Scar Prevention  & Optimisation Post  Surgery and Injury : Latest understanding.

NSDL offer a range of scar prevention and treatment options, including laser-assisted technology.

What Causes Scars?

Scars form when the skin's surface is damaged and the body produces collagen to repair it. The resulting scar tissue can be raised, discolored, or indented. Some factors that can affect scar formation include:

  • The location and depth of the wound

  • The person's age, skin type, and genetics

  • Whether the wound was clean or infected

  • Whether the wound was sutured or left to heal naturally

Preventing Scars:

Prevention is often easier than treating a thick scar once formed. While it's not always possible to prevent scars from forming, there are steps you can take to minimize their appearance. Here are some tips for scar prevention:

  • Keep the wound clean and covered with a sterile dressing until it has healed.

  • Avoid picking at scabs or scratching the area, as this can slow down healing and increase the risk of infection.

  • Use sunscreen to protect the area from UV radiation, which can darken scars.

Active treatment to prevent Scars:

Timing is key. Latest research shows that the sooner treatment occurs following surgery, the better.  Treatment as soon as the sutures are removed or even at the time of surgery has been shown to be advantageous. Early fractionated laser can assist in scar remodelling, even if performed immediately just after suture removal. Laser energy is directed at the scar tissue, which breaks down the collagen fibers and stimulates the production of new well formed collagen.

Photo documentation demonstrating the benefit of Laser Assisted Drug delivery in the prevention of Keloid Scars in Patients with a Keloid scarring tendency.

Who benefits

  • People with a history of previous hypertrophic or keloid scarring are at a greater risk of developing keloid scars.


Benefits of Laser-Assisted Scar Treatment over steroid and other drug injections

  • Precision: Laser energy is delivered evenly across the scar tissue leading to uniform results

  • Safety: Laser treatment is generally safe and can be customized to the individual's skin type and needs.

  • Results: Laser-assisted scar treatment can produce significant improvement in the appearance of scars, with minimal side effects.

Our friendly admin team welcome you to NSDL and look forward to taking care of you. Please email reception@nsdermatology.com.au so they can assist you or call 02 9958 1555.