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Scar Camouflage in Philadelphia

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Introduction to Scar Camouflage

Scars come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Regardless of how they appear, they can be a big blow to your body confidence. Although the scars cannot be removed or erased, there is a way to help make them look less noticeable and more natural, so you can boost your confidence and feel more comfortable showing the area of skin with your scar. If you’re not happy with the way your scar or scars look, receiving scar camouflage at Lohner Plastic Surgery in Philadelphia, PA, may be a great option for you.

What is Scar Camouflage?

Let’s start with the basics

Scar camouflage, also known as paramedical tattooing, is a cosmetic procedure that uses skin-colored ink to cover white or hypopigmented scars, blending the surrounding skin on the face or body. To ensure you receive tones that match your pigment, a trained tattoo artist will analyze your skin tone and undertone through careful examination. Using a digital tattoo device with fine needles, the tattoo artist will deposit pigment into the scar tissue, similar to how one would normally receive a tattoo, except they will focus on blending skin tones rather than creating a design.

Scar camouflage can last several years, allowing for infrequent appointments, and can treat scars from surgery, trauma or accidents, burns, stretch marks, or vitiligo.

Dr. Ronald A. Lohner M.D., F.A.C.S rated Philadelphia Magazine's Top Doctors 2005-2021

What Are the Benefits of Scar Camouflage?

Scar camouflage primarily benefits patients by concealing their scars, whether they are from surgery, injury, burns, or other skin imperfections, to boost self-esteem, confidence, and body image. Other benefits include natural-looking results from custom-blended pigments, minimal recovery time due to a non-surgical procedure that saves costs compared to surgery, minimal touchups due to long-lasting results, and time savings compared to makeup that can be smudged, sweated off, or rubbed away.

Each scar camouflage session is customized to match your unique skin tone and texture and can be performed on individuals with most skin types. Refer to your provider during your consultation to determine if scar camouflage can be done on your skin type.

Who Are the Best Candidates for Scar Camouflage?

There are several types of candidates who would be the best for scar camouflage in Philadelphia, PA. Those candidates fall under these traits:

  • Visible scars from surgery, injury, burn incident, or other skin imperfections.
  • The color of your skin must be darker than the scar.
  • Your scars have been fully healed for at least 1 year and are not changing.
  • Your scars are not affected by medical conditions like keloid scars
  • You have realistic expectations of what the results of the procedure can produce
  • Good overall physical and mental health

What’s the First Step?

The first step to receiving scar camouflage at Lohner Plastic Surgery in Philadelphia, PA, is receiving a consultation. This is the time to tell us your goals, share your medical history, and ask questions about the procedure. Your scar or scars will be examined, and the best approach for your treatment journey will be determined. You will discuss the treatment plan, including how many sessions you will need, and go over payment plans if necessary. Your first session may be the same day as your consultation or on a different day.

What to Expect on the Day of Scar Camouflage Treatment

You will receive a consultation with the tattoo artist to review your goals, medical history, and skin analysis to determine whether you are a good fit for scar camouflage at Lohner Plastic Surgery in Philadelphia, PA. On the day of your scar camouflage treatment, the tattoo artist will apply numbing cream to make the process more comfortable. Then, they will deposit pigments that match your skin tone into your scars using a specialized needle device, gradually blending them with the surrounding skin. A typical appointment lasts a little under 3 hours, depending on the extent and complexity of the scar.

You’ll notice the treated area appears darker than the surrounding skin, red, and swollen, but the final color will gradually settle over the following few weeks.

Scar Camouflage Recovery

Following scar camouflage recovery steps is crucial to achieving effective results. After each session for the first 1-2 weeks, you should wash the area with clean hands, lukewarm water, and mild, unscented soap, and gently dry with a clean tissue. Moisturize the area with a light layer of unscented lotion, or whichever lotion the tattoo artist provides you, so the area doesn’t dry out. Avoid direct sunlight, tanning beds, swimming, profuse sweating, makeup, harsh soaps, scented lotions, and picking and scratching.

Why Choose Lohner Plastic Surgery?

At Lohner Plastic Surgery, we prioritize you. Between exceeding your goals, ensuring your safety, addressing your concerns, and delivering the exact results you are looking for, we’ve got your back every step of the way. Our highly experienced team looks forward to meeting and helping every client, no matter their reason for coming.

Plastic surgeon and founder of Lohner Plastic Surgery, Dr. Ronald Lohner, has extensive experience and affiliations within the medical community, making his practice a reliable choice for scar camouflage. He is affiliated with the American Board of Surgery (ABS), the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons (NSPS), and the Robert H. Ivy Society of Plastic Surgeons.

How Much Does Scar Camouflage Cost in Philadelphia, PA?

The cost of Scar Camouflage in Philadelphia depends on a few different factors. The size and location of the scar are two of the main factors that affect the cost. Larger, more intense scars will cost more than smaller or less dramatic ones. Scars that require more sessions to reach final results will cost more than those that require fewer sessions.

You will receive the cost of your scar camouflage treatment during your consultation.

Schedule Your Consultation

Scheduling your consultation at our Philadelphia office is the first step to getting your scar camouflage. To schedule your consultation, contact us when you are ready to see if you will be approved for a scar camouflage treatment.

FAQs

Your procedure questions answered.

Is Scar Camouflage Painful?

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Scar camouflage is generally not painful, as patients often describe the procedure as causing minimal discomfort. We always use a topical anesthetic to ensure your treated area is numb and experiences less discomfort. Additionally, scarred areas typically have fewer nerve endings, so you will likely experience less pain anyway. The sensation is similar to mild scratching, tingling, or light tattooing, and you may take a break if needed. After your sessions, you may experience mild redness, swelling, and sensitivity for a few days to a week, which is tolerable.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

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Scar camouflage at Lohner Plastic Surgery in Philadelphia requires 2-3 sessions, approximately 4 weeks apart. The scar type and severity, your skin tone and type, and your goals all influence the number of appointments you will need. You will be notified of the number of appointments you will need during your consultation.

How Long Until I See the Results?

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The skin surrounding your scar will have some mild redness and swelling for about a week. The color will appear darker than the skin tone, but that’s normal. Remain patient as the pigment changes in shades as the skin fully heals, with the final color gradually appearing over 4-8 weeks after your final session. Avoid picking at scabs.

Can I Combine Scar Camouflage with Other Procedures?

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It is completely safe to combine scar camouflage with other procedures to treat skin imperfections, including other procedures with needles as well as lasers. If you’re interested in combining scar camouflage with other procedures, let us know during your consultation.

What Are the Risks Associated with Scar Camouflage?

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The risks associated with scar camouflage include:

  • Mild, tolerable pain and discomfort during the procedure, as the needle will be breaking the surface of your skin
  • Redness and swelling after your session, subsiding within a few days
  • Infection if the equipment is not sterile
  • Allergic reactions to tattoo pigments can irritate your skin and make it itchy
  • Rash
  • Poor healing
  • Fading from sun exposure
  • Unsatisfactory match in pigment color and skin tone
  • Change in scar tissue over time, resulting in an altered tattoo appearance, which may need to be touched up in additional sessions.
Always follow recovery and care instructions properly to minimize risks.