The Florida Society of Plastic Surgeons
Burn Surgery
in Florida
A burn injury is an injury to the skin or other tissues caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, or radiation.
Burn Surgery
Michael A. Harrington, MD, MPH
What is Burn Surgery?
Burn surgery involves procedures used to treat severe burn injuries, ranging from initial care to reconstructive surgery for scarring and function. Acute burn surgery focuses on debridement (removal of damaged tissue), cleaning, and skin grafting (moving skin from a healthy area to a damaged area) to prevent infection, while reconstructive surgery aims to improve the appearance and function of scar tissue.
Burns are typically classified by how deep they penetrate the skin:
- 1st Degree: Superficial burns with damage to the top layer of the skin (epidermis). This looks like a sunburn.
- 2nd Degree: Partial Thickness burns with damage to the top layer of skin (epidermis) and a portion of the second layer of skin (dermis). This burn is red, blisters, is painful, and swells.
- 3rd Degree: Full Thickness burns with damage to the entire top layer of skin (epidermis), entire second layer of skin (dermis) and sometimes into the deeper tissues. These burns appear white or charred. They may have little or no pain due to nerve damage.
Benefits of Burn Surgery
Burn surgery offers several benefits: initial (or acute), functional, cosmetic, and psychological improvements for burn survivors.
- Initial surgery of a burn injury removes badly injured (non-viable) tissue that will not heal on its own. The reduces the risk of infection, which could cause serious whole body infection (sepsis) and increased overall risk of complications and mortality.
- Early intervention can help provide better functional and cosmetic results by reducing scar tissue and restoring function and appearance.
- Improved Range of Motion: Burn scars, particularly contractures (tightening of the skin and tissue) and hypertrophic scars (thickened scars), can restrict movement and limit the function of joints. Surgery can release these contractures and improve the range of motion in affected areas, allowing for better mobility and functionality.
- Restored Functionality: For burns affecting the face, reconstructive surgery can help restore function of important features like eyelids, lips, and nose. Surgery can also address hair loss caused by burns.
- Wound Closure and Faster Healing: Skin grafting and other surgical procedures can close burn wounds, preventing infection and promoting faster healing, especially in cases where the wound is wide or deep.
- Reduced Pain and Itching: Certain burn scar revision techniques, like CO2 laser therapy, can help reduce scar thickness, pain, and itching associated with burn scars.
- Reduced Scarring: While surgery cannot completely remove burn scars, it can improve their appearance, making them less noticeable and improving the overall aesthetic outcome. CO2 laser therapy has been a useful adjunct to burn reconstruction as it reduces hypertrophic (thick) scarring of the tissue.
- Improved Body Image: By addressing disfiguring scars, burn surgery can help improve a patient’s body image and self-esteem, leading to increased confidence and a better quality of life.
- Scar Revision and Reconstruction: Reconstructive surgery techniques, such as skin grafting, flap surgery, and tissue expansion, can help reshape and improve the appearance of burn scars.
- Increased Self-Confidence: Improved appearance and function after surgery can boost self-confidence and reduce anxiety and depression associated with burn scars.
- Improved Social Interactions: Increased confidence and reduced anxiety can encourage more social interactions and a better quality of social life for burn survivors.
- Reduced PTSD Symptoms: Some burn reconstruction procedures, like fat grafting and laser therapy, have been shown to reduce pain and itching, which can help alleviate Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to the burn trauma.
- Empowerment and Personal Growth: Choosing to undergo burn surgery can be empowering for burn survivors, allowing them to take control of their recovery and improve their lives.
- Burn surgery is a complex and individualized process, and the specific benefits and outcomes can vary depending on the type and extent of the burn, the patient’s overall health, and the surgical techniques used.
- It is essential to consult with a qualified burn surgeon or plastic surgeon to discuss the potential benefits and risks of burn surgery and to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for each individual case.
- Burn surgery is often part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program that may also include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate?
The best candidates are individuals in good overall health who have excess stubborn fat immediately below the skin (“subcutaneous fat”) and do not have loose skin over the treatment areas. If loose skin is also present, an additional procedure to treat the skin, such as a tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift or breast lift, may be necessary. It’s important to know that liposuction by itself does not treat loose skin or cellulite. Liposuction also cannot treat the “visceral” fat, which is inside the abdominal cavity.
Like all body contouring procedures, you should be at a stable, maintainable weight before liposuction. Remember that liposuction is a contouring procedure, not a weight loss procedure. You should also avoid smoking, vaping and nicotine prior to surgery.
A consultation with an FSPS member surgeon is the first step to understanding whether liposuction is right for you.
The Procedure Process
Initial Consultation
Your surgeon will evaluate your anatomy, review your goals, and explain the options that are best for you. He or she will explain the details of the planned operation including risks, benefits, and alternatives and how you can work together to limit your risks and achieve or surpass your desired results. Abdominal hernias, if present, should be repaired prior to liposuction surgery.
Day of Surgery
The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia if only a few, small areas will be treated or general anesthesia if more areas will be addressed. Tiny incisions the size of a pencil eraser are placed in the wrinkles and creases of your body to make sure they are not noticeable after the procedure, even when wearing a bikini or swim suit.
Immediate Aftercare
You’ll be monitored in a recovery area and return home with compression garments and detailed aftercare instructions. Sometimes your surgeon may prefer an over-night stay.
Follow-Up Visits
Your Board Certified FSPS surgeon will guide your healing process and carefully monitor your progress with scheduled follow-ups. Post-operative care is an important part of recovery and getting your best result.
Recovery and Aftercare
Initial downtime ranges from 2-5 days, with light activity encouraged as you heal. Most patients return to normal routines within 1-2 weeks. Swelling will gradually subside over the first 3 months, and results continue to refine for 6+ months. Wearing compression garments and following your surgeon’s instructions are key to optimal healing.
Results: What to Expect
Patients typically notice a significant improvement in contour shortly after surgery. Final results become more visible over 3–6 months as swelling fully resolves, and skin re-draping occurs. The desired outcome is a natural, enhanced silhouette with long-lasting benefits.
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Risks and Considerations
As with any surgery, liposuction carries some risks, including bleeding, infection, asymmetry, or fluid accumulation. Choosing a board-certified FSPS member surgeon ensures that you’re in expert hands, with safety protocols and personalized care to minimize complications.
Why Choose an FSPS Member Plastic Surgeon?
Choosing a Florida Society of Plastic Surgeons member means you’re in the care of a highly trained expert.
- Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
- Extensive experience and surgical precision
- Hospital privileges as a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
- Commitment to the highest safety and ethical standards
- Convenient locations across Florida—Boca Raton, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, and more
Frequently Asked Questions About Liposuction
Patients who meet any of the following criteria should be referred to a Verified Burn Center for evaluation:
- Full thickness burns
- Partial thickness burns >10% TBSA (Total Body Surface Area)
- Any 2nd or 3rd degree burn involving the face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, or any joints
- Burns with concomitant traumatic injuries
- Patients with burns and other medical comorbidities
- Poorly controlled pain
- All patients with suspected inhalation injury
- Any pediatric burn (due to pain, dressing changes, rehabilitation needs, caregiver support, or concern for non-accidental trauma)
- Chemical injuries
- All high voltage (>1000V) electrical injuries
- Lightning injury
What Should I Do Next?
Schedule a consultation with an FSPS member and discover how liposuction can help you feel more confident in your skin.