GRS Scar Revision Procedure Advice

[lifeishard]

Hi all.  I had my NHS GRS in 2011 with Mr Bellringer.  I had BMI of 29 and limit was 30 and I had haematoma and wound opening on both sides.  Consequently, I had some rather bad scars.  They have faded considerably but still are bad.  I have sat on it all this time and have now decided that I should try a revision.    I am told that if you are slim and healthy then you will generally heal better and less chance of wound opening, which can cause scarring.   So I have now lost weight and am a healthy BMI.      I'd like to know:   do you think I will get better results with a GRS scar revision?   I'm late 30s.   

I have seen Christopher Inglefield offers scar revision and was considering him until I saw he has a warning (On GMC website).  This was for on 5 occasions failing to complete adequate surgical consent forms.   What do  you think?  Should alarm bells ring?  It does seem concerning, yet he seems to be very experienced.   I have also met another surgeon who was willing to revise both scars, yet he is no longer an option (long story).  However, Mr Thomas has said that he is only willing to revise the most noticeable scar.  But I'd like to have both revised.    Which is a shame as I know he is a very good surgeon. 

   Could anyone recommend (a) general advice on scar revision and (b) any suitable surgeons who could do this?  Prefer UK but will consider other options.  I thank you all in advance.    Dana

[Northern Star Girl]

@lifeishard
Dear Dana:
I see that you found the "New Topic" button....   
....enjoy exploring the Forums. 
Lots of information here.
Danielle

[lifeishard]

Thanks Dannielle, for your prompt reply.  You are fabulously helpful!

[Linde]

Hi all.  I had my NHS GRS in 2011 with Mr Bellringer.  I had BMI of 29 and limit was 30 and I had haematoma and wound opening on both sides.  Consequently, I had some rather bad scars.  They have faded considerably but still are bad.  I have sat on it all this time and have now decided that I should try a revision.    I am told that if you are slim and healthy then you will generally heal better and less chance of wound opening, which can cause scarring.   So I have now lost weight and am a healthy BMI.      I'd like to know:   do you think I will get better results with a GRS scar revision?   I'm late 30s.   

I have seen Christopher Inglefield offers scar revision and was considering him until I saw he has a warning (On GMC website).  This was for on 5 occasions failing to complete adequate surgical consent forms.   What do  you think?  Should alarm bells ring?  It does seem concerning, yet he seems to be very experienced.   I have also met another surgeon who was willing to revise both scars, yet he is no longer an option (long story).  However, Mr Thomas has said that he is only willing to revise the most noticeable scar.  But I'd like to have both revised.    Which is a shame as I know he is a very good surgeon. 

   Could anyone recommend (a) general advice on scar revision and (b) any suitable surgeons who could do this?  Prefer UK but will consider other options.  I thank you all in advance.    Dana

Us people of the surgical profession do not like fatty tissue!  Fatty tissue has a very poor blood supply and thus a very poor healing ability and is prone for post surgical wound infections.  Furthermore, sutures do not hold very well in fatty tissue and tend to tear out!
It seems that you had all of those problems.  any corrective surgery will display similar problems for the case that you still have excess fatty tissue in the surgical area.  You want to be there as lean as possible.  BMI does not say much about the surgical site and the amount of fatty tissue there.  Only you can decide if you are lean (and mean) in the surgical area or not.  If there is still lots of fatty tissue, wait with any surgery until that tissue is gone!

[lifeishard]

@dietlind:  thanks for the advice.  Greatly received.  So you are in the medical field yourself?     The surgical site, as you put it (so discreetly), has lost fatty tissue.  There is still a little that I wish to lose.  I thank you for your advice as I shall now ensure I am nice and lean and healthy before embarking on surgery?   

  Do you know of any good surgeons?    Also, being late 30s, will healing be impaired - advancing age etc.?    I asked someone else about this and they seem to think that it's more the case that advancing age brings other health problems which may potentially affect results, rather than age itself, per se.   In other words, if I am healthy and slim and eating good food etc, exercising, then it won't matter too much that I'm late 30s.

   Thanks

[Linde]

@dietlind:  thanks for the advice.  Greatly received.  So you are in the medical field yourself?     The surgical site, as you put it (so discreetly), has lost fatty tissue.  There is still a little that I wish to lose.  I thank you for your advice as I shall now ensure I am nice and lean and healthy before embarking on surgery?   

  Do you know of any good surgeons?    Also, being late 30s, will healing be impaired - advancing age etc.?    I asked someone else about this and they seem to think that it's more the case that advancing age brings other health problems which may potentially affect results, rather than age itself, per se.   In other words, if I am healthy and slim and eating good food etc, exercising, then it won't matter too much that I'm late 30s.

   Thanks

I am retired now.  I made my living in infection control & prevention research, and did swing the scalpel myself quite a bit during my hay days.

I don't know any surgeons in that field of specialty.  If I need elective surgery, I would go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  But I am a little biased here, because I used to cooperate with them during my work days.
Yes, being as lean as you can get is your best bet for nice looking scars and minimal chances for wound infection.

You are still a child!  You will not have any problems with wound healing for the case you are healthy.  Of course, every body heals different, mine heals as if it is in the races!  general good health, good nutrition (sugar is your enemy, any sugar, honey is also sugar and is bad for you, no matter what some health food nuts may tell you, sugar/honey is bad, so is salt!
And again, your age will not have any negative results on a wonderful looking scar.  Ask your surgeon to teach you how to do proper scar massage!  If he/she does not know, they might not be the right surgeon for you!

[lifeishard]

@Dietlind.  Thank you for your time and help.   

[Linde]

@Dietlind.  Thank you for your time and help.   

You are welcome!
Us girls have to stick together and help each other in any way we can.

I bet I have a million questions along the line, and there is always somebody who has a great answer for them.

I do the medical thing wherever I can!

[Brooke]

Dr Meltzer in the USA- Scottsdale AZ area has a reputation for revising other surgeons work. I have only had a consult with him and can say he is definitely personable. I would recommend if you have a consult with him, to make sure you have a list of questions you want answered as with my consult he did not anticipate any questions/offer up faqs etc.

I decided not go with him due to his two step process, but he has a solid reputation  that does include fixing other surgeons work.