Wounds on our skin are common among all of us, and whenever the skin is wounded, the healing process involves the development of scar tissue. This scar tissue can be minor and go mostly unnoticed, but it can also be disfiguring. While living with a visible and disfiguring scar can negatively affect the quality of life for anyone, it can be especially difficult for a child.
While many adults with a disfiguring scar will, in this situation, consider plastic surgery, however, this option is not as often considered for children. Pediatric plastic surgery is an option not often considered for many circumstances but can be a very effective solution to multiple issues faced by children. If you’re considering pediatric plastic surgery and are looking for a pediatric plastic surgeon in Woodbury NY, contact us at Buglino Plastic Surgery for more information on how we can help your child.
Disfiguring Scars
Disfigurement is when someone has a scar, burn, or other injuries that affect the person’s appearance. It can often lead to emotional harm for a variety of reasons, both acting as a reminder of the incident that resulted in the disfigurement as well as frequently causing insecurities due to looking different from others.
All of this can be especially difficult for children. Navigating through social situations, particularly those in school, can be very difficult for children with disfigurements. 45% of women under 21 have said they sometimes feel ashamed of how they look, and 31% said they knew someone who had or had experienced bullying.
Scars can also affect the functions of the facial muscles. Scar tissue is significantly less flexible than normal, unaffected skin. This can impede one’s ability to talk, smile, or any other facial expression or movement.
If you are worried about the effect that disfiguring scars may have on your children and are looking for a pediatric plastic surgeon in Woodbury NY, contact us at Buglino Plastic Surgery for information on how we can help.
How can a Pediatric Plastic Surgeon help Minimize Scarring?
There are multiple different ways in which a pediatric plastic surgeon can help minimize scarring:
- Steroid Injection- This procedure involves steroids being injected directly into the scar tissue, potentially reducing the redness, itching, pain, and even size of the scar.
- Laser Surgery- This procedure involves a laser being used to smooth or flatten a scar. This procedure is often used in conjunction with other procedures.
- Surgery- This procedure involves the surgical removal of scar tissue via an incision. To close the wound afterward, stitches or a skin graft are used. A skin graft is when healthy skin from one part of the body is transplanted into scarred or wounded skin.
- Skin Graft- A skin graft can sometimes be used on its own to minimize a scar without the removal of the scar.
Contact Us: Pediatric Plastic Surgeon in Woodbury NY
There are many procedures a pediatric plastic surgeon can successfully perform to help minimize scarring to your child. If you are looking for a pediatric plastic surgeon in Woodbury NY, and believe one of these procedures is right for your child, contact us at Buglino Plastic Surgery for a consultation.