Burn Scars – New Treatment Options Are Making A Difference

According to data released by the American Burn Association, in 2011 alone, over 450,000 patients in the United States were treated for burn injuries. That same year there are was an estimated 3500 burn deaths with approximately 3000 accounted for by residential fires and 500 from other sources. Add to this a total of 45,000 patients hospitalized for burn injuries and the figures are shocking.

And while these numbers themselves are impressive, they don’t begin to tell the story of the burn survivors who, while they do survive their initial injuries, are left with scars that can act as stigma and reminders of these traumatic events. Until now, even with dramatic improvements in plastic and reconstructive techniques, there was very little that could be done to improve the appearance of these scars.

Thanks to a handful of forward thinking physicians, the improvement of burn scar wounds has not only become a priority but also a passion. “be” Co-Founder, Dr. Gregory A. Buford, recently had the pleasure to speak with one of the pioneers in laser burn scar therapy, Dr. Jill Waibel, about her cutting edge research as well as the future of burn scar optimization.

Dr. Waibel is internationally known for her advanced work in dermatology and specializes in helping burn victims achieve improvement not only from a cosmetic but also a functional sense and for expertise and accomplishments has been a frequent guest on such media outlets as the Today Show, The Doctors, ABC News, and People Magazine just to name a few.

In this be Expert Interview, Dr. Buford and Dr. Waibel discuss:

The story of the burn victim that moved Dr. Waibel to focus on advance treatments for burn scars;
A new cutting edge procedure she has developed that reduces scars by up to 90%;
The implications of this unique “less invasive” therapy in solving other medical problems;
The emergence of fractional lasers and how this evolution in technology continues to drive medical innovation;
3 things you should ask your physician to determine if their background is suitable to help you reversing severe scarring;
Her involvement in Angel Faces, a non profit that helps adolescent girls heal from burn and trauma incidents

Click on the player to listen to the interview now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Dr. Jill Waibel is a board certified dermatologist, and serves as a Clinical Voluntary Professor at University of Miami. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Dermatology, and a diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology. She has successfully developed industry leading procedures and techniques for treating scars of burn survivors, a personal and professional passion for her. She has also received numerous honors and awards for her contributions to medicine, including the Enhancement of Public and Community Education Award given by Surgeon General Koop for her national work with AIDS education. This work lead to the establishment of the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center at Riley hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Dr. Waibel specializes in cutaneous laser surgery, general dermatology, surgical dermatology and cosmetic dermatology. She helps women achieve beautiful skin at the Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute which she runs in Miami, Florida.