After a serious personal injury, you suffered severe burns. Your doctor shared that you may need burn surgery, and you want to educate yourself on what to expect.

The University of Michigan Health explains the fundamentals of burn surgery. To build your personal injury case, understand your treatment options and how they work.

Categories of burn surgery

If you need surgery to treat a burn, you undergo either reconstructive surgery or acute surgery. Trauma surgeons perform acute burn care as quickly as possible after the injury. Depending on the severity of the burn, the patient and medical team may need to consult with a plastic surgeon.

After healing from the initial damage, a burn victim may need reconstructive surgery. Performed by plastic surgeons, reconstructive surgery addresses burn scars and improves functionality. The patient may undergo operative or non-operative treatment.

Reconstructive burn treatment options

With non-operative burn treatments, the person may receive pressure garments, scar massages or alternate topical treatments. Most surgical procedures involve scar release treatments. A surgeon releases tight scar tissue and closes the open area with skin rearrangement, skin grafts or skin donor flaps. A doctor may recommend tissue expansion instead of skin grafting.

If a person wants or needs reconstructive burn treatment, she or he works with a plastic surgeon to discuss desired results. The surgeon helps the person understand what to expect from the procedure and its advantages.

Burn treatments may help you on the road to recovery. By knowing how treatments work, you better understand how to protect your legal rights and get the compensation you deserve.