Problematic scars can sometimes be improved by a surgical procedure which involves cutting out the old scar, closing the wound with stitches and, in some cases, re-orientating the scar so that it is made less conspicuous by natural lines in the skin.

Scar revision is usually performed under local anaesthesia (the area around the scar is numbed by injecting a local anaesthetic). 

For some types of abnormal scarring you may also be given steroid injections at the time of surgery.

You may or may not have a dressing put on the wound and it is important to keep the area dry for 24 hours. Stitches may be removed in 1-2 weeks. You may need to take a few days off work after the surgery.