The stages of healing are the body’s way of adapting to injury. They are categorized into three phases: the inflammatory phase, the repair phase, and the remodeling phase.
The inflammatory phase starts immediately after an injury and can last up to four days. During this time, blood vessels dilate and increase blood flow to the area. This helps to remove debris and bring in nutrients that will aid in repair. The inflammatory phase also triggers the release of immune cells, which help to fight infection and begin the process of healing tissue damage.
The repair phase begins once the inflammation has subsided and can last up to six weeks. During this time, new cells are generated and begin to lay down a foundation for repair. Collagen is produced, which helps to bind together damaged tissue and promote new growth. Blood vessels continue to grow during this phase in order to provide adequate nutrients for healing tissues.
The remodeling phase is the final stage of healing and can last several months or even years. During this time, collagen fibers are rearranged and strengthened in order to support repaired tissues. New blood vessels continue to form as well, ensuring that nutrients can reach all areas of healed tissue.
Hemostasis Phase. Hemostasis is the process of the wound being closed by clotting
The hemostasis phase is the first stage of healing and begins immediately after injury. This phase includes four processes: vasoconstriction, platelet plug formation, clotting, and wound contraction.
Vasoconstriction is the narrowing of blood vessels due to constriction of smooth muscle in their walls. This reduces blood flow to the injury site and helps to stop bleeding. Platelet plug formation begins when platelets (small fragments of blood cells) adhere to each other and to the damaged vessel wall. This forms a temporary barrier that further reduces blood flow. Clotting is the final step in hemostasis and involves a complex series of reactions between blood cells and proteins (clotting factors) in the plasma (the clear liquid portion of blood). This process leads to the formation of a more permanent fibrin mesh that reinforces the platelet plug and seals off the wound. Wound contraction is a process by which injured tissues are drawn together by actin and myosin filaments in muscle cells. This helps to close small wounds and reduce their size.
Inflammatory Phase
During this time, blood flow to the area increases in order to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the cells. This increased blood flow also helps to remove waste products from the cells. The increased temperature is a result of the increased blood flow.
The swelling is a result of fluid leaking out of the blood vessels into the tissues. This fluid contains white blood cells which help to fight infection. The pain is a result of nerve endings being irritated by the inflammation.
After 3-5 days, the inflammatory response begins to decrease as the healing process begins.
Proliferative Phase
After an injury, there are four main phases of healing: the inflammatory phase, the proliferation phase, the maturation phase, and finally the remodeling stage.
The inflammatory phase begins immediately after an injury and lasts for approximately three to five days. This is when the body’s immune system kicks into gear to clean up the damaged tissue and begin the repair process. During this time, you may experience swelling, redness, and pain at the injured site as your body starts to heal itself.
The next phase is known as the proliferation phase. This is when new cells are produced to replace those that were lost during the injury. The healing process accelerates during this time as more blood vessels and collagen fibers are produced. Wounds typically close during this stage and scars begin to form.
The maturation phase is when scars continue to mature and become less visible. Collagen production slows down during this time but continues until around one year after an injury. At this point, most wounds have healed completely though some may still be slightly sensitive or tender to touch.
Finally, there is the remodeling stage which can last for several months or even years after an injury occurs. During this time, collagen fibers continue to rearrange themselves in a process known as remodeling which helps improve strength and elasticity in scar tissue.
Maturation Phase
Once the injury has healed and the wound has closed, the next phase of healing is known as maturation. This can last for months or even years, during which time the body continues to produce new collagen fibers and remodel the damaged tissue. The goal of this phase is to create a scar that is as strong and functional as possible.
During maturation, it is important to protect the healing wound from excessive sun exposure, as this can cause permanent damage to the skin. Once the scar has matured, it will be much less noticeable and should not impede movement or cause pain.