Plastic Surgery Care for Cuts, Abrasions, and Burns
Care in Kobe and Motomachi from the initial injury through scar follow-up
Prompt cleaning and first aid are important for cuts, abrasions, lacerations, puncture wounds, bites, and burns.
Plastic surgery care assesses wound depth and contamination, possible injury to nerves, blood vessels, or tendons, and the appearance of the scar after healing.
Call 119 for severe bleeding, abnormal consciousness or breathing, or an extensive burn
Our clinic is not an emergency hospital. Call emergency services or go to an emergency medical facility for altered consciousness or breathing, extensive burns involving the face or neck, or chemical or electrical burns. If you are unsure what level of care is needed, Japan's emergency consultation service #7119 may also assist.
Contents
WHEN TO VISIT
When to seek care for a cut, abrasion, or burn
Even a wound that looks small may involve deeper tissue damage, retained debris, or infection. Please seek prompt medical advice in the following situations.
The wound is deep/wide open.
Bleeding continues even when pressure is applied
Numbness or difficulty in moving
Foreign matter such as sand or glass remains
Bitten by an animal or person
Wounds near the face, hands, and joints
There is a blister or it has turned white or black.
Redness, swelling, and pain have become stronger.
Suturing may become difficult as time passes after the injury. Please consider seeing a physician as soon as possible to ensure that your wound heals properly.
TYPES OF WOUNDS
Types of cuts, abrasions, and other wounds
Wounds are classified according to their cause and the condition of the injured tissue.
01
Cut
A cut is caused by a sharp object such as a kitchen knife, utility knife, or glass. Injuries to the hands or feet may involve nerves, blood vessels, or tendons; facial cuts may affect nerves that control facial expression.
02
Abrasion
An abrasion occurs when the skin is scraped against a road, wall, or other rough surface. Sand or asphalt fragments left in the wound can cause persistent discoloration after healing.
03
Laceration or Contusion Wound
This type of wound occurs when a fall, collision, or other force tears the skin. The surrounding tissue may be more extensively damaged than with a clean cut.
04
Puncture Wound
A puncture wound is caused by a pointed object such as a nail, wood splinter, or pencil. The opening may be small even when the wound is deep, and material may remain inside.
05
Bite
A bite from a dog, cat, or person can introduce oral bacteria into the wound and carries a significant risk of infection.
06
Burn
Burns may be caused by hot water, steam, flame, an iron, or prolonged contact with a low-temperature heat source. Chemical and electrical injuries are also included.
FIRST AID
Immediate First Aid After an Injury
Apply pressure with clean gauze or cloth.Firmly press the bleeding area. For limbs, keep them higher than your heart if possible.
Wash away dirt with running waterFor scratches, wash sand and dirt with tap water. If a foreign object is deeply stuck, do not force it out and seek medical attention.
Protect with clean gauze, etc.Do not keep touching the wound and keep it clean before going to a medical institution. Avoid stuffing over-the-counter medications deep into the wound.
Even if the bite is small, see a physician
Animal and human bites are prone to infection, so thorough cleaning and prompt medical assessment are important.
TREATMENT
Wound treatment in plastic surgery
Treatment involves more than closing the wound. We check for retained material and deeper injury while considering function and appearance after healing.
Examination and Wound Assessment
We assess how and when the injury occurred, wound depth, contamination, retained material, and possible effects on nerves, blood vessels, or tendons.
Cleaning and Removal of Debris
The wound is thoroughly cleaned, and sand, glass fragments, or damaged tissue are removed when necessary.
Sutures, Ointment, or Wound Dressing
Depending on the wound, treatment may include suturing under local anesthesia, medical tape, ointment, or a wound dressing.
Infection Prevention and Aftercare
When infection is a concern, antibiotics may be considered and the wound is reviewed after several days to one week. Scar care with tape or other measures may continue after suture removal when needed.
Plastic surgery care considers function and the eventual scar
For wounds on visible or frequently moving areas such as the face, hands, or feet, shape and movement after treatment are important. Care is tailored to the wound's direction and location, with follow-up through healing.
BURNS
Burn depth and treatment
01
First, cool the burn under running water for approximately 20 minutes
Do not forcibly remove clothing. Run tap water over the clothing and affected area. Keep blisters intact when possible, and do not apply ice or an ice pack directly to the skin. For a burn on a finger, remove rings before swelling develops.
Limited pain can still indicate a deep burn
Burns are classified as first-, second-, or third-degree according to the depth of tissue damage. A deep burn can damage nerves and therefore may cause less pain.
Seek prompt medical care for burns of the face, hands, joints, or genital area, and for burns in young children or older adults, even when the affected area is small.
English explanation of the Japanese burn-depth diagram
The downward sequence shows increasing injury depth through the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue.
First-degree burn: limited to the epidermis; redness with pain or warmth; usually unlikely to leave a scar.
Second-degree burn: extends into the dermis; blistering is typical; pain can decrease as the injury becomes deeper; scarring depends on depth.
Third-degree burn: full-thickness injury extending through the skin and potentially into subcutaneous tissue; the surface may be white, black, and dry; pain or sensation may be reduced because nerves are damaged; scarring is common.
A deeper burn can hurt less, so reduced pain does not indicate a minor injury. Burns of the face, hands, joints, or genital area, and burns in young children or older adults, require prompt medical assessment even when the area is small.
Classification
Typical appearance
Sensation
Scarring tendency
First degree
Redness
Pain or warmth
Usually unlikely to scar
Second degree
Blistering
Pain that may lessen as the burn becomes deeper
Scarring depends on depth
Third degree
White or black, with a dry surface
Pain and sensation may be reduced
Scarring is common
02
Treatment after first aid
Burn treatment may include ointment and a burn dressing. Specialist treatment or surgery may be necessary depending on the burn's depth and extent.
03
Infection prevention and scar care
Bacterial infection can delay healing and contribute to a raised or contracted scar. Follow-up continues through healing.
Burn prevention for children
Children's skin is thinner than adults' skin and is more susceptible to deep burns. Keep hot water, hot food, steam from rice cookers or kettles, heaters, and irons out of reach. If a burn occurs, cool it immediately and seek medical care.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about cuts, abrasions, and burns
Can I see a physician for a small cut or abrasion?
Yes. Seek care promptly if material remains in the wound, the wound is deep, bleeding continues, or movement of a finger is difficult, even when the wound looks small.
Does a cut need stitches?
Treatment is selected after assessing wound depth, separation of the edges, location, time since injury, contamination, and infection risk. Options include sutures, medical tape, ointment, or a wound dressing.
What should I do immediately after a burn?
Do not forcibly remove clothing. Cool the affected area through the clothing under running tap water for approximately 20 minutes. Do not break blisters or apply ice or an ice pack directly to the skin.
Can I ask about reducing the appearance of a scar?
In addition to initial treatment, plastic surgery care may include aftercare with ointment or tape according to the wound. A scar may still remain depending on wound depth and location.
CONSULTATION
Please seek advice promptly, even for a small wound
For cuts, abrasions, and burns, it is important to begin appropriate care while the condition immediately after the injury can still be assessed. If you are unsure where to seek care, please call us.
