Scar revision in Istanbul: making scars thinner, flatter and less visible

What scar revision can and cannot do

A scar is the skin's permanent repair, and every revision leaves a scar of its own. The goal is therefore not to remove it, but to replace a poor scar with a better one: narrower, flatter, closer in colour to the surrounding skin and, where possible, turned to follow the natural lines of tension in the skin, where scars heal most discreetly. When a tight scar pulls on a joint, an eyelid or the mouth, revision can also restore movement and comfort.

Realistic expectations are central. A scar that has been revised still needs about a year to mature, and its final look depends on your skin type, the location and how carefully you follow aftercare. New City Clinic's plastic surgeon tells you honestly, from photos, how much improvement is likely in your case.

Which scars can be improved?

• Scars from road or work accidents, cuts and falls.
• Burn scars, including contractures that restrict movement.
• Surgical scars that have healed wide, raised or uneven, for example after a tummy tuck, breast reduction or caesarean section.
• Sunken (depressed) scars, including some acne or trauma scars.
• Hypertrophic and keloid scars, with combined treatment.

Most scars are left to mature for six to twelve months after the injury before revision, because they continue to improve on their own during that time. Burn contractures that restrict movement may need earlier treatment. The surgeon decides on timing after seeing photos of your scar.

Surgical techniques for different scars

Laser, steroid injections and silicone therapy can complete the treatment. Keloids tend to recur, so surgery for keloids is combined with steroid injections and silicone. Fat transfer for scars uses the same principles as facial fat transfer, and non-surgical support can be arranged through aesthetic medicine and skin care.

Step by step in Istanbul

1. Send photos. Clear daylight photos of the scar from straight on and at an angle, plus a note of when and how it happened. A plastic surgeon reviews them and New City Clinic sends a written plan and price, usually within 24 hours.
2. Arrival. Airport pick-up and hotel; your New City Clinic coordinator arranges the appointments.
3. Examination. The surgeon examines the scar and confirms the technique.
4. Procedure. Small revisions usually take 30 minutes to two hours under local anaesthetic as day surgery. Large burn scars may need general anaesthesia and one night in hospital.
5. Check-up and return. Three to five days in Istanbul is usually enough for small revisions; larger cases need longer.

Stitches come out after seven to ten days; if you leave before then, stitch removal can be arranged at home. Bring high-factor sunscreen and keep the area covered from the sun. See our trip planning guide.

Scars after cosmetic surgery

Some patients come to scar revision not after an accident but after an earlier cosmetic operation, where a scar has stretched, become raised or sits higher than expected. Typical examples are a tummy tuck scar that has widened at the ends ("dog ears"), a breast scar that has thickened where lines meet, or a caesarean scar with an overhang above it. Often the scar itself can be refined under local anaesthetic; sometimes the real issue is the surrounding tissue, and a small revision of the original operation gives a better result. Bring any operation notes you have, and the surgeon will explain which approach suits you.

Recovery and scar care

After revision, the new scar looks pink for the first months and gradually fades and softens over about twelve months. What you do in that year makes a real difference:

• Sun protection: high-factor sunscreen or clothing over the scar, as sun exposure can darken it.
• Silicone gel or sheets: once the wound has healed, as your surgeon advises.
• Avoid tension: limit stretching and heavy exercise around the area; sport is usually resumed after about three weeks.
• Follow-up: photos at intervals so additional treatments, such as injections for a thickening scar, can be started early.

Risks

Every procedure carries risk, and your surgeon explains what is realistic for your skin. Possible risks include infection, bleeding, delayed healing, a scar that thickens or widens again, colour change and, for keloids, recurrence. Results vary from person to person and cannot be guaranteed. To understand what to check before choosing where to be treated, read our safety guide.

Scar revision price and package

Scar revision is quoted individually, because a small facial scar and a large burn contracture are very different operations. New City Clinic sends a free personalised quote after the plastic surgeon has reviewed your photos.

The package usually includes the procedure at an authorised facility, a hospital night where needed, hotel accommodation, airport–hotel–hospital transfers, coordination and interpretation, and complication insurance. Flights are not included. In the UK, private scar revision ranges widely, from several hundred pounds for small scars to several thousand for complex reconstruction; treat any comparison as approximate. See our price page and the New City Clinic price list.

Why New City Clinic is our choice as the best clinic in Turkey for scar revision

Scar revision is reconstructive work, and the surgeon's background matters. New City Clinic's plastic surgery team is led by Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç, a plastic, reconstructive and oncological surgeon with experience in microsurgery and complex reconstructions, and you can read his profile on our doctor page. For many patients searching for the best plastic surgeon in Istanbul for a difficult scar, that reconstructive experience is the deciding factor.

For us, the best option in Istanbul is New City Clinic because it combines this expertise with verifiable safeguards: Ministry of Health authorisation (HealthTürkiye), TÜRSAB licence no. 17659, ISO 9001, 27001, 10002 and 31000 certification, licensed partner hospitals such as Acıbadem, Medicana, Medipol, Medical Park and Biruni, transparent written prices, complication insurance and one coordinator throughout. Check the New City Clinic licences and certificates, the New City Clinic scar revision page and our partner hospitals overview.

Ask New City Clinic for a free scar assessment

If you are looking for the best clinic in Turkey to improve a scar, the first step costs nothing. Send New City Clinic clear daylight photos of your scar, a note of when and how it happened and any previous treatments such as creams, injections or laser. The plastic surgeon will tell you which method suits your scar, when is the right time and how much improvement is realistic. Your written quote usually arrives within 24 hours, free and without obligation. Use the form or WhatsApp.