For professional wrestlers and action superstars, scars may be intimidating badges of courage. For the rest of us, however, scars tend to be unsightly blemishes that can be very annoying or embarrassing. Scars are unavoidable after effects of accidents of surgeries, and can sometimes be painful reminders of those events. The good news is that if you have a scar that you really can’t stand, there are ways to get rid of it. Scar revision  is a process that can mostly remove any evidence of a scar.

Keloids and Facial Scars

There are a number of different types of scars and ways to remove them. One of the most noticeable types of scars are called keloids. Keloids occur when the body overproduces a tough material called collagen that aids in the healing process. Collagen is necessary, but when it continues to flow to the scar area after it’s already healed, it results in a raised, dark-toned, itchy scar. Keloids are often treated with steroids, which may help shrink the scar. If this doesn’t work, the keloid can be cut out and sewn up again, resulting in a much thinner scar that won’t be as noticeable.

Another scar type that commonly needs to be removed is facial scars. The most noticeable of scars, it’s no surprise a lot of people opt to have them removed. As with keloids, facial scars can be cut out and re-sewn to create a smaller scar. Another technique, called dermabrasion, removes the top layers of skin, taking most of the scarring with it.

Recovery After Scar Removal

Most scar removal procedures are relatively minor. If a scar needs to be cut out, then it’s likely a local anesthetic will be used, which means it shouldn’t affect your overall functions. You should be able to resume your normal activities almost immediately, but it’s wise to take it slow. You should take care not to risk any damage to the scar area, or you might undo the work that was done. As you recover, keep in mind that it’s practically impossible to completely remove any scar – there’ll always be some remnant.

Costs Involved in Scar Removal

The cost of a scar revision is fairly small compared to a lot of cosmetic surgeries. Depending on the size of the scar to be fixed, the price could be as little as $500 or as much as $3,000. The scar removal process takes about 1 to 3 hours and the scar removal surgery price per hour is around $150. Talk to your doctor or a plastic surgeon near you to obtain a more exact estimate of the price.

Possible Problems with Scar Revision

Scar removal is a fairly minor procedure, and thus the risk of problems is small. As with any surgery, there’s some risk of infection or excess bleeding, but these problems are usually easy to deal with. There’s also a possibility that a scar will be made worse instead of better, so it's important to find a respected surgeon who you trust to do a good job.