Burn Reconstruction
What is Burn Reconstruction?
Burn reconstruction is a series of surgical procedures to improve the function and appearance of burn scars, contractures (tightened skin restricting movement), and tissue defects caused by severe burns. It’s typically performed after initial burn healing, often requiring multiple stages. In India, burn reconstruction is conducted in plastic surgery or burn units at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, Safdarjung Hospital, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Burn Reconstruction?
Burn reconstruction is indicated for:
- Functional restoration:
- Contractures: Tight scars restricting movement (e.g., neck, hands, joints).
- Loss of function: E.g., inability to close eyelids, grip objects, or extend limbs.
- Cosmetic improvement:
- Hypertrophic scars or keloids (raised, thick scars).
- Discoloration, uneven texture, or disfigurement from burns.
- Associated conditions:
- May involve hair loss (scalp burns), facial deformity, or loss of features (e.g., ear, nose).
- Often follows acute burn treatment (e.g., skin grafting for third-degree burns).
- Timing:
- Early: 3–6 months post-burn for contractures affecting function.
- Late: 12–18 months post-burn for stable scars (cosmetic or less urgent functional issues).
The procedure aims to release contractures, resurface scarred areas, and reconstruct lost features using techniques like skin grafts, flaps, or tissue expansion, improving both function and aesthetics.
Why Do Burn Reconstruction Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹50,000 to ₹3 lakh per stage:
- Procedure Complexity: Simple contracture release (₹50,000–₹1 lakh); flap surgery or tissue expansion (₹1.5–3 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹1–3 lakh); lower in government hospitals (Safdarjung, AIIMS: ₹20,000–₹80,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced plastic surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹10,000–₹20,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), grafts/flaps (₹20,000–₹50,000), medications (₹5,000–₹15,000).
- Insurance: Often covered for functional restoration; cosmetic aspects may not be—confirm with your provider.
Burn Reconstruction Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Assessment:
- Physical exam: Evaluates scar maturity, contracture severity, and tissue loss.
- Range of motion (ROM): Assesses functional impairment (e.g., joint mobility).
- Blood tests: Blood sugar, clotting profile; infection screening.
- Photos: For surgical planning and comparison.
- Planning: May require multiple stages; prioritizes function (e.g., hand mobility) over aesthetics initially.
- Consent: Risks, including graft failure, are explained.
- Assessment:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Burn Reconstruction:
- Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 1–4 hours per stage.
- Techniques:
- Contracture release: Incision (e.g., Z-plasty) to release tight scars; increases mobility.
- Skin grafting: Split-thickness or full-thickness grafts (harvested from thigh/buttock) to cover defects after scar excision.
- Flap surgery: Local or distant flaps (e.g., pedicled or free flaps) for deeper defects or areas needing better blood supply (e.g., face, hands).
- Tissue expansion: Expander placed under healthy skin near scar; gradually inflated over weeks to stretch skin, then used to cover defect.
- Reconstruction of features: E.g., ear reconstruction (cartilage grafts), eyebrow restoration (hair transplant), or nasal reconstruction (flaps).
- Adjuncts:
- Fat grafting: Improves contour and texture.
- Laser therapy: Post-op to reduce scar thickness (e.g., fractional CO2 laser).
- Closure: Sutures secure grafts/flaps; dressings (e.g., vacuum-assisted closure) protect grafts.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Dermatome: Harvests skin grafts.
- Microsurgery instruments: For free flap transfer.
- Laser: Scar revision or resurfacing.
- Burn Reconstruction:
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: 2–7 days (longer for flaps or extensive grafts).
- Care: Splints to maintain position (e.g., neck extension); pressure garments for 6–12 months to reduce scarring.
- Pain management: Moderate pain for 3–7 days; managed with painkillers (e.g., ibuprofen).
- Instructions: Avoid tension on grafts; physiotherapy to restore movement.
