Archive for August, 2022

Preventing and Treating Scars

Skin is a pretty amazing organ – but it is also rather delicate. It can easily be scarred, marred, and damaged, causing pain and leaving you feeling self-conscious. But there are things you can do to prevent scars if your skin has been damaged, and there are also ways to treat scars that you’ve had for years. Read on for some information on preventing and treating scars.

Preventing scarring

• It is surprisingly easy to burn yourself on the stove, with your curling iron, or even on a metal surface on a hot day. If you have a burn, put ice on the area right away. To prevent scars (and to also help cool the skin down), use aloe vera on the burn 3 or 4 times a day. Taking A, C, E, and B vitamins can help to create new, healthy skin to keep scars from forming.

• Acne scars can result from painful cystic acne, which is acne that forms deep beneath the skin, but it can also be the result of picking at acne. Avoid picking, squeezing, or popping pimples, which can make acne worse and cause scars, and make sure you are using a skincare routine that prevents acne in the first place – you may have to see a doctor for a prescription strength treatment.

• If you’ve accidentally cut yourself, keeping the wound clean and covered and not picking the scab off prevents infection as well as scars. Keeping the wound moist by using petroleum jelly on it can also help.

Treating scars

If you have unsightly scars, your plastic surgeon may be able to help, with a filler such as Restylane or Juvéderm. Fillers are a safe, noninvasive, and quick way to treat imperfections in the skin, such as scars, wrinkles, and fine lines, and to add volume to the skin. Your doctor will be able to help you decide which treatment would be right for you.

If despite your best efforts you’ve developed some scars over the years, the staff at the Weinstein Plastic Surgery Center can help. Contact the office in Chester, New Jersey, to schedule an appointment to discuss your options. Call (908) 879-2222 today!

Posted in Scar Revision, Scarfix on August 15th, 2022

How to Prevent Scary Scars

Whether you were in a car accident, cut yourself with a knife while cooking, or got injured while playing some intramural sports, having a scar can be one of two things: either really cool to look at and brag about or something that’s beyond embarrassing. If you feel like your scar is the ladder, consider getting scar revision done by Dr. Larry Weinstein.

Because Dr. Weinstein has conducted years of research on hypertrophic and keloid scars, he knows that one of the biggest reasons that they form is due to contamination, traumatized edges, and even genetics. Luckily, through his research, he has found a few tried and true ways to prevent these types of deep scars. Let’s take a closer look.

Clean the Wound Well

Cleaning a wound may sound super simple, but it can be quite painful. If you come into our office, Dr. Weinstein usually recommends some anesthesia before he cleans your wound. By properly cleaning the wound, removing any debris and bacterial contaminants, Dr. Weinstein’s belief is that the world has a better chance to heal without visual scarring.

Debridement

The second step that Dr. Weinstein swears by is to remove any damaged tissues or edges of the wound to help create smoother, non-traumatized edges. By using an atraumatic technique and small sutures, the goal is to close the wound and protect it from any outside contaminants. In some instances, an antibiotic will be given to help reduce bacterial proliferation.

Don’t Scratch, Rub, or Gnaw

One of the most annoying parts of having a scar that is healing is that it is so itchy. However, one of the worst things you can do when a wound is healing is to scratch, rub, or gnaw at it because it will lead to scarring. Try using either Benadryl or calamine lotion around the wound to help with itching and then on the wound after two weeks.

Tissue Expanders

In some instances, Dr. Weinstein may recommend placing a tissue expander underneath the wound which can help flatten a wound and reduce scar visibility in the process.

Because Dr. Weinstein has spent so much time researching hypertrophic and keloid scars, we offer patients a variety of different treatment methods. Ready to learn more about how we can help your wound heal? Schedule a consultation at our Chester office today 908-879-2222.

Posted in Scarfix on February 28th, 2018

ScarFace No More: The Art of ScarFix

Scars may be something that are cool to show off to your friends on the playground when you’re 8 years old or if you’re a character out of a novel like Frankenstein, however, if you are just an average adult, and you have scars, then you are likely going to want to do everything that you can in order to help minimize the appearance of scars. Although there are topical over-the-counter creams that claim to help get rid of the appearance of scars, nothing will be quite as effective as a state-of-the-art scar treatment like the one that Dr. Larry Weinstein created: ScarFix. Read on to learn more.

