Surgical scar revision and tattoo removal gives you a reliable, permanent way to remove resistant tattoos or improve the appearance or quality of existing scars.
These procedures are usually carried out under local anaesthetic as day-case treatments and are designed to support clearer, smoother, more comfortable skin with minimal downtime.
Procedure Time
30 – 90 minutes, depending on the size and complexity.
Anaesthetic
Local anaesthetic or for more complex procedures, a general anaesthetic.
Recovery
Return to normal activities within 1 – 3 days; wounds heal in 1 – 3 weeks; scar maturation takes several months.
Full Results
Once the scar has matured, usually 6-12 months after surgery.
Excision offers complete removal, usually in a single procedure. Larger tattoos may need to be serially removed at 3-month intervals or fully removed and reconstructed with a skin graft.
Surgery replaces a raised, puckered, discoloured, wide or uneven scar with a finer, smoother one aligned with natural skin creases.
Scar revision can give you relief from discomfort, itching, or restriction caused by contracted scar tissue.
Removing unwanted tattoos or troublesome scars can help relieve self-consciousness.
Most patients return to work and everyday activities within a few days.
We support you through surgery and beyond
Your consultation includes a detailed assessment of your tattoo or scar, including its size, location, texture and any symptoms such as itching or tightness. Your surgeon will explain whether surgical removal, revision, or a combination of techniques is most appropriate for your situation. We’ll give you clear guidance on what can be improved, what the new scar is likely to look like, and the aftercare needed for the best possible healing.
The area is anaesthetised with local anaesthetic alone, or as part of the general anaesthetic procedure.
For tattoo removal, the tattooed skin, in whole or in part, is excised to enable direct skin closure. The wound is closed with fine sutures. For larger tattoos, serial excision may be used, removing the tattoo in stages to allow the skin to stretch gradually.
For scar revision, the scar is removed or re-oriented using techniques such as elliptical excision, Z-plasty or W-plasty. This may be combined with steroid injections and compression appliances if you are having the surgery for treatment of hypertrophic or keloid scars. Larger or tight scars may need grafts or local flaps.
Once closed, the wound is dressed, and you can return home the same day.
You may need to see a prosthetist for a keloid scar, requiring a bespoke post-surgical pressure clip to be made for you.
Keep the dressing clean and dry until your first review, usually after 5 – 7 days. Non-absorbable stitches are removed at 7 – 14 days, depending on the area. Avoid stretching or rubbing the wound during early healing. Once healed, silicone gel, scar massage or supportive treatments may be recommended to help the scar settle. Sun protection is essential for 6 – 12 months to prevent darkening. Most people return to work within 1 – 3 days.
If your surgery has been done for keloid scarring, you may have a custom-made pressure garment or clip to wear for around 3 months after the surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence.
At The Antler Clinic, your care is led by Mr David Izadi, an experienced Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon specialising in scar revision surgery, scar reconstruction, and surgical tattoo removal. With over 20 years of specialist experience, he combines advanced reconstructive surgical expertise with an aesthetic eye for detail to achieve natural-looking results.
Mr Izadi has extensive experience treating a wide range of scars, including facial scars, surgical scars, traumatic scars, burn scars, acne scars, and scars that cause discomfort, tightness, or restricted movement. He also performs surgical tattoo removal for tattoos that are unsuitable for laser treatment or where complete removal is desired in the shortest possible timeframe.
His expertise is founded on advanced training in plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery, including dedicated fellowships in cosmetic surgery, rhinoplasty, and hand surgery. This unique combination of reconstructive and aesthetic expertise allows him to carefully balance scar improvement with preservation of function, skin quality, and appearance.
As a Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Mr Izadi offers a full range of advanced scar management techniques, including scar excision, scar revision, scar reorientation, Z-plasty, local flap reconstruction, skin grafting, and surgical tattoo excision. Every treatment plan is tailored to the location, size, and characteristics of the scar or tattoo, ensuring the most appropriate approach for each individual patient.
Mr Izadi believes that successful scar revision is about more than simply removing a scar. It requires careful planning, meticulous surgical technique, and realistic expectations to achieve the best possible outcome. Every consultation begins with a detailed assessment and discussion of your concerns, allowing him to develop a personalised treatment plan focused on improving appearance, restoring confidence, and delivering the best possible cosmetic and functional result.
A quick guide to the things most people want to know before and after their procedure.
Scars cannot be erased completely, but revision surgery can replace them with a finer, flatter, softer and less noticeable scar.
After scar revision, many people see a significant improvement in appearance, comfort and confidence, especially if the original scar was raised, wide or tight.
Scar revision removes or re-orients a scar to improve its appearance or symptoms. Techniques include excision, Z-plasty, W-plasty, grafts or adjunctive treatments.
Older scars can be revised successfully as long as the skin is healthy and suitable for surgery.
The best treatment for your scar depends on what type of scar it is. Options include excision, silicone therapy, steroid injections, botulinum toxin, laser treatment or a combination of approaches.
