Scar tissue

[bint]

A good slice by the surgeon helps, but I too +1 for bio oil. Caesarian here, and although it's not gone completely it's much better than it could have been.

[The_Doc]

Despite the anecdotal evidence: "it helped me".... "it helped me too and my brother's tennis partner" and not to doubt that the people saying this have improved, there isn't much excellent evidence that Bio Oil stands up to the claims it makes. The act of rubbing something into the scar is probably the active step in treatment.

I've had this advice from my plastic surgery colleagues, and looking through this: http://www.bio-oilprofessional.co.uk/clinical-rese... the papers here are all very, very small groups. The company published evidence isn't the sort of thing that proves a point in the scientific world. The company will win with marketing over evidence. They are only allowed to call it a Cosmetic Product (like lipstick) because they possibly do not have the evidence to allow it to be called a Medicine.

I tell my patients massaging any cream into the scar is the way to go. Cheap simple cream from Boots.

The trick is to support the skin in the layer underneath, so that the actual skin layer is closed without tension.

and I use clips quite a bit with excellent results on the knee.....

[drfrank]

@The Doc
You are quite right !
Doesn't matter what you rub into it, it is the physical act of massage that helps the scar.
I tend to recommend E45, much cheaper than bio oil.

[WinstonWolf]

Admittedly it was thirty years ago but I was told to roll my scars like I was rolling a cigarette. Takes a while when there's over a metre of them

[dreamer75]

Don't get me wrong Drfrank, I would rather not have them, and in a cosmetic procedure I can imagine it's very important to minimise them

Is there anything which can be done about the adhesion thing? I assume not, without big surgery again to go in and sort it out.... The appendix one is from when I was 9, so it's been there a while and I'm a different shape to when I was that age so it is quite obvious! Not a big deal and I've lived iwth it a long time, but curious if there are options.

[Jonsnow606]

After a little research, the two most effective methods are... (using them together has apparently seen good results as well)...

1) Bio oil

2) Dermatix silicone sheets. (also available in a gel)

Using the two methods together also apparently works well, using the bio oil through the day, and leaving the dermatix silicone sheet on through the night.

I've purchased the dermatix, which is ridiculously expensive via their own website and Amazon, but managed to purchase it through an eBay seller for half the price.

[Grandad7184]

I have 2 very visible scars from operations what happened in 2011. My one on my back what runs about 20 inches you can see every mark from the staples and stiches. One on my skull from about 4 inches above my ear what runs down to the bottom of my chin is very visible if I shave or when I have a hair cut. Both of which I have been told they will not likely to improve in cosmetically.

AL

[drfrank]

@johnsnow606
Sure the bio oil thing and Dermatix thing help. The evidence base for them both is very poor though.
I wouldn't pay too much attention to their research...their marketing department is far more substantive !

[Jonsnow606]

Maybe so, time will tell I suppose, I'll try keeping a picture log of her progress (if she let's me!), and post them up on this thread every few weeks.
It's from various online forums that I've taken these two products as being the most effective (without going down the cosmetic surgery route)

[zygalski]

The other half went to see a consultant plastic surgeon recently with regards to a scar on her throat as a result of an operation to replace c5/c6 cervical disc. Her scar treatment after the op was non-existent, so after 6 months she complained about the scarring & was referred to the specialist.
This is a basic summary of what he said:

The treatment depends on the type & degree of scarring. Going from the most basic to the most extreme scar tissue management:
-regularly massaging the scar tissue with the fingertips using circular motions using moisturising cream
-placing silicon gel sheeting over the scar tissue (often in conjunction with massage treatment)
-steroid injections into the tissue
-surgery to remove excess scar tissue

Most scar tissue responds well to the simple, regular massaging. Goes without saying that whilst surgery could correct a problem, it could also just cause it to recur.

The massage didn't work in my other half's case, so she is having injections.

[drfrank]

Steroid injections are usually reserved for keloid or hypertrophic scars, not for regular scars.
Steroid injections are not without their problems.

[shouldbworking]

Hope that it's not a type that recurs, because if you were lucky enough to not get much of a scar the first time, you certainly will the next time as they carve through the scar tissue

[waynedear]

I had a 12" incision across my back in March, they had to cut the cancer out, so not just a straight line, i had wonderful surgeons (despite their refusal for a Zorro Z or as if a bear had attacked)
The scar did look a mess, herself massaged it every day with whatever oil/cream we had handy, amazing difference now, something about not letting it harden under the skin, 9 months later it looks a million times better.
What is the old saying 'time is a great healer'

[The_Doc]

waynedear said:

I had a 12" incision across my back in March, they had to cut the cancer out, so not just a straight line, i had wonderful surgeons (despite their refusal for a Zorro Z or as if a bear had attacked)
The scar did look a mess, herself massaged it every day with whatever oil/cream we had handy, amazing difference now, something about not letting it harden under the skin, 9 months later it looks a million times better.
What is the old saying 'time is a great healer'

Time

Massage

Keep it cheap

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