A procedure to improve the appearance, texture, function, or position of a scar, using surgical and non-surgical techniques tailored to each patient’s scar type and goals.
Scar Revision Surgery Brisbane
Scarring is a natural and unavoidable part of the body’s healing response. Whenever skin is disrupted, whether by surgery, injury, burns, or infection, the wound heals by producing collagen at the site. In most cases this produces a flat, pale, fine line that fades gradually over time and causes no lasting concern. For some patients, however, the process does not go smoothly. The result can be a scar that is thick, raised, discoloured, wide, depressed, tethered to underlying tissue, oriented in an unfavourable direction, or tight enough to restrict movement and function.
Scar revision covers any treatment designed to improve how a scar looks, feels, or works. Non-surgical options include things like silicone sheeting, steroid injections, and pressure garments. Surgical options include direct excision, Z-plasty, W-plasty, skin grafting, and flap reconstruction.
Scars don’t disappear, but they can get a lot better. Dr Perron’s patients often see scars that are far less obvious, less irritating, or less physically limiting. What’s achievable in your case will come down to your specific scar, your skin, and your healing history.
Dr Perron knows that a difficult scar can affect how you feel about your appearance, especially when it’s in a prominent spot or limits what you can do day to day. He takes the time at each consultation to look carefully at the scar and walk you through your options honestly, without pushing you toward any particular treatment.
The reasons patients seek scar revision include:
Not all scars are the same, and the approach to revision will differ significantly depending on what type of scar is present. Dr Perron will assess your scar carefully during your consultation and explain which type it is and what options are most appropriate.
Raised, firm, and red or pink, hypertrophic scars stay within the original wound boundary – this is what sets them apart from keloids. Too much collagen during healing is the main driver, and things like wound tension, infection, or a slow recovery can all make this worse. They often itch or feel tight. Most take 12-18 months to settle, though treatment speeds that up and improves how they look.
Keloid scars grow beyond the edges of the original wound and, unlike hypertrophic scars, they don’t stop growing on their own. They can keep expanding over months or years. They tend to be firm, raised, and can be itchy or tender. Keloid formation has a genetic component and is more common in people with darker skin tones. Certain body areas are also more prone to keloid formation, including the earlobes, sternum (breastbone), shoulders, and upper arms. Keloids are among the most challenging scars to treat. No single treatment reliably cures a keloid, and most people need a combination approach. This commonly includes intralesional steroid injections, silicone therapy, surgery, and sometimes adjuvant radiotherapy. Dr Perron will be upfront about the risk of recurrence and factor this into the plan he recommends.
Burns, major trauma, and infections that destroy large areas of skin often cause contracture scars. The healing tissue slowly tightens and pulls inward, which can form a thick band across a joint or near the mouth, eye, or neck. Once this restricts movement, surgical release becomes necessary – Z-plasty, skin grafting, and flap reconstruction are the most common approaches.
Widened or stretched scars are flat and usually skin-coloured, but they can spread significantly due to ongoing tension across the healing wound. While they’re not raised or discoloured, they can be quite noticeable in visible locations. Surgical excision using techniques that minimise wound tension often produces a much finer result.
Unlike raised scars, atrophic scars sit below the surrounding skin, creating a pitted or sunken look. Acne, chickenpox, and previous surgeries are common causes. Treatment varies by the depth and pattern of the scarring, and may involve direct excision, subcision to free tethered tissue, fat grafting, or filler to restore lost volume.
Scars following plastic and reconstructive surgery, including those from skin cancer surgery, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), breast reduction, or arm lift (brachioplasty), sometimes don’t heal as expected, leaving a scar that is wider, thicker, or more noticeable than anticipated. Once the scar has fully matured, surgical revision can often achieve a significantly better outcome. Dr Perron has extensive experience managing post-surgical scars from both his own cases and those originally performed by other surgeons.
Getting the timing right is one of the most important parts of scar management, and it’s something Dr Perron will discuss with you in detail at your consultation.
Most scars take twelve to eighteen months to fully mature after an injury or surgery. A scar that looks red and raised in the early months may settle considerably with time and conservative care. Operating too early means working with tissue that’s still changing, and the result can be harder to predict.
Surgical revision is generally delayed until the scar is fully mature, which usually means waiting at least twelve months from the original wound, though this varies with scar type and location. There are exceptions. If a contracture is causing functional problems, or an early complication has produced a clearly poor result, Dr Perron may recommend earlier treatment.