Surgical excision of a tattoo completely removes it. It is an ideal option for small to medium tattoos or those resistant to laser treatment.
During tattoo removal, you’ll be given local anaesthetic to keep the procedure comfortable. Mild discomfort afterwards is normal.
Surgical removal of a tattoo means that the pigment is eliminated completely. The scar gradually fades over several months.
Risks of scar revision or tattoo removal include infection, bleeding, widened scars, contour irregularity, numbness, or delayed healing. These are uncommon, and we’ll discuss all of these with you at your consultation.
Scar revision is usually considered once a scar has matured (typically after six months), but this depends on your individual healing.
A mature scar is usually flat, paler than the surrounding skin and softer to touch. Full settling takes several months.
Keloid scars are managed differently from other scar types because they have a tendency to grow beyond the original wound and can return after treatment. The most effective approach is intralesional excision (where the scar is removed from within rather than cutting through healthy surrounding skin), combined with a steroid injection at the time of surgery to reduce the risk of the scar reforming. Depending on how your scar responds, a custom-made pressure garment or clip may also be recommended for around three months after surgery to support long-term results. Mr Izadi will assess your scar carefully and put together a plan that gives you the best chance of a lasting improvement.
clear and transparent costs
You will receive a clear quotation setting out the cost of your treatment and what is included before you decide whether to proceed.
A new consultation is charged at £200.
Follow-up consultations are charged at £150, unless the appointment forms part of an agreed surgical package or postoperative follow-up pathway.
Consultation fees are payable regardless of whether surgery is subsequently arranged. A consultation provides assessment, advice and discussion of treatment options; it does not guarantee that surgery will be recommended or offered.
Patients are kindly asked to provide at least three working days’ notice if they need to cancel or rearrange an appointment.
Non-attendance, or cancellation with less than three working days’ notice, will incur a fee of £125. This fee reflects the clinical time reserved for the appointment and the difficulty of offering the appointment to another patient at short notice.
For self-pay patients, surgery is usually provided as a fixed-price package. This is intended to give patients clarity and reassurance about the cost of their planned procedure.
Your written quotation will confirm what is included. In most cases, the package price includes:
Hospital fees for the planned procedure
Surgeon’s fee
Anaesthetist’s fee, where applicable
Standard postoperative follow-up appointments relating to the procedure
Routine aftercare directly related to the planned surgery, as specified in your quotation
Package prices are based on the procedure agreed at the time of booking. If the surgical plan changes, if additional procedures are requested, or if further treatment is required outside the agreed package, additional fees may apply.
Self-pay surgical packages usually include a period of cover for the treatment of complications directly related to the procedure. The exact terms, duration and exclusions of this cover are set by the hospital where your surgery is performed.
Depending on the hospital, complication cover may apply for a defined period, which may be 6 or 12 months. Full details will be provided by the relevant hospital before surgery.
Complication cover is not a guarantee that all future treatment, revision surgery or additional procedures will be provided without charge. Cover may not apply to unrelated medical problems, pre-existing conditions, treatment required outside the hospital’s terms, or surgery requested for aesthetic preference rather than a recognised complication.
In an emergency, patients should seek urgent medical attention through the most appropriate service, including NHS emergency care where necessary.
Every effort is made to achieve the best possible outcome, but no surgical procedure can guarantee a specific result, perfect symmetry, invisible scarring or complete satisfaction. Healing, scarring, swelling and final results vary between individuals.
If revision surgery is required because of a complication, eligibility for cover will depend on the hospital’s package terms and the clinical circumstances.
If surgery has been performed to an appropriate clinical standard, but a patient remains dissatisfied with the aesthetic outcome or wishes to pursue further refinement, any revision or additional surgery will usually incur further charges. These may include hospital fees, surgeon’s fees and anaesthetic fees.
Unless specifically included in your written quotation, additional costs may apply for investigations, scans, specialist opinions, extra procedures, further hospital admissions, prescriptions, dressings, garments, travel, accommodation, time off work or treatment unrelated to the planned surgery.
The written quotation and the hospital’s own terms and conditions will take precedence over any general information provided on this website.
Payment terms, deposits, cancellation policies and refund arrangements are determined by the hospital where your procedure is booked. These will be provided to you before surgery.
Surgery can only proceed once all required payments have been received and all relevant consent, preoperative assessment and hospital requirements have been completed.
To help make treatment more affordable, you may choose to spread the cost of your procedure through a personal medical loan with Chrysalis Finance. Subject to eligibility and approval, Chrysalis offers a range of flexible finance options, allowing you to pay for your treatment in manageable monthly instalments rather than a single upfront payment.
The hospitals we work with offer finance options through Chrysalis Finance. Please contact your chosen hospital directly for further information or to discuss any questions.
Mr Izadi is registered with the private medical insurers shown below. Coverage for consultations and treatment is subject to the terms of your policy and insurers approval.
Get in Touch
A consultation at The Antler Clinic is simply a chance to talk – to ask questions, explore your options, and decide what feels right for you.
You’ll leave with clarity, reassurance, and the same calm support that defines everything we do.