Recovery After Burn Reconstruction
- Hospital Stay: 2–7 days per stage.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Moderate pain for 3–7 days; swelling resolves in 2–3 weeks.
- Grafts/Flaps: Keep immobile for 5–7 days to ensure graft take; dressings changed regularly.
- Activity: Avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks; physiotherapy starts 1–2 weeks post-op to improve ROM.
- Scarring: Pressure garments for 6–12 months; scars mature in 12–18 months.
- Multiple stages: 3–6 months between procedures for healing.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (dressing change), 1 month, and 3 months.
- Functional assessment: At 3–6 months to evaluate ROM and need for further surgery.
Recovery varies; functional improvement seen in 6–12 weeks per stage, but full scar maturation takes 12–18 months. Success rate: 85–90% achieve improved function; cosmetic outcomes vary based on burn severity and reconstruction extent.
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Bleeding (2–5%): Hematoma at graft/flap site; may need drainage.
- Infection (3–5%): At surgical site; treated with antibiotics; may lead to graft loss.
- Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to general anesthesia; rare in healthy patients.
- Post-Surgery:
- Graft/flap failure (5–10%): Poor blood supply; may need regrafting.
- Contracture recurrence (5–10%): If physiotherapy or pressure garments not used; may need revision.
- Scarring (10–15%): Hypertrophic or keloid scars; managed with silicone sheets or laser.
- Donor site issues (2–5%): Pain or scarring at graft harvest site.
- Long-Term:
- Asymmetry (5–10%): Uneven appearance; may need additional procedures.
- Sensory changes (5–10%): Numbness or hypersensitivity in reconstructed area; often improves over time.
Report fever, severe pain, graft discoloration, or signs of infection (e.g., redness, pus) promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for burn reconstruction?
Severe burns (second-/third-degree) causing contractures, scarring, or tissue loss; often after acute burn treatment.
Can I avoid burn reconstruction?
Yes, if cosmetic: Non-surgical options (e.g., laser, silicone sheets) may help; surgery needed for functional issues (e.g., contractures).
Is burn reconstruction painful?
Moderate pain for 3–7 days, managed with medication; discomfort subsides in 2–3 weeks.
How soon can I resume normal activities?
Light activities: 2–3 weeks; full recovery per stage: 6–12 weeks; avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks.
Is burn reconstruction covered by insurance in India?
Often covered for functional restoration; confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat often subsidizes.
Signs of complications?
Fever, severe pain, graft discoloration, or signs of infection.
Will my appearance improve significantly?
85–90% achieve functional improvement; cosmetic outcomes vary—scarring improves but may not fully disappear.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Wear pressure garments, adhere to physiotherapy, avoid tension on grafts, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Burn reconstruction is a complex but effective procedure to restore function and improve appearance after severe burns, often requiring multiple stages. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, Safdarjung) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance for functional cases. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult a plastic surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Burn Reconstruction
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Ahmedabad |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Ajmer |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Aligarh |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Allahabad |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Amritsar |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Aurangabad |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Bangalore |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Bareilly |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Belgaum |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Bhopal |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Bikaner |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Chandigarh |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Chennai |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Coimbatore |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Dehradun |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Delhi |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Dhanbad |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Durgapur |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Faridabad |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Ghaziabad |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Gorakhpur |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Guntur |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Gurgaon |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Guwahati |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Gwalior |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Hyderabad |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Indore |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Jabalpur |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Jaipur |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Jalandhar |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Jamshedpur |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Jodhpur |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Kanpur |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Kochi |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Kolkata |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Kollam |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Lucknow |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Ludhiana |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Madurai |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Mangalore |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Meerut |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Moradabad |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Mumbai |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Mysore |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Nagpur |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Nashik |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Noida |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Patna |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Pune |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Raipur |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Rajkot |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Ranchi |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Surat |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Thane |
60,000 |
3,00,000 |
Vadodara |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Varanasi |
50,000 |
2,75,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
55,000 |
2,85,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.