Many patients dislike or want to improve their scars. Scars that have thickened, widened, hypertrophied, or that are otherwise unsatisfactory can usually be improved by excision and re-closure with plastic surgery techniques. Injections or other techniques that Dr. Szeto can discuss with you may help with other scars.

Recovery

After the procedure, you will be asked to apply pressure to the area for 5-10

minutes to minimize the risk of bruising. You will be given specific verbal and

written instructions on how to care for the surgical site, and what medications to

take for pain afterwards (usually just Tylenol and Advil).

For more detailed instructions see here: (hyperlink to post op care<-make sure I get

this to you)

Results & Outcome

The vast majority of patients have excellent outcomes from their procedure.

Although this is always expected, there is never a 100% guarantee in medicine or

surgery. Scars take approximately a year to fully mature.

Scar Management

A scar takes a full year to mature. Initially, it will be perfectly flat after surgery, but

after a few days, it will become slightly red and inflamed. After about 6 months, it

will typically begin to fade to a pale, white colour. It can turn dark if exposed to too

much sunlight while healing, so Dr. Szeto advises keeping the area out of the sun as

much as possible. Sun avoidance, long clothing, blocks (e.g., a Band-Aid over the area

when in the sun), and applying sunscreen (SPF 30) even when it's cloudy are all

techniques. Dr. McInnes typically advises using a non-irritating facial moisturiser

with sunscreen on a daily basis.

After 3-4 weeks, assuming the incision has healed completely, you can begin scar

massage to soften the scar. I recommend using a non-irritating lotion or cream and

massaging it into the scar for 3 minutes, 3-4 times a day for a minimum of 3 weeks.

A mature scar may achieve 60%-80% of the skin's strength prior to surgery.

Stretching the scar can result in undesirable outcomes such as a wide scar or

hypertrophic scar. It is critical to remember this while the incision heals. For

example, if a lesion was removed from the middle of your chest, you should avoid

stretching your arms out to the sides too far.

There are some risks associated with your surgery.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons' (ASPS) consent form for a detailed list

and description of the risks involved (found here).<- hyperlink

During the surgical consent, the risks of surgery will be discussed. It is important

that you ask Dr. Szeto all of your questions directly.

All lesion excisions result in a scar, but in most cases, the scar is hidden in a skin

crease. Certain patients are predisposed to develop keloid or hypertrophic scars, but

the vast majority of patients have a small, faint scar.

Some common post operative risks may include:

Light bruising

Swelling is minor.

Infection (5% of cases)

5% incision separation

If a complication does occur, patients can be confident that Dr. Szeto will assist you

in managing it.

Costs

The cost of cosmetic mole surgery will vary depending on your specific surgical

needs, the number of lesions, their size, and the number of procedures you may

require. Your quote will be provided following your assessment, but prices for this

type of procedure start from $450-$500 (plus GST), which is a fairly common

starting price among Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgeons in Ontario.

Your quoted price will include the following items:

Fee for facility, equipment, and supplies

Fee for a surgeon