No matter what procedure you and your doctor decide is right for you, it is essential to follow the doctor’s instructions after the surgery to ensure proper healing. Even with simpler, outpatient procedures, it is best to gradually return to your normal physical activities.

During the healing process, it is important to remember that it is impossible to completely remove a scar. The amount of improvement in appearance after a procedure depends on the size and direction of your original scar, the nature of your body’s healing process, the quality of your skin, and your own ability to care well for the wound after the procedure. Don’t worry if your scar looks worse after the procedure than it did before—this is not unusual, and it may take as long as a year to see the full results of surgery.