Burns involve an injury to the skin and associated tissue, often caused by fire, chemicals, heat, electricity, the sun or other factors. They can range in severity and are classified as first, second, third or fourth degree burns, based on their depth and the degree of damage to skin tissue. Burns can often leave patients with severe physical disfigurements, depending on the cause and severity of the burn.

Improving the aesthetic appearance of burns can help the patient’s self esteem and prevent permanent scarring. Burn treatments usually involve skin grafting and cosmetic reconstruction, and may be performed in an emergency facility or later on. These treatments also focus on restoring function to the burned skin to reduce the risk of complications such as loss of mobility or a loss of one of the senses.