Permanent make-up of scars: the theory "from and to" for masters

Anna Zabolotnaya, head of the Biotek International Academy of PM and Aesthetic Dermo-Pigmentation (Russia), certified artist, international class master teacher in permanent make-up, aesthetic dermopigmentation and trichopigmentation, winner of the first Contour of the Century competition (2003), judge of permanent make-up championships in Russia and abroad, lecturer at the International University of PM (Milan, Italy) (Russia)

Such unaesthetic defects on the skin as scars are certainly a problem for many. Especially if they are on the face. Can a dermopigmentation master help clients in this case? Maybe! And I must!

Trauma happens all the time in our lives. More often unintentionally: we fall, burn ourselves, we can get hurt on blunt and sharp objects. Less often - consciously, when we expose ourselves to surgery, including plastic surgery. Scars on the skin are traces of these injuries. And they are as inevitable as the injuries themselves. Is it possible to get rid of them? Apparently not. Is it possible to forget about them? Apparently, yes. After all, we easily forget about what does not bother us, about what is hidden from our eyes and others.

The effectiveness of aesthetic dermopigmentation as the final stage of the scar removal process is recognized by all. Even plastic surgery, discarding shop arrogance, recommends it to its clients. What is the secret of this super powerful anti-scar weapon?

How and why scars form

The skin is one of the most important human organs. And one of the hardest. The main, although not the only function of the skin is protective. And I must say that the skin perfectly copes with this function. But the defender himself must be protected. And here we come to the most amazing property of the skin: it can be restored.

After injury ⎼ cut, tear, burn, etc. ⎼ the skin goes through four phases of recovery. During the first, all the forces of the body are aimed at stopping the bleeding. Blood vessels in the area of damage narrow, proteins are produced that contribute to blood clotting.

The second phase is inflammation. It is characterized by unpleasant symptoms: the injured area swells, hurts, itches, its temperature rises. And all because at this moment in the area of injury there is a real battle of the immune system with what can threaten the body. Bacteria and remnants of damaged tissue are eliminated, after which the wound site is sealed with a crust ⎼ scab. Thus begins the third phase.

Under the crust that protects the wound from the invasion of uninvited guests, construction is unfolding. First, capillaries are restored, or rather, re-created. The blood supply is restored, supplying the damaged area with oxygen and everything necessary for further healing. The synthesis of collagen and elastin begins, which are responsible for the strength and elasticity of the tissue. The wound shrinks and new skin appears at the site of injury. The new skin, together with collagen, elastin, and connective tissue, forms the primary scar.

Primary scars: formation mechanism

The time it takes for primary scars to form varies depending on their location on the body: on the lower legs and feet, sutures are left in place for about three weeks, facial scars take a week, and sutures in the eyelid area are removed after only three days. Dependence is easily traced: the thinner the skin, the faster healing occurs.

The time it takes for primary scars to form varies depending on their location on the body: on the lower legs and feet, sutures are left in place for about three weeks, facial scars take a week, and sutures in the eyelid area are removed after only three days. Dependence is easily traced: the thinner the skin, the faster healing occurs.

The wound is healing. But the recovery process continues. The maturation phase, or aging, of the scar begins, which can last from six months to two years. And in some cases more. During aging, the scar changes color and size. However, it usually decreases. And initially, the red color of the skin of the scar changes to a more neutral, often white.

The healing rate, size and color of the scar depend on many factors. The location, the depth of the injury, the presence of infection, the qualifications of first aid, age, certain diseases, and even belonging to a particular race - all this affects how the mature scar will be. Moreover, abnormal scarring problems are most common in red-haired and dark-skinned people.

Like wound care, proper scar care helps speed up the aging process and make the scar less visible. However, it should be remembered: where a scar has formed, normal tissue will never form. The scar can be excised with a scalpel, removed with a laser, polished, reduced in size, but it will still remain a scar.

There is a common belief that the appearance of a scar can be improved only after it has fully formed. Of course, if the mature scar is aesthetically unacceptable, it can be corrected by surgical and hardware methods, such as excision of a dense, protruding (hypertrophic) scar, followed by polishing, and after complete tissue restoration, perform a dermopigmentation procedure by a PM master.

However, timely care significantly increases the likelihood of the formation of a flatter and more inconspicuous (normotrophic) scar, thereby eliminating the need for traumatic methods of its correction.

The fact is that there are common mechanisms for the formation of scars, and these mechanisms are manageable. Therefore, scar care must be started immediately, as soon as the crust has come off, that is, at the very beginning of its formation, and continue until full maturation. A scar is considered mature when it turns white. It usually takes 12 ⎼18 months.

Before and after the procedure. Photo provided by the author

Take control of the scar

In the scar, throughout the entire period of maturation, the process of remodeling is constantly taking place, that is, the newly formed tissue synthesizes or destroys collagen fibers in response to any external influences. Therefore, it is very important to create optimal conditions for the formation of a correct (normotrophic) scar.

First of all, you should avoid exposure to irritating factors, such as rubbing against a rough fabric, watch strap, trouser belt, etc. In response to any irritation, the scar will become more rough, hard, and convex. To protect the scar from external irritants, it is recommended to use a special silicone coating.

In addition to external stimuli, the formation of a scar is influenced by dynamic loads. This is especially true for scars located on moving parts of the body: knees, elbows, etc. After plastic surgery of the neck area, patients are advised to turn their heads as little as possible. And if the postoperative sutures are behind the ears, doctors strongly advise not to touch the ears and not even wear earrings until the scars are completely ripe.

The greater the mechanical load on the scar, the more it will strengthen in the direction of this load, producing an excess amount of collagen fibers. Thus, by providing rest to the injured tissue, we end up with a smoother, better quality scar.

Well proven special care products. To achieve the maximum effect, it is recommended to combine them with periodic courses of ultraphonophoresis, which contributes to a deeper penetration of the agent into the scar tissue, and also performs micromassage, which enhances blood flow and tissue nutrition.

Types of scars

In appearance, all scars are divided into three large groups: atrophic (below the level of the skin), normotrophic (level with the skin) and hypertrophic (above the level of the surrounding skin).

Stretch marks, or stretch marks, are atrophic scars that occur when the skin is overstretched as a result of microtrauma of the skin and subcutaneous tissue while maintaining the integrity of the epidermis.

As a rule, stretch marks are localized on the chest, abdomen, thighs and buttocks, but in athletes who quickly build muscle mass, they can also appear on the inside of the arms and shoulders.

In a separate group, keloid scars, or keloids (from the Greek chele - claw of cancer) are distinguished. Keloid scars are the most severe case. It is believed that they appear as a result of failures in the human immune system. They cause a lot of inconvenience: pain, irritation, itching. But most importantly, they are constantly growing. Therefore, aesthetic dermopigmentation is powerless here.

In all other cases, dermopigmentation has proven to be the most painless and highly effective solution.

Read about all the subtleties and technical aspects of dermopigmentation in the continuation of the material.