The effects of Z plasty on hypertrophic scars.

Hypertrophic scar tissue has been observed to soften and thin following Z plasty without removal of any of the scar tissue. Histochemical studies of tissue before and after Z plasty showed that abnormally sulfated mucopolysaccharides were replaced by normal acid mucopolysaccahrides within 14 days. Collagen in hypertrophic scar appeared in nodules and fibers perpendicular to the surface of the skin rather than as long straight fibers parallel to the skin surface as normally seen.