Non-surgical treatments, on the other hand, are most effective when started early, during the active phase of scar maturation. Silicone sheeting, massage, moisturising, and sun protection can all help support favourable scar maturation and may reduce the need for surgical revision later.
If you are concerned about a scar, the right time to consult is when you first notice a problem. Even if surgical intervention is not yet appropriate, an early review allows Dr Perron to initiate appropriate conservative management from the outset and monitor the scar’s progress.
Whether used on their own or alongside surgery, non-surgical treatments can make a real difference to scar quality. In many cases, starting these early can reduce how much further treatment is needed down the line.
Silicone therapy: Silicone gel sheets or topical silicone gel applied regularly to a scar are among the most well-supported non-surgical interventions for hypertrophic and keloid scars. They work by hydrating the scar and regulating collagen production. For best effect, they should be worn consistently over several months during the active phase of scar maturation.
Corticosteroid injections: Intralesional corticosteroid injections (typically triamcinolone) are delivered directly into a raised or thick scar to reduce inflammation, soften the scar, flatten raised tissue, and relieve itching and discomfort. A series of injections at regular intervals is usually required. They are a first-line treatment for hypertrophic scars and an important component of keloid scar management.
Pressure therapy: Custom-fitted pressure garments or appliances worn over the scar can help flatten and soften raised scars, and are particularly useful after burns. Results tend to be best when therapy starts early and is maintained consistently over a number of months.
Massage: Regular scar massage with a suitable moisturiser helps to desensitise the scar, improve tissue mobility, reduce tethering, and support scar softening over time. Dr Perron’s team will advise you on appropriate massage technique and timing.
Sun protection: New scars are highly sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Sun exposure during scar maturation can cause prolonged redness, hyperpigmentation, and an overall worse cosmetic outcome. Protecting a maturing scar from sun exposure, using physical sunscreen, clothing, and avoidance, is important and straightforward.
Adhesive micropore tape: Applied consistently over a healing wound for the first six to twelve weeks after closure, paper tape reduces the mechanical forces pulling the wound edges apart during healing, which is a key contributor to wide scarring. It is a simple, low-cost, and evidence-supported measure for minimising scar width after surgery.
When non-surgical measures are insufficient, or when the nature of the scar makes surgical revision the most appropriate pathway, Dr Perron will discuss the available surgical techniques with you. The choice of technique depends on the type, size, location, and orientation of the scar, the quality of the surrounding tissue, and your goals.
When a scar is wide, raised, or cosmetically bothersome but otherwise uncomplicated, direct excision is often the first recommendation. Dr Perron removes the scar through a carefully planned elliptical incision and closes the wound in layers with particular attention to tension. The resulting scar is typically finer and better orientated than what was there before.
Z-plasty is one of the most useful techniques available for scars that run across natural skin creases or are causing a contracture that limits movement. The procedure involves creating two triangular flaps on either side of the scar and transposing them, which redirects the scar line into a less conspicuous position and relieves the underlying tension. It’s commonly used for scars on the neck, over joints, around the eye or mouth, and in the armpit.
W-plasty breaks a long, straight scar into a series of small irregular shapes so the eye struggles to follow the whole line. It works by aligning the smaller segments closer to the natural skin tension lines, which makes the scar harder to detect. It’
A skin graft is used when there isn’t enough skin nearby to close the area left after scar excision. Skin is taken from a donor site, most commonly the thigh, buttock, or upper arm, and placed over the wound. There are two types: split-thickness grafts, which take only the top layers of skin, and full-thickness grafts, which include the deeper dermis and are used for smaller areas requiring a better cosmetic match. Skin grafting is a more significant procedure, and recovery from both the graft site and the donor area must be planned for.
Flap reconstruction is used for larger or more complex cases, particularly when a contracture or significant tissue loss means there’s not enough local skin for a straightforward repair. A section of skin, fat, and sometimes muscle is lifted from a nearby area along with its blood supply and used to fill the defect. It’s more involved than skin grafting but typically produces better tissue quality and longer-lasting results.g, straight scar into a series of small irregular shapes so the eye struggles to follow the whole line. It works by aligning the smaller segments closer to the natural skin tension lines, which makes the scar harder to detect. It’s a good option for facial scars and those running across the skin’s tension lines.
In subcision, a fine needle or cannula is passed under the skin to cut the fibrous tissue that’s pulling a depressed scar downward. Once these bands are cut, the scar can lift up closer to the level of the surrounding skin. It works well for pitted acne scars and post-surgical scars where tethering is the main problem.
