Dr.STITCH provides 24/7 on-call plastic surgery care for burns of all severities. Our expert surgeons focus on optimal healing, pain management, and scar minimization for patients across Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, and New York.
- What to Do When a Burn Occurs
- Understanding Burn Degrees
- Seeking Medical Treatment for Burns
- Recovery and Aftercare
- Why Choose Dr.STITCH for Burn Care
- STITCH Stories
- Preventing Burn Injuries at Home
- When to Contact Dr.STITCH
- Frequently Asked Questions
A burn injury is frightening and painful for the whole family. Whether it’s a minor thermal burn from a household accident or a more severe injury, our on-call team treats patients across Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, and New York. Seeking care from a plastic surgeon means your burn is treated with a focus on optimal healing, pain management, and long-term aesthetic results.
What to Do When a Burn Occurs
Taking the right steps immediately can significantly reduce tissue damage. Follow these steps:
- Cool the burn. Hold the area under cool, running water for several minutes. MedlinePlus recommends 10 to 15 minutes for burns that continue to hurt.
- Remove restrictive items. Take off clothing or jewelry near the burn before swelling begins.
- Cover it. Use a clean, dry cloth or sterile bandage to protect the area from infection.
- Avoid home remedies. Do not apply ice, butter, or ointments. These trap heat and can worsen the damage.
- Call the right number. If the burn is life-threatening, call 911 immediately. For urgent but non-life-threatening burns, our on-call team is ready to help.
Understanding Burn Degrees
Burns are classified by depth and severity. Knowing your burn type helps determine the right course of treatment.
First-degree burns affect only the epidermis, the skin’s outer layer. They typically cause redness, mild swelling, and pain, similar to a sunburn, and heal on their own within about a week. These can typically be treated at home with cool water and over-the-counter care.
Second-degree burns extend into the dermis, the skin’s second layer, and often cause blistering and severe pain. According to research published by the National Library of Medicine, superficial second-degree burns typically heal within two to three weeks with proper care, though deeper cases may need surgical intervention. Follow the cooling and covering steps above, then seek medical attention, especially for burns larger than a few inches or on sensitive areas.
Third-degree burns destroy both the epidermis and dermis, and may reach the underlying tissue. The skin may look white, leathery, or charred. Because nerve endings are damaged, these burns can be painless at first, but they require immediate, advanced treatment and almost always need reconstructive surgery. Burns remain a leading cause of ER visits nationwide, with an estimated 29,165 burn-related hospital admissions occurring each year in the U.S. Call 911 immediately for burns like these.
Seeking Medical Treatment for Burns
Emergency rooms stabilize patients, but a plastic surgeon brings a specialized focus on long-term aesthetic and functional outcomes. Our approach to complex wound care supports proper healing while reducing the risk of infection and severe scarring.
Early intervention by a plastic surgeon can make a real difference in the long-term cosmetic and functional outcome of a burn injury.
For burns that need advanced care, such as skin grafting or tissue rearrangement, your Dr.STITCH surgeon can refer you to New York Plastic Surgical Group. A study in the Journal of Burn Care & Research found that removing damaged tissue and covering the wound with a skin graft early on can cut hospital stays by more than half compared with delayed surgery. A referral to New York Plastic Surgical Group can also provide ongoing scar care to soften and fade scars over time. For burns on the face or hands, our surgeons manage facial trauma and hand injuries to help preserve mobility and natural appearance.
Recovery and Aftercare
Healing continues well after your initial treatment. What you do during recovery has a direct effect on your final scar and function.
- Keep the wound clean and moisturized. Gently clean the area as directed and apply the recommended ointment to prevent it from drying out. According to federally funded burn care researchers, antibiotic ointments help second-degree burns stay moist and lower infection risk.
- Protect healing skin from the sun. New skin burns and discolors easily. Cover it or use sunscreen for at least a year after the injury.
- Follow your pressure garment or scar therapy plan. For deeper burns, compression garments, silicone sheeting, and scar massage can meaningfully reduce raised or thickened scarring.
- Keep every follow-up visit. Your surgeon checks healing progress, adjusts your care plan, and catches complications early.
- Stay ahead of stiffness. Stretching and movement, as directed by your care team, help prevent scars from tightening around joints.
- Pain Management. Take over-the-counter pain medication as needed.
Read our full post-procedure care instructions for more detail on what to expect during recovery.
