samboid

My plastic surgeon is using the Z plasty technique when he operates on my next month. What is the Z plasty technique and is it something that is safe to do on olive skin? He explained it to me super briefly, not enough to make sense. All he said was that the cuts were going to be done in Z shaped patterns to conceal them. I am skinny but according to him if it's done this way there won't be a need for skin grafts. I don't know a lot about this type of plastic surgery because this will be the first scar removal I've ever had. This scar was from an accident as a child. I am excited about the prospect of removing it but wish he would have explained the technique of Z plasty to me in detail.

robyne00

Z Plasty has pros and cons. As far as doing it on olive skin, I only know two very fair skinned individuals who have gotten this procedure. One liked it. The other one had major issues following this technique.

As per the wiki: "Z-plasty is a plastic surgery technique that is used to improve the functional and cosmetic appearance of scars. It can elongate a contracted scar or rotate the scar tension line. The middle line of the Z-shaped incision is made along the line of greatest tension or contraction, and triangular flaps are raised on opposite sides of the two ends and then transposed. The length and angle of each flap must be precisely the same to avoid mismatched flaps that may be difficult to close. Some possible complications of Z-plasty include flap necrosis, haematoma formation under the flaps, wound infection, trapdoor effect and sloughing of the flap caused by high wound tension."

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la_angel

I think it largely depends on how skilled the surgeon is with performing the Z plasty technique. It really is an art from what I hear. I've seen truly incredible transformation with difficult scars (like those on the forehead or neck) that have been camouflaged very well after Z plasty surgery was done.

I guess my recommendation would be to speak with a plastic surgeon that specializes in scar revisions and have your scar explained and analyzed thoroughly (whether it's this surgeon or someone else). Don't go to a general plastic surgeon that tries to do it all. For this you will need one that definitely specializes in Z plasty!