Burns and Burns Reconstruction

Burns and Burns Reconstruction

Burns not only leaves a scar on patients body but also on soul of the person who is affected and his/her family. Restoring the burn’s patient back to social life is a team approach. If not managed properly, burns leads to lots of deformities. Correction of this deformities is a long and patient process and requires a lots of empathy on part of the doctor treating.

Reconstructive burn surgery is a procedure performed by a plastic surgeon after the initial wounds from a burn have healed. The goal of the surgery is to increase the function and restore the appearance of the skin. Some of these procedures involve several months of preparations to improve scarred tissue. Reconstructive surgery requires planning and a series of procedures done in different stages. The size, nature and extent of the injury will determine what course of treatment the patient will need, type of surgery performed and length of the recovery period.

What happens during the process?

This process can be both operative and non-operative. Some treatments include scar massage, application of pressure garments, or topical therapies. The operative techniques generally include scar release procedures, where scars are opened and then repaired by a plastic surgeon. Some of these plastic surgery techniques require skin grafts. In general, the procedure is outpatient, but more intense skin graft treatments may require a hospital stay.

What are the benefits of reconstructive burn surgery?

Surgery will not be able to remove a patient’s burn scars entirely, but it will help improve basic functions and make scars less noticeable. Scarring can limit the normal motion of the neck, shoulder, hands, or legs. Often surgery to help release this contracture can help a patient regain range of motion. Facial scarring that leads to problems with the eyelids, lips, nose, or hair loss can also be helped with reconstructive burn surgery. Scars that are abnormally thick, wide, or discolored might also be improved by a variety of operative and non-operative methods.