Woori Plastic Surgery Trauma Center Opens: From Wound Closure to Scar Treatment

When a sudden cut or tear occurs during daily life, you may wonder how the wound should be treated.

In particular, if a wound occurs on the face or another highly visible area, you may worry not only about immediate pain and bleeding, but also whether a scar will remain after it heals.

To provide more careful care for these concerns, Woori Plastic Surgery’s Trauma Center has newly opened.

The Woori Plastic Surgery Trauma Center considers everything from suturing immediately after an injury to improving existing scars, and operates four treatment areas: wound closure, scar reduction, scar laser, and ear lobe repair.

Wound Closure, Considering the Healing Process Too

Wounds can happen for many reasons, such as skin abrasions from falling or cuts from sharp objects.

Depending on the type of injury, the needed treatment may differ, from abrasions where the skin surface is scraped off, to lacerations where the skin tears from impact, incisions caused by knives or glass, and puncture wounds from pointed objects.

In particular, if the skin is pulled apart so the edges do not meet, or if the wound is deep enough to expose subcutaneous tissue, suturing may be necessary.

At Woori Plastic Surgery, the appropriate suturing method is determined after checking the wound’s location and direction, depth, skin thickness, and the condition of the surrounding tissue.

If the wound is deep, the damaged tissue such as the subcutaneous layer and dermis can be identified, the necessary layers can be aligned step by step, and then the skin surface can be sutured.

For highly visible areas such as the face, the movement of the surrounding skin and the direction of the wound are also considered to help assess how it may look after healing.

Wound care is available for both children and adults, and same-day walk-in registration is possible during clinic hours without a reservation.

However, actual treatment availability may vary depending on the wound’s depth, extent of injury, and the day’s clinical situation.

Scar Reduction Improves the Appearance of Existing Scars

Even after a wound heals, a scar may remain on the skin and continue to be bothersome for a long time.

Scars vary in appearance not only by the cause, but also by the healing process of the skin.

They can result from trauma scars caused by accidents, surgical scars left after cesarean sections or thyroid surgery, plastic surgery scars, burn scars, and more.

In particular, scar reduction surgery may be considered when a scar is wide, sunken deeper than the surrounding skin, or has changed shape due to skin tension.

At Woori Plastic Surgery’s Trauma Center, the surgical method is determined by checking the scar’s size, depth, direction, and the amount of surrounding skin and tension.

Depending on the shape of the scar, methods such as simple excision, which removes the existing scar and sutures it again, or staged excision, which gradually reduces a wide scar in several steps, may be applied.

If the direction of the scar or skin pulling is the issue, Z-plasty or W-plasty may also be considered.

Scar reduction surgery does not completely remove the existing scar; its goal is to reduce its width and improve its shape so it blends more naturally with the surrounding skin.

Scar Laser: From Redness and Pigmentation to Skin Texture

Scars do not only remain as an open or sunken skin defect.

Even after the wound heals, redness may persist for a long time or brown pigmentation may remain, making the area stand out because its texture differs from the surrounding skin.

In such cases, scar laser treatment may be considered.

Scar laser treatment involves checking the scar’s redness, pigmentation, skin texture, and thickness, then selecting the appropriate device based on the condition.

Treatment direction varies depending on the scar’s characteristics, such as assessing vascular changes in red scars or the depth and extent of pigmentation in brown or darker scars.

It can also be used when redness along a surgical incision is bothersome or when additional care is needed after scar reduction surgery.

Unlike scar reduction surgery, which improves the scar’s shape and structure, scar laser focuses mainly on improving the color and surface of the scar.

Depending on the condition of the scar, both treatments may be considered together.

Ear Lobe Repair Corrects Torn or Stretched Earlobes

If you wear earrings or piercings for a long time, the hole may gradually stretch or tear downward.

In particular, repeatedly wearing heavy earrings or an accident where an earring is suddenly pulled can split the earlobe tissue.

This condition, where the earlobe is stretched or torn, is called ear lobe repair.

Depending on the extent of the damage, it can be classified from a widened piercing hole to a partial tear where part of the earlobe is split, or a complete tear where the earlobe is fully separated down to the bottom.

At Woori Plastic Surgery, the correction range is planned after checking the location and extent of the tear, the thickness of the earlobe, and its lower curve and overall shape.

If needed, the stretched or deformed tissue is trimmed and the surrounding tissue is aligned and sutured to improve the shape of the earlobe.

Correction methods may also be considered based on the current condition when the earlobe remains irregular after a previous repair or when a scar is noticeable.

However, if a thick, raised scar forms on the earlobe after earrings or piercings, it may be a keloid rather than an ear lobe tear, so the condition should be distinguished and treated accordingly.

From Wound Occurrence to Scar Care After Recovery

Woori Plastic Surgery’s Trauma Center places importance on treatment that continues from the moment a wound occurs through the scars that may remain after recovery.

When wound closure is needed, the location, depth, and whether the wound is contaminated are checked before the necessary treatment and suturing are performed.

Afterward, the recovery of the sutured area can be monitored, continuing through stitch removal and scar management.

If a scar is already present, its shape, color, and skin texture are evaluated to consider appropriate treatments such as scar reduction surgery or scar laser.

However, not all injuries are suitable for the trauma center. If a fracture or damage to nerves, blood vessels, or tendons is suspected, or if there is severe bleeding, head trauma, or extensive burns, treatment at an emergency room or the relevant specialist medical institution may take priority.

From sudden wounds to scars that have remained for a long time, skin and tissue injuries require different treatments depending on the cause and current condition.

Based on care from a board-certified plastic surgeon, Woori Plastic Surgery’s Trauma Center carefully examines the wound structure and surrounding skin condition to plan the treatment needed for each individual.

We provide care for a wide range of concerns related to wounds and scars, including wound closure, scar reduction, scar laser, and ear lobe repair.

If you have a sudden wound or are concerned about an old scar, please check your current condition at Woori Plastic Surgery’s Trauma Center.