Burn Treatment in Pune: Acute Burns to Scar Care

Burn Treatment in Pune: From Acute Burns to Scars and Contractures

Burn treatment covers the whole course of a burn: first aid with cool running water, dressings or skin grafts for fresh burns, care of thick and itchy scars, and surgery to release tight scars that limit movement. Treatment changes as the burn heals, so long-term follow-up, splints and physiotherapy are part of the plan, especially for children.

What does burn treatment include?

Stage	What happens	Read more
Fresh burn	First aid, dressings, removal of dead skin and skin grafts	Acute burn care
Healing and scars	Moisturising, silicone, pressure, injections, laser	Burn scar treatment
Tight scars	Release with Z-plasty, grafts or flaps	Contracture pages below

Tight burn scars behave differently in each part of the body, so each has its own page:

Neck: chin pulled down, difficulty looking up.
Shoulder and armpit: arm cannot be raised.
Elbow: elbow cannot straighten.
Hand: clawed fingers, tight palm or thumb web.
Knee: bent knee and limp.
Foot: toes pulled upwards, trouble with footwear.

Grafting itself is explained under skin grafting surgery.

Why does burn care continue for months?

As a burn heals, the new scar keeps changing for one to two years. It can thicken, itch and shorten, especially after deep burns or burns that took longer than about three weeks to heal. Splints, positioning, stretching and scar care during this time help prevent contractures, and surgery is timed for when it will help most.

Burns in children

Scalds from hot drinks, bath water and cooking, and contact burns from stoves, irons and heaters are common in young children. Their scars can tighten as they grow, affecting hands, joints and even jaw growth after neck burns. Regular review through childhood allows early release when needed.

When is it an emergency?

Large burns, deep burns, burns to the face, hands, feet or genitals, electrical and chemical burns, burns with smoke exposure or breathing problems, and burns in babies, pregnant women and older people need hospital emergency care. The acute burn care page has a first-aid box with the full list.

How can burns be prevented at home?

Keep children away from the cooking area, hot drinks and kettles, and turn pan handles inwards.
Check bath water temperature before a child gets in.
Keep irons, heaters and lighters out of reach.
Wear close-fitting clothes near open flames and stoves.
Fit smoke alarms and plan how to get out in a fire.

Questions about burns

When should a burn be seen by a plastic surgeon?

When it is deep, larger than the person's hand, on the face, hands, feet, joints or genitals, from a chemical or electricity, not healing by about two weeks, or later, when scars become thick, itchy or tight.

What is the right first aid for a burn?

Cool the burn under cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes, remove jewellery and clothing near it unless stuck, keep the person warm and cover the burn loosely with cling film. Do not use ice, butter, toothpaste or other home remedies.

Can old burn contractures be corrected?

Yes. Tight scars present for years can usually be released and covered with grafts or flaps, although long-standing cases may need staged or gradual correction.

Do children need follow-up after burns?

Yes. Burn scars do not grow as the child grows, so tightness can appear or worsen over years. Regular review allows early treatment.

Is burn treatment covered by insurance?

Treatment of burns and their effects on function is medical care and is often covered, subject to your policy. Purely cosmetic scar treatment may not be.

Consultation for burns

Consultations are in person at Dr Sushrut’s Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, Sayar Clinic, Ayodhya Complex, in front of Canara Bank, Bibwewadi, Pune 411037. Hours: Monday to Saturday, 5-9 pm.

Appointments are booked by phone call or WhatsApp on +91 98904 34447 (WhatsApp). Bring any previous reports, prescriptions and a list of your current medicines.