How quickly you recover from scar revision really depends on what was done. Simpler procedures under local anaesthetic are usually day cases with very little downtime. Bigger operations under general anaesthetic, such as skin grafting, flap procedures, or contracture releases, mean an overnight hospital stay and a longer recovery.
In all cases, careful wound care in the weeks following surgery is essential to give the new scar the best possible start. Dr Perron will provide clear, personalised post-operative instructions covering how to care for the wound, what to avoid, when to return for review, and which adjuvant scar management measures (such as silicone therapy and sun protection) to begin once healing is sufficiently advanced.
Keep in mind that your revised scar will go through its own healing process. It’ll start out looking red and raised, then gradually settle, soften, and fade over the coming months. You won’t see the final outcome straight away. The full result usually isn’t clear until twelve to eighteen months after the procedure.
All surgical procedures carry risks, and scar revision surgery is no exception. General surgical risks include infection, bleeding, haematoma formation, wound breakdown, and adverse reactions to anaesthesia. Risks specific to scar revision include:
Dr Perron will discuss all relevant risks thoroughly during your consultation, taking into account your scar type, location, and individual healing tendency. He will also explain what steps are taken to minimise these risks during and after surgery.
Please be advised that all procedures carry risks. We encourage patients to consult with their regular GP and a Qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon before considering surgery. Find more information here.
Scar revision can attract Medicare in certain situations. MBS items 45506 and 45510 cover facial and neck scars, and MBS item 45518 covers larger scars on the body (over 7cm) elsewhere. To qualify, the procedure must be performed as an independent surgical procedure in a hospital operating theatre. Scars from skin cancer surgery, burns, or significant trauma may also be covered under separate item numbers.
Purely cosmetic scar revision, performed for aesthetic reasons alone without a functional or reconstructive indication, is not covered by Medicare. Dr Perron’s team will advise you at your consultation on whether any Medicare or private health insurance entitlement may apply to your specific circumstances.
Good scar revision isn’t just about removing a scar. It takes a thorough understanding of wound healing, surgical anatomy, and real technical skill to get the best result. From a straightforward excision to a complex flap reconstruction, you need a surgeon who’s genuinely experienced across the full range of plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Dr Justin Perron is a Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon holding the Fellowship of The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS, Plastics), the highest surgical qualification available in Australia for this specialty. He is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) under registration number MED0000959827, verifiable at the AHPRA public register.
As a Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr Perron is trained not only in cosmetic procedures but in the full breadth of reconstructive work, including complex wound management, skin cancer reconstruction, and scar revision. This reconstructive foundation is what distinguishes a specialist plastic surgeon from cosmetic practitioners when it comes to managing the most challenging scars. He completed his fellowship training across Queensland and Western Australia, gaining broad clinical experience at major hospitals from Townsville to Brisbane, Redcliffe, Caboolture, the Gold Coast, and Perth.
He is an active member of the leading professional bodies in his field:
Dr Perron presents at surgical conferences and has published in peer-reviewed journals. His dedication to continued learning shows in the standard of his work, and his patients benefit from both his technical ability and the time he takes to understand their individual concerns.
He operates from his consulting rooms at Herstellen Clinic in Spring Hill, Brisbane, and holds surgical privileges at Wesley Hospital, St Andrews War Memorial Hospital, Brisbane Private Hospital, and Spring Hill Specialist Day Hospital.
Herstellen Clinic 490 Boundary Street Spring Hill, Brisbane, QLD 4000 Phone: 07 3861 8800
No. Scars are permanent, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with one you hate. What scar revision does is trade a problematic scar for a better one. A well-executed revision can leave you with a scar that’s much finer, flatter, and far less conspicuous. With Dr Perron’s experience and careful technique, scar revision consistently produces results that are far better than what patients started with. You’re not aiming for perfection, but you can often get very close.
In most cases, waiting is the right call. Surgical scar revision is generally held off until the scar has had time to fully mature, which usually means twelve to eighteen months from the original injury or surgery. Scars that appear large, red, and raised in the early months may soften and improve considerably with time and conservative management alone. Revising a scar too early, before it has settled, can lead to unpredictable results. There are exceptions, particularly when a contracture is restricting function or an early complication is causing a clear problem, and Dr Perron will advise on the appropriate timing for your specific situation.
Both form due to excess collagen during healing and feel similar in many ways. The main distinction is what happens at the wound edge. A hypertrophic scar remains within the edges of the original wound and may soften and improve over time. A keloid scar grows beyond the original wound boundaries, does not self-limit, and may continue to enlarge. Keloids are more difficult to treat, have a higher recurrence rate after surgery, and are more common in people with a genetic predisposition to this type of healing response.
