction and optimize collagen organization. There are no known side effects, and no risk of burns or pigmentation if precautions are taken.
No, it is impossible to predict with certainty the evolution of a scar, This is because every skin responds differently, even to the same procedure. Some risk factors to be aware of, like history of hypertrophic or keloid scars, a dark phototype, tobacco, diabetes, or prolonged use of corticoids. Conversely, an old, thin, well-closed scar may suggest a better quality of healing, although this is not guaranteed.
The final appearance also depends on the area of the body operated on (back, arms, joints = areas at risk), the surgical procedure, skin tension, but also respect for post-operative care (silicone dressings, hydration, compression garments).
The use of Urgotouch laser during the operation significantly improves scarring results right from the start, by limiting the inflammatory reaction.
A scar is likely to widen if it is located in an area under tension, such as the arms, thighs or joints., This is where repeated movements can stretch the skin. Poor skin quality, being overweight or returning to work too quickly increase this risk. Wearing compression garments, following treatment and stopping smoking will limit enlargement.
No, the Urgotouch laser is not systematically used, but is recommended for procedures that leave long visible scars, such as abdominoplasty, the breast lift or arm lifts. It can also be proposed to improve high-risk areas such as the back or thighs. For more discreet incisions or in less exposed areas, treatment is not always necessary.
Yes, Dr Jérémy Djian frequently combines the Urgotouch laser with other scar treatments to optimize the aesthetic result. The laser is applied in the operating room, as soon as the operation is completed, to act immediately on the inflammatory reaction. Next, repair creams, silicone dressings or massages can be prescribed, but only after the primary healing phase, depending on the evolution of the scar. The protocol is always personalized according to the skin, the area operated on and the type of surgery.
Dr Jérémy Djian is a plastic surgeon based at 5 square Thiers, near the Victor Hugo roundabout, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.
He trained in Paris and remains attached to the hospital in the prestigious department of Pr Laurent Lantieri.
Hello, can I do the urgotouch laser on D+1 instead of D-D?
Hello, ma'am,
Unfortunately no, the laser is used during surgery, it's a surgical laser, not a dermatological one,
Yours sincerely,
Dr Djian
Hello,
you should be examined to assess the possibilities,
however, there is always a risk of reusing a scar that has already formed a keloid.
Kind regards