Perhaps one of the best actions in the event of a burn is prevention. We must remember that burns affect children and adults and can be life-threatening. Scars can mark you forever. The importance of prevention is so great that there is even a day for this, which is National Day to Fight Burns, celebrated on June 6th. Information and prevention actions can be seen on the Brazilian Burns Society website.

The importance of the plastic surgeon in the treatment of burns is so significant that burns are considered the plastic surgeon's area of ​​expertise.
The plastic surgeon's activity takes place both in the acute phase and in the aftermath of the burn.

In the acute phase of the burn, the objective is to promote healing of the burned area. This process depends on the origin and depth of the affected area. Surgical treatment of the acute phase can begin with a simple removal of the devitalized tissue, leading to flaps and skin grafts.

Possible sequelae are treated using a large arsenal of surgical resources within plastic surgery. Considering the diversity and complexity of these sequelae, their location and characteristics, several techniques and materials are currently available.

In both phases, several surgeries are often necessary to obtain a satisfactory result.

Treatment in the acute phase of the burn can begin with just a bandage or guidance in the simplest cases. As complexity increases, different clinical and surgical resources can be employed. In cases of more complex burns, in most cases, in addition to the plastic surgeon, 7 other professions can contribute to comprehensive and multidisciplinary burn care.

For the treatment of sequelae, treatments are most often also multidisciplinary. More specifically to the plastic surgeon's activity, the techniques used aim first of all to restore or preserve function and at the same time promote the aesthetic improvement of scars, retractions or other consequences of the burn.

The burned patient, often given the complexity of the situations, both in the acute phase and in the treatment of the sequelae, requires a multidisciplinary team. Among the professions that directly participate in care at these 2 moments are physiotherapists, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers and speech therapists. The multidisciplinary team's set of actions reduces treatment time, facilitates recovery and in most cases contributes to the patient's reintegration.

There are many different precautions after the procedures. The plastic surgery specialist will do this depending on the act performed.

The plastic surgery specialist will know how to clarify and guide the expected result. Given the complexity and diversity of situations, prior clarification often represents a necessary mechanism within treatment programming.
This treatment often requires quite long periods and must be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.