Punch Techniques

What Is Punch Excision, Punch Elevation, And Punch Grafting?

Skin Punch Biopsy is a safe outpatient surgical procedure requiring local anesthesia and adopted in medical procedures for cosmetically enhancing scarred skin. It’s a straightforward surgical process that removes unsightly skin scars and depending on the technique chosen, has been known to improve skin appearance to make the face more presentable than before surgery.

The process can end on its own especially for punch excision methods in repairing pitted or ice pick scars but for moderate to severe punches, it is best to do this in combination with other scar removing techniques. Modern punch surgical scar removing methods do not rely on punches on its own to completely remove scars but depending on the extent and severity of the scaring condition, it is often done in tandem with resurfacing techniques like dermabrasion or laser therapies.

How It Works?

• Punch Excision is a surgical method that removes the pitted ice-pick type scars and discarded with a hair transplant type of instrument also used in biopsy extraction called a punch biopsy tool whose punch diameter can be matched to that of the skin area to be punched or taken out. The small wound is then closed up and allowed to heal with scarification that looks better than the removed scar. For some application, there’s no scarring left.

• Punch Elevation uses the same punch biopsy tool to surgically excise the scar tissue, often of the boxcar type and instead of being discarded, are sutured back using Dermabond or super glue at an elevated level matching that of surrounding skin.

• Punch Excision with Skin Graft Replacement is another punch surgical method where the offending scar is surgically removed with the same biopsy punch tool but is discarded and a punched skin graft is taken from a donor skin area that’s usually behind the ear which is grafted onto the area much like what is done in hair transplantation. The grafted skin undergoes skin resurfacing technique after 4-6 weeks to correct any minor skin unevenness resulting from the healed graft or any color difference.

Candidates For Treatment

The punch surgical method address all types of scarring skin deformities due to the various techniques employed. Patients with depressed skin boxcars can benefits from the Punch Elevation technique while others with ice pick or pits are better handled with Punch Excision. Skin Graft Replacement is best recommended for any scarring type with the highest severity as it is basically replacing damaged skin with a new one from a donor skin side.

Costs, Results And Side Effects

As a surgical procedure, however small, punches are known to leave scars behind but with a more controlled healing process, the less severe scars can show better skin aesthetics.

As in most surgical process for scar removal, punches could take several seeks for the punched or grafted skin to heal. The healing process and recovery time will always depend on the extent of the punches and the patient’s natural healing disposition. Your dermatologist will routinely prescribe the right medicinal ointment after the punch surgery.

Depending on the extent of the punches requires, the doctor who will perform and the state where it will be performed, punch scar removal costs will vary but it is safe to estimate that each punch can cost about $50. This affordability makes it one of the most popular methods for getting rid of pits or ice pick scars. But just like any surgical process, the risk of infection is there. But when performed by competent cosmetic surgeons or dermatologists, it’s a safe operation and post surgery medication are often prescribed to manage any potential risk.

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