My child went to ER with a face cut. Do they need a plastic surgeon to avoid scar?

Q. When I was a young child, I had a cut and was taken to the emergency room. The cut was glued together and to this day I have a scar. When should I demand a plastic surgeon at the emergency room for my child’s cut?

A. When your child has a cut, especially on the face, you should ask for a plastic or facial plastic surgeon. If the injury is on the arms, legs or trunk, an emergency room doctor can usually repair it without problems. But cuts on the face need special attention.

A plastic or facial plastic surgeon is trained to line up structures such as the edges of the eyebrows, the border between the red part of the lip and the skin and the natural curves of the eyelids and nose. Even a small misalignment can cause a permanent change in appearance.

These surgeons also know how to close wounds in two layers when needed, placing deep stitches under the skin to give strength and prevent the scar from sinking or widening over time.

Emergency room doctors are skilled at handling urgent injuries, but because of the fast pace, they may use quicker methods like glue or a single layer of stitches. This is often done with small children because they can be difficult to keep still. While this may be fine for small or less visible cuts, it’s not ideal for more complex wounds on the face.

If your child has a facial cut that is clean and not infected, ask for a plastic or facial plastic surgeon to close it. This can make a big difference in how the scar looks for the rest of their life.

Dr. Carlos Wolf is a partner in Miami Plastic Surgery and is board certified. Email questions to him at Cwolf@miamiplasticsurgery.com