After a surgical treatment it is common that scars remain, but that does not mean that they should be visible or of poor quality. In our practice (Consulta Dr. Pérez-Escariz) we take care of their treatment in detail from the first moment, so that they are as reduced and discreet as possible.
It is important to bear in mind that treatment should be started as soon as possible, especially when the sunny season is approaching. Furthermore, in order to treat and improve them, they must be known.
Factors that influence scars:
- The anatomical region where it is; there are areas of our body that heal worse than others, for example: the pre-sternal area, back, ears and shoulders are areas of worse quality; however, the forehead, eyelids, and hands are among the best.
- The causes that provoked it: a surgical scar remains more time with inflammation, since it is usually deeper, but they are of higher quality, since the cut or incision is controlled by the surgeon. Burns tend to be of greater amplitude, and scars from trauma or blows (light and with stitches) have a faster recovery.
- Healing phase; “scar” is considered to be the sign or mark on the skin after closing a wound. Thus, at the beginning of this process they will have a more pinkish or reddish hue, at least for the first 6-9 months. This is when the scar is in its most active phase, and when we can improve it the most with the different means we have. The healing process is variable in each patient, depending also on age and race.
How to treat a scar
We can start treating a scar from the moment when there are no more scabs or wounds (approximately the 4th week after surgery). There are different ways to do it:
- Sun protection: the most important. A good sunscreen with total sun protection (50+) is essential. Renewing it every 4-5 hours if there is sun exposure. There are different brands on the market, some of them with color for the face that give a touch of makeup. Sesderma, Avene, has a wide range and very nice cosmetics.
- Healing cream: our scar is active 24 hours, so we must apply treatments the more hours a day the better. Creams such as Cicapost (ISDIN laboratory) or Rose Hip Oil are easy to apply. Be careful with oils as they stain and it is better to apply them at night.
- Patches: different types are available, such as silicone or polyurethane (trofolastin Scar Reducer). They are very comfortable since they stick and we are treating the area all day long. It is not even necessary to remove them for the shower. We place them according to our scar and forget about it. It is not advisable to apply cream and patches at the same time, it is better to alternate.
- Massages: scars have a tendency to create adhesions to deeper planes, remaining “anchored”. To avoid this, we will perform circular massages on the scar itself, to detach it. We can do this by applying a healing cream or oil.
- Gels: for very visible areas such as the face they are very useful, as they go unnoticed and are not visible, but they must be renewed every 12 hours.
If we are constant in this care, the results are pleasantly surprising.
For more information, consult a specialist in Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery.