Concierge plastic surgery · UK
Scar revision surgery - changing shape, tension and direction.
Surgical re-work of a widened, mis-aligned, contracted or bulky scar - Z-plasty, W-plasty, geometric broken-line closure, contracture release and re-excision. Consultant plastic surgeon-led. For non-surgical modalities, see our scar treatment page.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A named plastic surgeon, on-face volume
A consultant plastic surgeon who does scar revision routinely - including facial scars where sub-millimetre planning changes the result.
- 02
Right timing, right technique
Most scars are not ready for revision until 12 months in. We say so, and start with silicone, steroid or laser first if that would land better.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic. Whether revision, laser or steroid injection fits your scar, the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private scar revision surgery costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner UK units. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options, with cover checked.
In short
Facial Z-plasty in our network: £1,600–£3,500, home the same day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small scar re-excision (under 3 cm, face or body) | £850–£1,800 | 30–45 min | Same day |
| Facial Z-plasty or W-plasty | £1,600–£3,500 | 45–75 min | Same day |
| Large or multiple-Z scar revision | £2,800–£5,500 | 60–120 min | Same day |
| Contracture release with skin graft | £4,500–£9,000 | 90–150 min | Day-case or 1 night |
| Contracture release with local flap | £5,500–£11,000 | 120–180 min | 1 night |
| Hair-bearing scar excision (scalp, brow, beard) | £1,800–£4,500 | 45–90 min | Same day |
| Follicular unit hair transplantation into scar | £3,500–£8,500 | 3–6 hours | Same day |
| Plastic surgery consultation only | £250–£400 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by hospital, by the consultant, by scar size, technique (excision, Z-plasty, contracture release), and by whether local anaesthetic in clinic or theatre with GA is required. We confirm a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
Scar revision is where timing and technique both quietly go wrong.
Revising too early makes a scar worse. Revising with the wrong technique makes it more visible. We wait, then match technique to tension line.
-
Wait for maturity, unless a contracture demands otherwise
Most revisions land better at 12 months. The exception is a contracture pulling on a joint or facial border - earlier release is right there.
-
Direction beats depth
The commonest revision failure is re-cutting the same line in the same direction. Z-plasty and W-plasty change direction - that is the point.
-
Post-op adjuncts are half the result
Silicone from week 2, vascular laser at 6 weeks, steroid injection if hypertrophic - planned before surgery, not improvised after.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery - what happens, in order.
One plastic surgery team from first photo through revision and long-term photographic follow-up.
Phase 1 · Before
Assessment and planning
Phase 2 · On the day
Treatment and discharge
Phase 3 · After
Follow-up and review
- 01
Before
You send us photos and the story
A short form and clear photographs of the scar. When and how it happened, previous treatment, what bothers you most.
- 02
Before
We come back with a plan
Within one working day: whether surgical revision is the right next step, or whether non-surgical treatment first would give a better final result. Firm quote and consultant match.
- 03
Before
Consultation and photography
Standardised photography, tension-line analysis and technique choice - re-excision, Z-plasty, W-plasty, dermabrasion, or a staged combination.
- 04
Before
Pre-op skincare and pigment protection
Sun protection and - for pigmented skin - tyrosinase-inhibitor skincare pre-op to reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk.
- 05
On the day
Surgery under local, sedation or GA
Small revisions under local anaesthetic in the treatment room, 30–45 minutes. Larger revisions, contracture release and grafts under sedation or GA - 60–150 minutes.
- 06
On the day
Same-day discharge
Home the same day with written aftercare, silicone gel or tape ready, and clear activity restrictions.
- 07
After
Suture removal, silicone, laser follow-through
Sutures out at 5–14 days depending on site. Silicone from 2 weeks. Vascular laser at 6–8 weeks for redness. Photo review at 3, 6 and 12 months.
Typical end-to-end: 2–4 weeks from enquiry to procedure. Return to office work: 1–5 days. Final result: 12 months.
When it helps
When scar revision surgery is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus one red flag that means specialist review urgently rather than a routine booking.
-
A scar pulled off the natural crease
A scar that crosses a facial line at an unfavourable angle - Z-plasty rotates the axis 30–90 degrees onto a relaxed skin-tension line.
-
A widened or stretched scar
A scar spread over months by tension - re-excision with layered closure and long-term tension offloading (tape, silicone) narrows it.
-
A trapdoor or pin-cushioned scar
A U-shaped scar with tissue bulging inside it - revision breaks the curve with W-plasty and thins the underlying tissue.
-
A contracted scar limiting movement
A neck, axilla, elbow, hand or joint scar restricting range - contracture release with Z-plasty, local flap or full-thickness skin graft.
-
A stepped or misaligned scar
A scar with a step-off across a lip, eyebrow or hairline - precise re-alignment restores the border first.
-
Hair loss in a scalp or brow scar
Excision of an untreatable strip scar, or follicular-unit hair transplantation into scar tissue to restore hair density.
-
Stable hypertrophic scar failing conservative care
A raised, red hypertrophic scar that has not responded to 6–12 months of silicone, tape and steroid injection - surgical revision plus post-op adjunct.
-
Not right for: active keloid, first year of a burn scar
Active keloids are made worse by unsupported excision. Burn scars keep remodelling for 12–18 months - most should not be revised until then.
Procedure options
Every scar has a technique - Z-plasty, W-plasty, GBLC or release.
The technique choice depends on scar direction, length, tension and location. A single surgeon will use several across a career, matching tool to scar.
-
Simple re-excision with layered closure
For a stable, widened but well-oriented scar - excise and close in layers, offload tension with deep dermal sutures. Fine, narrower result at 12 months.
-
Z-plasty
Two triangular flaps swapped to rotate the scar axis onto a relaxed skin-tension line. Lengthens the scar in one direction and shortens it in the other - the go-to for facial and joint scars.
-
W-plasty
A running-W closure that breaks a long linear scar into small zigzags the eye no longer follows. Useful in cheek and forehead scars parallel to lines of expression.
-
Geometric broken-line closure (GBLC)
An irregular closure combining triangles, rectangles and semicircles - camouflages long straight scars where a running W would still be recognisable.
-
Contracture release with skin graft
Release the contracted band, cover the defect with a full-thickness skin graft. Post-op splinting is essential to hold the release.
-
Contracture release with local flap
For deeper contractures or those crossing joints - a local rotation, transposition or perforator flap provides supple like-for-like tissue.
-
Hair transplantation into scar
Follicular-unit extraction (FUE) grafts placed into a hairline, brow or beard scar 6–12 months after healing. Two sessions usually needed.
-
Dermabrasion at revision
Mechanical resurfacing at 6–8 weeks after revision blends the new scar edges into surrounding skin. Not the same as pure resurfacing.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of plastic surgeons, we picked them.
GMC-registered consultant plastic surgeons on the Specialist Register with reconstructive practice. Introductions made privately once we understand your scar.
Selection criteria
How we choose every specialist in our network.
-
GMC-registered consultant plastic surgeons on the Specialist Register with reconstructive practice
-
BAAPS or BAPRAS membership and routine scar revision volume
-
Vascular laser and steroid injection available in the same clinic pathway
-
Ethnic-skin experience where pigmentation and keloid risk are relevant
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Scar revision is well established. The important conversation is timing, technique choice and the adjuncts that follow.
-
Small procedure, local anaesthetic for most
Most revisions are 30–75 minutes under local anaesthetic in a treatment room. Larger revisions, releases and grafts need sedation or GA.
-
The new scar takes 12 months to mature
It looks red and raised at 6 weeks, softens by 3 months, matures over 12 months. Judgment on the final result is at one year, not two months.
-
Silicone, tape and sun protection are non-negotiable
Silicone gel or tape for 12 weeks, and daily SPF50 for 12 months, halve the risk of a poor result. Compliance matters as much as the surgery.
-
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Higher risk in Fitzpatrick IV–VI skin - mitigated with strict sun protection, tyrosinase-inhibitor skincare pre- and post-op, and gentle laser only after 6 months.
-
Recurrence, especially in hypertrophic scars
Around 10–20 percent of hypertrophic scar revisions recur without post-op adjuncts. Silicone, steroid injection and low-energy vascular laser at 6–8 weeks reduce it substantially.
-
Keloid - a specialist conversation
True keloids often respond poorly to plain excision. If a keloid diagnosis is confirmed, we plan excision with immediate low-dose radiotherapy or intralesional 5-FU/steroid rather than unsupported surgery.
-
Wound infection, dehiscence, seroma
Under 2 percent in clean, elective surgery. Call same-day for spreading redness, discharge, fever or wound separation.
-
Nerve injury near facial or joint scars
Discussed pre-op for scars near the facial nerve, digital nerves or supra-orbital region. Meticulous consultant-level technique keeps rates very low.
-
Red flags after revision
Sudden bleeding through dressings, spreading redness, fever, or a rapidly hardening lump under the scar need same-day team review, not a routine call.
Reading your notes
Your notes in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whether Z-plasty, W-plasty, contracture release or hair transplantation into scar, the operation note keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Clinical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through your notes before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Site, technique and closure
Where the scar is, which revision technique was used (excision, Z-plasty, W-plasty, GBLC, contracture release), and how it was closed.
- 02 Technique
Anaesthesia and undermining
Local, sedation or GA; how much subcutaneous undermining; whether a graft or flap was used; suture materials.
- 03 Findings
Skin condition and any histology
Skin quality, whether tissue was sent for histology (rare, for scars with atypical features), and any intra-operative surprises.
- 04 Impression
Aftercare plan, silicone, laser follow-up
Read this first: suture removal date, silicone start date, sun protection, and 6-week laser or steroid injection follow-up if applicable.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Scar revision surgery is covered where a scar restricts function (contracture) or was caused by an insured event. Purely cosmetic revision is self-pay. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about scar revision surgery.
Quick answers on timing, technique, cost and realistic outcomes.
-
When is the right time to revise a scar surgically?
For most scars, wait until 12 months from injury or surgery, when the scar has fully matured - it is softer, paler and its final shape is visible. Revising a scar at 3 months usually just gives you a bigger, redder scar. The exceptions are true contractures limiting movement, mis-aligned facial borders, and heavily trapdoored scars - all of which can be revised earlier if judgment favours it.
-
What is the difference between scar revision surgery and scar treatment?
Scar revision surgery cuts, moves, releases or re-closes the scar itself - physically changing its shape, direction or tension. Scar treatment is non-surgical modalities on an intact scar - silicone, steroid, laser, cryotherapy, microneedling. Most scars respond to non-surgical treatment first; only some need revision, and many need both, in sequence.
-
What is a Z-plasty and when is it used?
A Z-plasty is a small operation that takes a straight scar, cuts two triangular flaps either side of it, and swaps them - rotating the scar axis by 60 degrees and lengthening it. It changes the direction of a mis-aligned scar onto a natural line of the face or breaks up a contracted band across a joint. It works because a rotated scar catches the eye less than a straight one, and a lengthened scar releases tension.
-
How much does private scar revision cost in the UK?
Roughly £850–£1,800 for a small re-excision, £1,600–£3,500 for a facial Z-plasty or W-plasty, £2,800–£5,500 for larger revisions, £4,500–£9,000 for contracture release with skin graft, and £5,500–£11,000 with a local flap. Hair transplantation into scar tissue is £3,500–£8,500. Consultation is £250–£400.
-
How long is recovery after revision?
Sutures out at 5–7 days on the face, 10–14 days on the body. Back to office work in 1–5 days. Exercise avoided for 4 weeks to reduce widening. No sun on the scar for 12 months. Silicone gel or tape for 3 months. The final look is judged at 12 months, not 6 weeks.
-
Will scar revision leave no scar at all?
No - every skin incision leaves a scar. The realistic goal is a better scar: narrower, flatter, paler, better aligned to natural creases, or (for contractures) one that no longer restricts movement. Complete invisibility is not achievable in adult skin, and any surgeon who promises it should not be trusted.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
-
Scar treatment
Non-surgical modalities for scars - silicone, laser, steroid.
Learn more -
Laser resurfacing
Fractional laser as an adjunct.
Learn more -
Laser treatment for acne scarring
Acne scar-specific laser pathway.
Learn more -
Dermabrasion
Mechanical resurfacing for scar blending.
Learn more -
Microneedling for acne scarring
Microneedling for atrophic scarring.
Learn more -
All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more