Burns Surgeon Perth
Burns
surgery:
“Healing physical
and emotional scars”
Burns Surgeon Perth
Burns and wound care
In Australia, over 200,000 individuals report burn injuries each year. Prompt first aid and immediate medical care are essential to prevent the burn from worsening and to minimise the risk of severe scarring.
Types of burns
Burns can be classified into two main types based on their depth:
Superficial burns: These burns affect the outermost layers of skin, causing pain, redness, and possible swelling. They may also become shiny and blister. With proper first aid and wound care, these burns typically heal well, often leaving minimal scarring.
Superficial burns in more details
Superficial burns: Common injuries following hot water scalds and flash burns from the bbq.
Deep burns: These burns penetrate all layers of the skin and may extend into underlying fat and muscle tissue. They often appear white, black, or charred. Due to nerve damage, these burns may not be as painful. Deep burns typically require surgical intervention and specialized dressings to heal properly and minimise severe scarring.
Deep burns in more details
Deep burns cause damage to the entire skin thickness and may involve underlying tissues also. These burns may appear white, blackened, or charred, with surrounding areas feeling painful.
Immediate cooling and professional medical treatment are vital. Special antimicrobial dressings, like silver dressings, help prevent infection.
Burns surgery, often involving skin grafts or more advanced reconstructive options, is usually necessary to heal these burns and minimise scarring. Recovery involves comprehensive care, including physiotherapy and occupational therapy, to ensure the best possible outcome.
For both types of burns, it is crucial to run cool water over the affected area for at least 20 minutes immediately after the injury. Prompt first aid can significantly impact the healing process and may reduce the need for surgical intervention.
Scar Revision Perth
Burns surgery and reconstructive plastic surgery for burn scars (scar revision)
Burns surgery
Burns surgery is one of the most complex and challenging areas of plastic surgery.
At Forme Specialist Plastic Surgery in Perth, we perform debridement, the process of carefully removing dead or damaged tissue from burns. This important step is followed by tailored treatments, such as skin grafts, cell treatments, dermal matrices, or flaps, based on your specific needs.
These treatments are designed to replace or repair the damaged skin in a manner tailored to the individual patient’s needs and requirements.
Dr Jeremy Rawlins, Burns Surgeon Perth
Scar revision
Burn injuries, whether treated surgically or not, can often result in scars that may be challenging to manage. At Forme Specialist Plastic Surgery in Perth, our plastic surgeons are highly skilled in assessing and treating burn scars and other types of scarring, providing comprehensive care tailored to each individual’s needs.
Similar to urgent surgery, scar revision surgery involves a team of specialists, including nurses and therapists. This multi-disciplinary approach is crucial for individuals dealing with functional issues from scars, such as contractures, as well as for those concerned about the appearance of their burn scars.
Dr Jeremy Rawlins, Burns Surgeon Perth
- Contracture release: Following a burn, scars can tighten and cause contractures, which may affect the function of joints such as fingers, elbows, or feet, or impact areas like the eyelids, mouth, breasts, or genitalia. Contracture release involves cutting and opening tight scars, followed by resurfacing them with skin grafts, dermal matrices, or flaps.
- Skin grafts: Skin grafts can be used to fill defects left after contracture release or to improve the appearance of rough scars or areas with abnormal pigmentation.
- Z-plasty and local flaps: If a skin graft is not sufficiently flexible or risks tightening again, a local flap of nearby tissue may be used to correct the burn scar.
- Perforator flaps: These complex flap procedures use small blood vessels to move a section of skin into a problematic scar area. At Forme Specialist Plastic Surgery, we specialise in these techniques, which are used in various reconstructive surgeries.
- Free flaps: This procedure involves transplanting skin and fat from one part of the body to revise a scar. It requires microsurgical techniques and is typically used for more complex defects.
- Tissue expanders: Tissue expansion involves stretching normal skin near a scar, which is then used to replace the scarred area. This procedure is done in two stages and results in more natural-looking reconstructions.
- Dermabrasion, microneedling, and ReCell: These techniques can smooth rough or irregular scars and correct abnormal pigmentation, with new skin cells applied using ReCell.
- Fat grafting: Fat is harvested from areas such as the abdomen, buttocks, or thighs and injected into scarred areas to improve their appearance.
- Laser therapy: Various laser treatments can be used to enhance the quality of burn scars.
Perth Burn Care Surgeons
Why Forme Specialist Plastic Surgery in Perth?
At Forme Specialist Plastic Surgery, we are committed to burns surgery under the expert guidance of our founder, Dr Jeremy Rawlins. Dr Rawlins has been dedicated to this specialised field since his early days in medical school.
Dr Rawlins is a member of respected organisations such as the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the British Association of Plastic Surgeons (BAPRAS), and served as the immediate past-president of the Australia/New Zealand Burn Association (ANZBA). His focus on precision and quality in reconstructive plastic surgery is evident through his professional contributions.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr Rawlins is actively involved in research and audit within the burns team, and he regularly teaches surgical techniques across Australia, New Zealand, and internationally.
At Forme Specialist Plastic Surgery, we understand that burns surgery extends beyond the physical treatment of injuries. Our approach addresses the emotional and psychological impacts of burns, ensuring comprehensive care that considers all aspects of recovery.
Please note: Every surgical procedure carries some risks. Learn more about our approach to Risks and Complications.
Request an appointment here.
