Facial rejuvenation

You may be a candidate if you have a scar that bothers you because of its appearance or because it restricts movement (after a wound, a minor burn, or previous surgery), a wound that needs closure or coverage with a small graft, or a minor skin defect following trauma or the removal of a skin lesion. As Mayo Clinic describes, reconstructive plastic surgery specifically includes the correction of these post-traumatic and post-surgical defects.

We believe in being clear about scope: at Healthcare by the Sea we perform only outpatient reconstructive procedures, such as scar revision, minor grafts, and minor post-injury reconstruction. Cases requiring major reconstruction — for example, breast reconstruction, microsurgery, or complex flaps — belong in a hospital setting; if that is your situation, we will guide you during your consultation and refer you to the right team. Schedule a personalized consultation and, depending on your case, our specialists will let you know whether this option is right for you — a convenient path for patients traveling from the U.S. and Canada.

The technique depends on your case. In scar revision, the surgeon removes or repositions scar tissue and closes the area with fine sutures; Mayo Clinic describes, for example, excising individual scars and repairing them with stitches or a small skin graft. To cover a defect after an injury or the removal of a skin lesion, Mayo Clinic outlines several options: letting the wound heal on its own, closing it with stitches, covering it with skin pulled from a nearby area (a local flap), or using a small piece of skin taken from another part of the body, such as behind the ear.

These procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, usually under local anesthesia and, depending on your case, light sedation. Most patients are discharged the same day and walk out of our facility with clear instructions for care at home.

Everything starts with a consultation: as Mayo Clinic notes, the first step is meeting with the surgeon to discuss your goals, the available alternatives, and the potential risks and benefits of each option. At Healthcare by the Sea, that consultation is personalized and unhurried, so you can make an informed decision.

Before your procedure, tell your doctor about all the medicines and supplements you take, since some may need to be paused temporarily on medical advice. Mayo Clinic also recommends clearing your schedule for the day and wearing comfortable, layered clothing. For most procedures done under local anesthesia you can eat normally beforehand, though we will confirm this based on the type of anesthesia planned for your case.

Most patients experience mild soreness and tenderness in the area for the first few days, which can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers as directed by your doctor. According to Mayo Clinic, you can expect to wear a bandage over the wound for a week or longer, with dressing changes as instructed, and a follow-up visit to confirm the wound is healing well.

Be patient with the result: scars mature and soften gradually over several months, and our team stays close throughout with check-ins and skin-care recommendations tailored to your case — something many of our international patients coordinate with us remotely after returning home.

Go to the emergency department right away if you develop a high fever, heavy bleeding that does not stop with pressure, pain that worsens instead of improving, or increasing redness or discharge from the wound, and notify the doctor who performed your procedure as soon as possible.

Medical reference source: Mayo Clinic.