Abstract
Principles to minimize scars include attention to a multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic
patient factors preoperatively, operatively, and postoperatively. Preoperatively the
goal is to maximize the treatment of patient specific comorbidities and limit the
usage of medications that can have negative effects on healing. Operatively, the focus
is on proper incisional planning, meticulous surgical technique and hemostasis, judicious
use of prophylactic antibiotics, and focus on tensionless closures. Postoperatively,
we must maximize the healing environment by keeping the wound well hydrated and closely
monitoring and intervening early in high-risk wounds. We also have the responsibility
to provide evidence-based recommendations, to the best of our ability, regarding the
myriad of over-the-counter products. The field of scar prevention is ever changing
and the new frontier focuses on controlling the microenvironment of wounds and altering
signaling molecules to promote near scarless healing.
Keywords
scarring - scar(s) - facial - wound(s) - healing - prevention