What is a Scar?
Before you learn about what ScarFix is, it’s important for you to understand what a scar is and the difference between different types of scars. A scar is an area of the skin where a burn, wound, or sore has not yet healed properly. There are a few different types of scars including hypertrophic scars, keloids, and contractures.

• Hypertrophic Scars: These types of scars are typically raised, reddened, hyperpigmented, and can even be uncomfortable.
• Keloids: These scars are larger hypertrophic scars that can cause irritation due to itchiness and inflammation.
• Contractures: These types of scars are so damaging that they can restrict your movement due to the severity of scarring underneath the skin.

What is ScarFix?
ScarFix involves a multi-step procedure to help get rid of the scar itself. By cleaning the wound and removing any bacteria or contaminants that may have built up, your wound has a better chance to heal. Once it is cleaned, the removal of the edges of the wound will be removed by using an atraumatic technique which will help to create less trauma to the tissue, which equates to less scarring further down the line.

Let’s face it, getting your scar removed by the inventor himself is pretty amazing— plus, you’ll know that you are in the best hands possible. If you would like to learn more about ScarFix or other scar revision treatment options, contact Dr. Larry Weinstein’s office today!

Posted in Scarfix on December 15th, 2016

How to Prevent Scarring

Scarring can leave individuals feeling, well, scarred for the rest of their lives. If you get a burn or suffer from acne, it’s important to ensure that you minimize your chance of scarring right away. Read on to learn more about how you can prevent both burn and acne related scarring.

Burns
Whether you’re cooking a hot meal on the stove and your skin gets in contact with some heat, or you get burned by your air bag in a car accident, using these tips will help you to minimize the potential for scarring.

• Ice
  If you have access to ice, ice the burn area right away. By taking the heat out of your skin, you can help to prevent scarring, swelling, and overall discomfort.
• Vaseline
  Another great way to help ease the pain and reduce scarring possibilities with a burn is to add a layer of Vaseline or petroleum jelly directly to the skin. By keeping your skin hydrated, you can help to reduce the likelihood of scarring.

Acne Scarring
Acne scarring can occur when patients pick at their acne or simply due to their skin type. In order to reduce the chance of scarring related to acne, try the following:

• Don’t Pick Your Face
  If you’re like a lot of people, you’re a picker. Every time you notice a pimple on your skin you have to get rid of it immediately. However, picking at your face will only increase the likelihood of scarring and can actually spread the acne around your face. Instead, try simply adding some salicylic acid to the top of your pimple— this will help to dry out your blemish without you having to touch it.
• Get on Acne Medication
  If you notice that your acne is getting worse and worse, it might be time to get on acne medication. By nipping the problem right away, you can help prevent any scarring down the road.

Understanding how to prevent scarring will help save you a lot of time and money further down the line. If you already have some scarring that you would like to get rid of, contact our office today!

Posted in Scarfix on January 30th, 2016

How to Prevent Scarring

A wound due to injury, no matter how small it is, can end up with a scar. It is formed when the collagen in our bodies is exposed and tends to rise to the surface in an act to close the wound. Although this is a natural process associated with hound healing, it can be a bit frustrating to see a blemish in your then-flawless skin. Even though this is inevitable, you can do something about how it will mature and appear during the wound healing process.

Below are some tips to avoid turning your wounds into scars:

1. As much as possible, do not interfere with the wound’s healing process.

Although you may have to treat the wound to avoid infecting it and to promote healing, you have to take note of the following:

• Vitamin E may not be helpful. Some people believe that topical Vitamin E oil rubbed on the wound could promote healing, but doing so should only be done when the wound has already closed as studies have shown that Vitamin E can actually affect the healing process.
• The healing process makes your skin extra sensitive to UV rays, causing discoloration in the process.
• Minimize movement in the wounded area. This may cause the scar to widen.

2. Cover the cut. It is not advised to let the wound just dry out and scab. It is best to keep the area moist. You may use petroleum jelly or the likes and apply it on the wound for about a week. After application, cover your wound with a bandage. Do this routine until new skin has already begun to form.
3. Place pressure on the wound. You can prevent scarring by keeping the area flat as much as possible while it heals. There are special pads that you can use such as silicone gel sheets. You may tape them around the scarring to prevent it from thickening.

Scarfix in New Jersey

If you have visible scars and you wish to improve its appearance, you may be a good candidate for a scarfix. Request an appointment with Dr. Weinstein today by calling 908-879-2222 and learn more about the scarfix concept. We look forward to hearing from you!

Posted in Body Procedures, Scarfix on June 13th, 2014

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