Why Choose Dr.STITCH for Burn Care
Dr.STITCH is a service of New York Plastic Surgical Group, with 75+ years of experience since 1948. Our team includes 20+ expert plastic surgeons with over 200 years of combined surgical experience and more than half a million patients treated.
Our goal isn’t just to heal the wound. It’s to restore the skin’s function and appearance as closely as possible to its natural state.
Our surgeons bring deep experience in complex wound management, using the latest techniques to help you recover safely and confidently. If reconstructive surgery is ever needed, your Dr.STITCH surgeon can refer you to New York Plastic Surgical Group for that care.
Dr.STITCH provides immediate, on-call service from the experienced plastic surgeons of New York Plastic Surgical Group. These surgeons bring deep experience in reconstructive and cosmetic procedures to the complex burn treatment you receive through Dr.STITCH. Learn more about our plastic surgeons.
STITCH Stories
We hope that you, your kids, and everyone in our community stays safe. When accidents do happen, we’re glad we can help. We are also honored when we get to share happy updates from recovered Dr.STITCH patients. Read some of the inspiring stories from Dr.STITCH patients.
Preventing Burn Injuries at Home
Many burns happen during everyday routines, and many are preventable. The American Burn Association recommends these steps for a safer home:
- In the kitchen: Never leave cooking food unattended, and turn pot handles inward and away from the counter edge.
- In the bathroom: Set your water heater to 120°F or lower, and always supervise young children during bath time.
- In sleeping areas: Extinguish candles before bed and keep heating devices away from fabric and bedding.
- Throughout the home: Test smoke alarms monthly and store chemicals and flammable items out of children’s reach.
When to Contact Dr.STITCH
We understand that burn injuries can be frightening and painful, and we’re here to help. Call 1-877-DR-STITCH (1-877-377-8482) any time you need treatment from a Dr.STITCH plastic surgeon.
Contact us before heading to the ER on your own for a non-emergency injury; we’ll direct you to meet your Dr.STITCH surgeon at an affiliated hospital or a nearby office. If you have a true, life-threatening emergency, always call 911 first, EMS will take you to the nearest appropriate hospital. Learn more about how Dr.STITCH works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What areas does Dr.STITCH serve for burn treatment?
Dr.STITCH provides on-call plastic surgery services across Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, and New York, offering immediate, specialized care to help you achieve the best possible outcome.
Will my burn leave a scar?
All deep wounds have the potential to scar, but prompt treatment from a plastic surgeon can significantly reduce the severity of scarring. We use precise surgical techniques and advanced scar management protocols to minimize visible marks.
How long does it take to recover from a burn?
Recovery depends on burn depth. First-degree burns typically heal within a week. Second-degree burns usually take two to three weeks. Third-degree burns often require surgery and a longer recovery, sometimes spanning several months. When reconstructive surgery is needed, your Dr.STITCH surgeon can refer you to New York Plastic Surgical Group for that care.
Should I go to urgent care or see a plastic surgeon for my burn?
Urgent care can treat minor, superficial burns. If your burn blisters, covers a large area, or affects your face, hands, feet, or joints, seeing a plastic surgeon gives you access to techniques focused on minimizing scarring and preserving function, not just stabilizing the wound.
When should I contact Dr.STITCH instead of going to the ER?
If you have a life-threatening emergency, always call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For urgent but non-life-threatening burns, lacerations, or facial injuries, contacting our team gets you direct care from a plastic surgeon, which can lead to better cosmetic and functional results.
Contact Us for Immediate Burn Care
Injured Now? Call Us: 1-877-DR-STITCH (1-877-377-8482)
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, serving Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, and New York.
Source Index
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine): Minor Burns – Aftercare. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000662.htm
- NCBI Bookshelf/StatPearls: Burn Classification. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539773/
- American Burn Association: Burn Incidence & Treatment in the U.S. https://www.ameriburn.org/prevention/burn-incidence-and-treatment-in-the-united-states
- Journal of Burn Care & Research (Puri et al., 2016): Early Excision and Grafting. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23816999/
- Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center: Wound Care After Burn Injury. https://msktc.org/burn/factsheets/wound-care-after-burn-injury
- Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center: Reduce Burn Scars with Effective Management Strategies. https://msktc.org/burn/factsheets/scar-management-after-burn-injury
- American Burn Association: National Burn Awareness Week / Prevention. https://ameriburn.org/advocacy-and-prevention/burn-awareness-week/