Z-plasty is a surgical technique that repositions a scar by creating two triangular flaps of tissue on either side of it and transposing them. This reorients the scar’s central line along a more favourable direction (such as along a natural skin crease), releases a contracture by lengthening the tissue in the direction of tightness, and redistributes wound tension. It is commonly used for contracture scars crossing joints or the neck, scars near the eyes or mouth, and any scar that lies perpendicular to the natural relaxed tension lines of the skin.
Simple procedures performed under local anaesthetic involve no pain during surgery. Some discomfort and tenderness at the operative site are expected in the days following the procedure, and this is manageable with standard pain relief. More complex procedures under general anaesthetic will involve a more extended recovery, with Dr Perron prescribing appropriate pain management. The vast majority of patients find the post-operative discomfort from scar revision very manageable.
For many scars, particularly those that are still maturing, non-surgical treatments such as silicone sheeting, corticosteroid injections, massage, pressure therapy, and sun protection can produce meaningful improvement without the need for surgery. These approaches are most effective when started early during the active phase of scar maturation. Dr Perron will advise whether a non-surgical approach alone is likely to achieve your goals, or whether it should be used alongside or as preparation for a surgical procedure.
Yes. Any scar revision procedure creates a new wound that itself needs to heal. In the first weeks and months after surgery, the revised scar will be red and firm as it matures. This is entirely normal and expected. The final result is not apparent until the new scar has fully matured, which typically takes twelve to eighteen months. Dr Perron will prepare you for this timeline so your expectations are well set from the outset.
Keloid scars can be treated surgically, but surgery alone carries a significant risk of recurrence. For this reason, surgical treatment of keloids is usually combined with adjuvant therapies, most commonly intralesional corticosteroid injections after surgery, silicone therapy, and in some cases adjuvant radiotherapy (used in specialist settings). The combination of multiple treatment modalities improves the overall success rate, though keloids remain among the most difficult scars to treat, with a treatment success rate of approximately 60 per cent. Dr Perron will be honest with you about what is achievable and what the realistic chance of recurrence is.
This depends on the scar type and the treatment approach. For non-surgical management, a series of corticosteroid injections at regular intervals (typically every four to six weeks) is usually required. Silicone therapy is applied daily for months. Surgical revision is usually done as a single procedure. Follow-up scar management is important afterwards, and in some cases a second revision may be planned after the first result has had time to fully mature.
Yes. Any time you cut skin, a scar forms. The goal of scar revision is to trade a problematic scar for a better one. When Dr Perron closes the wound with care and you follow up with good post-op scar management, the revised scar is usually much finer, flatter, better positioned, and far less noticeable than what you started with.
In some cases, Medicare may cover scar revision. MBS items 45506 and 45510 cover face and neck scars, while MBS item 45518 covers scars elsewhere on the body that are longer than 7cm, where the procedure is performed as an independent surgical procedure in an operating theatre. Scars arising from skin cancer surgery, burns, or significant trauma may also be covered under related item numbers. Purely cosmetic scar revision without a functional or reconstructive indication is not covered by Medicare. Dr Perron’s team will advise you at your consultation on your specific eligibility.
The cost varies depending on what’s involved. A simple scar excision under local anaesthetic is generally quite affordable, while complex procedures requiring skin grafts, flaps, or general anaesthesia will involve more fees, including anaesthetist and hospital facility costs. After your consultation, you’ll receive a fully itemised quote specific to your situation.
Figures listed are Surgeon’s fees only. Other fees may include anaesthetic fees, hospital fees, and assistant fees. All patients are different and require different treatment approaches. An accurate individualised quote will be provided after an in-depth consultation with Dr Perron.
Seen a scar you’d like to do something about? Come in and talk to Dr Perron. He’ll take a proper look, explain your options clearly, and let you know what’s realistically achievable for your particular scar.
To book your consultation, contact Herstellen Clinic on 07 3861 8800 or use the enquiry form on this website.
Herstellen Clinic 490 Boundary Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane QLD 4000
Disclaimer: Please be advised that all procedures carry risks. We encourage patients to consult with their regular GP and a Qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon before considering surgery. Find more information here.
Page written in accordance with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) guidelines for the advertising of regulated health services. Individual patient outcomes will vary. Specific results are not guaranteed.
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490 Boundary Street
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