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Procedures Performed
  • Abdominoplasty
  • Breast Augmentation
  • Breast Lift
  • Breast Reduction
  • Liposuction
  • Face Lift
  • Neck Lift
  • Chemical Peel
  • Dermabrasion
  • Eyelid Surgery
  • Male Breast Reduction
  • Gynecomastia

 

Dr. Cruise serves the following areas:

  • Orange County,
  • Irvine,
  • Newport Beach,
  • San Diego,
  • Los Angeles,
  • Beverly Hills,
  • Southern California.

 

Scar Revision

 

 

Overview of Scar Revision

 

One of the most common procedures Dr. Cruise is asked to perform is scar revision. Some people believe that a plastic surgeon has the ability to completely remove scars as if the injury never occurred. Obviously, this is not possible. Once the skin is cut, it can only heal by scar tissue. The key to scar revision is to make the scar as unnoticeable as possible. This is the art of plastic surgery.

 

Before performing a scar revision, Dr. Cruise carefully examines all the characteristics of the scar and where it is located. Typically, a scar revision requires excision of the old scar and precise repair. Also important is changing the direction of the scar so that it falls into a natural skin crease where it is much less noticeable. For example, a 2-inch scar on the forehead is much more noticeable if it is positioned vertically as opposed to horizontally, because the natural skin creases of the forehead run horizontally.

 

Another trick at Dr. Cruise's disposal is to turn a scar that is either elevated or depressed into a flat scar. This is important because scars that are not flat will cast shadows which draw everyone's attention.

 

There are other techniques that Dr. Cruise will elaborate on in the section entitled "Dr. Cruise's Philosophy."

 

Another important aspect of scar revision is understanding the differences between the types of scars and the different ways people heal. Scars can be classified into 3 different types. The first and most common type is the unfavorable scar. This type of scar can usually be dramatically improved with precise plastic surgery planning and repair. This type of scar is caused by either poor original repair or no repair at all, leaving the wound to heal on its own. The second type is the hypertrophic scar. This type is widened and is usually hard. It too is amenable to scar revision. The third and most difficult scar to revise is the keloid. A keloid is a scar that does not know when to stop growing. The scar keeps getting bigger and bigger until eventually it is bigger that the original injury. This type of scar is prone to return.

 

In addition to surgical techniques, there are medications and injections that can be used to make scars heal better as well as making them softer and less itchy.

 

Dr. Cruise has a large armamentarium and tremendous experience at his disposal to fight scar formation. He has obtained his expertise by treating burn victims at the Grossman Burn Unit of Western Medical Regional Hospital. Take comfort in the fact that no matter what type of scar you have, Dr. Cruise has vast experience with similar scars and knows exactly what needs to be done to produce the best result possible.