EARLY SCAR QUALITY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AFTER FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY

Tấn Hùng Lê1, , Minh Phong Lê2
1 Trường Y Dược – Đại học Trà Vinh
2 Bệnh viện Quân y 175

Main Article Content

Abstract

Objective: To describe early changes in scar quality and analyze factors associated with scar quality after facial plastic surgery.


Subjects and methods: A prospective longitudinal descriptive study was conducted in 54 patients with facial surgical scars at the International Department and the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Military Hospital 175, from June to December 2025. Scar quality was assessed at 1 and 3 months using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), pain and itch scores, and patient satisfaction.


Results: The mean age was 37.8 ± 13.2 years, and 63.0% were women. The observer POSAS score decreased from 22.8 ± 5.7 at 1 month to 16.4 ± 4.7 at 3 months, while the patient POSAS score decreased from 21.6 ± 6.4 to 15.2 ± 5.1 (both p < 0.001). Pain and itch scores decreased, whereas satisfaction increased from 6.8 ± 1.5 to 8.2 ± 1.1. At 3 months, higher observer POSAS scores were found in scars oriented obliquely or perpendicular to relaxed skin tension lines, wounds with moderate edge tension, cases with early complications, and scars longer than 3 cm (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Facial scar quality improved substantially during the first three postoperative months. Scar orientation, wound-edge tension, early complications, and scar length were associated with the 3-month POSAS score.

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References

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