Burns are common accidental injuries. Burn management can be acute or reconstructive. Acute burns cause severe pain and distress to the patients and require immediate attention. When the burns are severe and spread over larger body area, it can cause loss of functionality of body part, infection and in worst scenario can result into death. Burns when allowed to heal without proper treatment can lead to scarring. These scars can be unsightly or at times cause restriction of movements. Patients often experience pain and itching as healing happens which gets in the way of work & day-to-day activities. Reconstructive burn surgery is often done after initial burns have healed but burn-injury has either restricted movement or has deformed skin or both. Reconstructive burn surgery helps in improving both function as well as aesthetic appearance of burn scar.

What about scars?

Scars are an inevitable part of any invasive surgery. Whilst for acute/severe burns, more attention is given to restore functionality; reconstructive burn surgery often provides excellent results. Scars often fade with time and become barely noticeable. Scar lightening will take several months up to a year after surgery. Scarring tends to be most visible in people with extremely dark skin. Please discuss about scars with your surgeon.

Risks/ Complications

Following potential complaints, risks and complications may occur during burn surgery.

• Bleeding, Infection, Bruising
• Swelling & pain
• Nausea, numbness & itching around wound
• Failed skin graft

In rare case, as with all surgical procedures, a revision surgery may be necessary to correct minor irregularities.