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Caring for your Incisions

 

Leaving the surgical tape on 

    By doing this, you are taking the tension off of the incision, which keeps the incision from pulling apart.  Many women leave the tape on until it rolls off by itself, which can take up to 6 weeks, in some cases.  Surgical tape can be purchased at your local drugstore/pharmacy.  

    Silicone Sheeting  & Silicone Gels
       
    The medical industry has used silicone sheeting since the early 1980's for treating burns and scarring. The exact mechanism of the silicone sheeting is not known.  Several suggestions have been made, including oxygen tension, hydration, increased pressure, and the presence of silicone oil in the local environment.  These things are thought to aid in improving the color of the scar, diminishing the size of the scar, and possibly increasing elasticity in both hypertrophic and keloid scars.

    Rejuveness silicone sheeting comes in various shapes, including "anchor shapes", which is specifically designed for women who have undergone full lifts.  I used Rejuveness after a revision surgery, and my crease incision healed quicker than they did after my redo surgery, after which I did not use silicone sheeting. 

    Many women like the "paint-on" silicone gels better.  These are very similar to the sheeting, except you paint it on, like nail polish.  Below, you will find links to various silicone sheeting and silicone gels.

    Rejuveness - Silicone sheeting
    Scarease - Silicone sheeting
    Syprex - Silicone sheeting
    GelShapes - Silicone sheeting
    Silon - Silicone sheeting
    Kelo-cote - Scar gel
    Scarfade - Scar gel
    ScarGuard - Scar gel

    **I do not recommend silicone sheeting for transaxillary (armpit) scars.  It is very difficult to keep the sheeting in place.**

     

    Mederma  

    Mederma is a topical gel containing allium cepa, an onion extract.  It is used to treat stretch marks, acne scars, burn scars, and other scars.  There are varying opinions regarding the effectiveness of Mederma. 

    In a small study of a topical gel containing allium cepa, Jackson and Shelton found the following results:

    " Using the Fischer's exact test, no statistically significant difference between pre and post treatment evaluations of scar erythema (inflammation) and pruritus (itching) in patients using topical onion extract gel was found. A statistically significant reduction in scar erythema was found in patients using a petrolatum based ointment. CONCLUSIONS: Scar hydration is an important factor in wound healing and can be achieved with topical petrolatum-based ointment. Topical onion gel extract was ineffective in improving scar erythema and pruritus in our patients." - Pub Med

    Mederma is available at your local drugstore, on the Mederma website, and thru the SkinStore .  The average cost is $25 - $30 for a 50gm tube.

     

    Vitamin E  

    Many women have used vitamin E on their scars, with varying results.  An interesting study showed the following conclusion:

    "This study shows that there is no benefit to the cosmetic outcome of scars by applying vitamin E after skin surgery and that the application of topical vitamin E may actually be detrimental to the cosmetic appearance of a scar. In 90% of the cases in this study, topical vitamin E either had no effect on, or actually worsened, the cosmetic appearance of scars. Of the patients studied, 33% developed a contact dermatitis to the vitamin E. Therefore we conclude that use of topical vitamin E on surgical wounds should be discouraged."  -- Pub Med

     

    Rose Hip Oil  

    Rose hip oil contains a large amount of fatty acids, which play an important role in the repair of damaged tissues, as well as in the regeneration of skin cells. 

    Applying rose hip oil consistently for 2-3 months has been found to improve the color and appearance of surgical and non-surgical scars. 

    To learn more about rose hip oil, or to purchase, click here.

     

    Neosporin  

    Neosporin is an topical antibiotic cream.  It is supposed to provide protection from bacteria, as well as help wounds heal better, thus leaving a "nicer" scar.  However, it is very important to discuss this with your surgeon.  Some surgeons recommend against using this while the wound is still in the healing (closing) process.  Some doctors believe that it can irritate the wound, with no perceivable benefit to the resulting scar.  It is also possible to introduce infection while applying the cream, especially if the wound is not completely closed. 

     

    Related links  

    ScarEase
    Skindulgence
    Curad Scar Therapy

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