Can surgical scars be removed?
Mar 20, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
Surgical scars are a reparative response of the body to skin tissue damage. After the skin is injured by a surgical incision, the body initiates a series of repair processes: the coagulation mechanism acts to stop bleeding,随后 inflammatory cells gather at the wound site to remove necrotic tissue and release growth factors. These growth factors stimulate fibroblast proliferation and migration, leading to scar formation.
Generally speaking, surgical scars usually cannot be completely removed. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Surgical scars are a repair response of the body to skin tissue damage. When the skin sustains a surgical incision injury, the body initiates a series of repair processes. The coagulation mechanism functions to stop the bleeding, followed by the gathering of inflammatory cells at the wound site to remove necrotic tissue and release various growth factors. These growth factors stimulate fibroblast proliferation and migration, and the fibroblasts produce extracellular matrix components such as collagen to fill the wound, thus forming a scar.
The collagen arrangement in scar tissue is relatively disordered, significantly different from normal skin tissue. The collagen in normal skin forms an orderly fibrous structure, while collagen fibers in scar tissue are typically cross-linked, thickened, and disorganized. This structural difference makes it difficult for scars to fully recover to the appearance and texture of normal skin. However, patients with postoperative scars can follow medical advice to undergo laser treatment, which can help improve the skin condition.
Surgical scars cannot be completely removed, but they can be improved through other methods. The process may require some time and patience. Patients should maintain a positive mindset and follow medical advice for treatment.
