“He has helped me a great deal with the reconstruction of my foot.”
⚠ If the burn happened minutes or hours ago, go to the nearest emergency department. This page explains specialist treatment and later reconstruction; it does not replace emergency care.
Reconstructive surgery
Burn care and reconstruction in Merida
Care for burn patients in the acute phase and treatment of long-term consequences: skin grafts, release of contracted scars and staged reconstruction. By Dr. José Antonio Orozco Gómez, plastic surgeon board-certified by the CMCPER, with published research on diagnosing compartment syndrome in electrical burns.
Immediate information
What to do in the first hours
For a recent burn: cool the area with room-temperature water for 15 to 20 minutes, remove rings and any clothing that is not stuck to the skin, cover with a clean cloth and go to an emergency department. Do not apply ice, toothpaste, oil, butter, herbs or any home remedy — they worsen the injury and make assessment harder.
Go to an emergency department whenever
- The burn is larger than the patient's palm.
- It affects the face, hands, feet, genitals or joints.
- It is circumferential — it goes all the way around an arm, leg, finger or the chest.
- It was caused by electricity or a chemical.
- There are large blisters, or skin that is white, leathery or numb.
- The patient is a small child or an older adult.
Clinical authority
Why electrical burns are different
An electrical burn is almost always more serious than it looks on the skin. The current travels through the body and damages muscle, vessel and nerve deep inside, while the visible surface injury can be minimal. That deep damage can cause compartment syndrome: swelling inside the muscle compartment cuts off circulation and threatens the limb within hours.
Timely diagnosis is what saves the limb, and it is especially difficult in patients with altered alertness who cannot report pain. Dr. Orozco published research on exactly this problem:
Validation of Thermography for the Diagnosis of Compartment Syndrome in the Upper Extremities Due to Electrical Burns in Patients with Altered Alertness — International Journal of Medical Science and Clinical Research Studies. DOI 10.47191/ijmscrs/v4-i04-15
The treatment
Stages of treatment
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Acute phase
Stabilisation, fluid management, pain control, assessment of depth and extent, infection prevention and, where indicated, escarotomy or fasciotomy to decompress. This phase is managed in hospital.
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Coverage
When a burn is deep and will not epithelialise on its own, devitalised tissue is removed and the defect covered with skin grafts or flaps. The choice depends on depth, location and whether critical structures are exposed.
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Rehabilitation and scar prevention
This begins long before the wound closes: positioning splints, mobilisation, pressure therapy and scar management. It is the stage that most determines final function — and the one most often neglected.
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Reconstruction of long-term consequences
Months or years later: release of contracted scars that limit movement, resurfacing of visible areas, correction of deformities, eyebrow and hair reconstruction, tissue expansion. Done in stages, across several procedures.
There are options
Consequences that can be treated
Many burn patients assume that what they were left with is permanent. In a good number of cases it is not.
- Contracted scars limiting hand opening, elbow extension or eyelid closure. Released and covered with a graft or flap, restoring range of motion. → Hand surgery
- Hypertrophic and keloid scars — combined management: pressure therapy, silicone sheeting, injections, surgery where appropriate.
- Scarring alopecia of the scalp and eyebrows — tissue expansion and grafting.
- Facial and eyelid deformities — staged reconstruction.
- Pigmentation changes — resurfacing and grafting.
Timing matters: the scar must be mature, which is usually 12 to 18 months after the burn. Operating earlier gives worse results. Assessment can happen sooner, to plan.
Reviews
Patient reviews
“No words — excellent service. Very attentive and helpful throughout.”
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What should I do for a recent burn?
Cool with room-temperature water for 15 to 20 minutes, remove rings and unstuck clothing, cover with a clean cloth and go to an emergency department. Do not apply ice, toothpaste, oil or home remedies. If the burn is extensive, electrical or chemical, or affects the face, hands, feet or genitals, go immediately.
When can a burn scar be operated on?
When the scar is mature, usually 12 to 18 months after the injury. Before then the scar is still active and surgical results are worse. The exception is contractures limiting function or a child's growth — those are released sooner.
Do burn scars disappear completely?
No. A deep burn scar does not disappear, but it can improve considerably in flexibility, colour, contour and above all in function. The realistic goal is to restore movement and make the scar less visible, not to erase it.
Why are electrical burns worse than they look?
Because the current damages deep tissue — muscle, vessel, nerve — while the skin injury can be small. That damage can trigger compartment syndrome and threaten a limb within hours. Every electrical burn needs hospital assessment, even when the skin looks nearly intact.
Are children treated?
Yes, from age 15 in the plastic surgery clinic. For younger paediatric patients, care is coordinated with the appropriate hospital service.
How is the cost of treatment set?
It depends entirely on the phase and extent: acute hospital management and the release of a single scar are not comparable. Each stage is quoted in writing after assessment.