Laser Treatments
Laser treatments can improve the look and feel of scars – following a full assessment and carried out by an experienced and appropriately qualified doctor. Dr Tapan Patel, founder and medical director of VIVA Clinic, has over 14 years of clinical experience and has performed aesthetic treatments for 10 years. The Foundation has established a relationship with VIVA Clinic for the provision of laser treatment. Dr Patel commonly chooses a CO2 Fraxel laser to effectively treat scar. This treatment can improve movement limited by scar and further improve the look and feel by affecting the texture and quality of the scar.
KPF are only able to provide access to these treatments to burn survivors over 18 years who are living in the UK.
Please email the Foundation, Workshops and Treatments for further information.
“I first met Dr Patel at a Katie Piper Foundation event last September. He had previously treated Katie and felt that his laser treatment would really help to loosen the scars on my neck, face and chest.
I went to see Dr Patel a few weeks later for a consultation to see if the laser was appropriate to use on my skin. He explained the whole process, how the laser worked and answered any questions that I had. He explained that he hoped that over a number of treatments the laser would improve the texture and flexibility of my scar tissue as opposed to the colour or appearance of the scar, which other lasers do. This would give my neck and head a better range of movement and hopefully stop the scars pulling at my mouth and the rest of my face by loosening them.
Dr Patel applied numbing cream to my face, neck and chest and left it to absorb into the skin for an hour. The laser treatment only takes a few minutes and is not too sore, the cream does not totally numb the skin but makes the pain bearable and Dr Patel will apply more numbing cream if it is required. Dr Patel focused on the hard scar tissue that had almost no flexibility. After the treatment my face was quite swollen and red for a couple of days but it is not too painful. It took me a few days to notice any change in my skin but after that I noticed the treated area was much softer.
I had the treatment 2 months ago and have noticed a definite improvement in the range of movement in my neck and the pulling on my mouth and face. I cannot recommend Dr Patel and his laser treatment highly enough, I found him to be very empathic, compassionate and approachable.”
– Emily