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Primary Surgery Vol.2 – Trauma : Skin grafts and flaps : W–plasties

57.12 W–plasties

This is the only purely cosmetic procedure described here. You can camouflage a linear scar by cutting triangles of skin out of the edges of the incision and sewing it up as a series of Ws. This will not give you any added length in the direction of the scar, so it is of no use in releasing contractures, for which you may be able to use the Z–plasty described in Section 58.26.

W-PLASTY Remove the scar along with 1 cm equilateral triangles of skin on either side of it. If you make them bigger, they will be too conspicous. Plan them with a pattern, and make sure they fit together.

CAUTION! Plan the triangles carefully, and make the same number each side.

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