SCAR THERAPY

As we all know, one of the most important aspects of your surgery is the final scar. Therefore, we take scar care very seriously. It is normal for your scar to become red and raised in the first 6-12 months after surgery. After that time it will fade and become softer but will never disappear altogether. Everyone heals differently, due to genetics and personal health factors. There are three general types of healing patterns:

1. Normal: the scar is darker or redder, but not elevated
2. Hypertrophic: the scar is thick, cordlike, raised and may itch
3. Keloid: the scar extends past the original site of the incision and can be very painful

Scar Massage: Use your favorite types of lotion and apply a small mount to incision. We use Walgreen’s brand with Vitamin E. Massage with fingertips 5 minutes twice daily. Press hard enough so the tissue blanches. Pinching the scar hard between your two fingers is the best technique.

Adjunctive therapy: The following therapy has been shown to be of some benefit in preventing hypertrophic scarring.

There are 3 different methods: silicone pads, a paint-on scar treatment, and gels. With any of the three methods, you still need to massage twice daily. After massaging the scar, clean off scars completely. Therefore, the treatment can go directly on the scar. We provide the following products in our office.

1. Silicone Pads

Scar Therapy Pad (Curad, *** Neosporin Scar Solution, and others): easy to use; reusable until sticky side wears off.

Cica-care: More expensive but top of the line; may need to tape when sticky side wears off.

2. Paint-on Treatment

   Scarguard: easy to use; dries quickly, but flakes; strong medicinal odor which fades

3. Gels

   Kelo-cote: use at night since it is greasy; takes longer to dry than Scargel
   Scargel: cheaper; easy to use but you must wait for it to dry
   

If this therapy doesn’t work in a few months, there are three more options:

1. Very low dose steroid injections every 6-8 weeks. May cause thinning and redness of skin. We are not responsible for results if injections are given outside this office.
2. Ultrasound treatments: these take a few minutes and can be used with or without scar control gel.
3. Steroid creams: used once a day, these creams may improve itching and redness.

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