Scar treatment question for a tummy tuck procedure?

One of the biggest concerns cosmetic surgery patients have is the scars that any surgical procedure leaves behind. Generally it is possible to minimize or conceal scarring, but any procedure will leave behind a scar of some kind, because of the inherent trauma to the skin that surgery inevitably causes. Scars may be raised or depressed, and more or less visible depending on the patient’s skin, natural healing ability and how the surgery was performed, among other factors. This week’s ACA Question of the Week asks, “I had a tummy tuck 27 days ago. On day 18 the surgery site had to be reopened and vacuumed out, and it was resealed with steri-strips. What is the best brand of scar guard to help mask the scars?”

Dr. Pane answered that there really isn’t a “best” way to treat and manage a scar. Any kind of treatment indicated for scar management is better than nothing, and greatly increases the chance of the scar being much less pronounced than it would without treatment. A great deal depends on the patient’s own personal preference as far as application of the treatment, because some kind be painted on, others dabbed or applied to bandages or pads placed over the surgical site. The patient’s own healing factor, skin quality and how they follow aftercare instructions are also factors that will directly impact how obvious or hard to see the scar might be.

It is also important to remember that it takes about a year for a scar to be fully mature and formed. The ideal kind of scarring for a cosmetic surgery procedure is a thin, faded line. Dr. Pane prefers regular surgical tape for the first week, and around week 2-3 starting on other methods of scar reduction, such as topical scar treatments or massaging the skin around the scar. Changing the tape regularly every couple of days, applying silicone sheets or topical ointments aren’t really any “better” than other methods. How the patient’s skin and the surgical site react to various scar reduction treatments is the determining criterion in choosing what method or combination of methods works best for a given patient.

If the patient’s surgical site hadn’t needed to be reopened, the healing process would be further along. However, the skin’s natural “clock” resets itself any time the site is further traumatized, whether by additional surgery or failure to follow proper aftercare protocols. Time is the patient’s greatest ally when it comes to scar healing, and it is hard to be absolutely sure how a scar will form until several months after the surgery. Proactive care and conditioning of the skin before and after surgery, in accordance with proper aftercare practices, can help keep the skin more elastic and more likely to heal with a less visible scar.

Another point patients often overlook is exposure to environmental factors such as sun, cigarette smoke, pollution and similar contaminants. A certain amount of daily sun exposure is healthy, helping the skin synthesize vitamin D and collagen, which is the elastic building block that allows skin to stretch and rebuild itself after injury. However, areas that have been recently injured, such as surgical sites, should be kept from sun as much as possible to help alleviate scarring. In the case of a tummy tuck, most patients may wish to wear a one-piece bathing suit instead of a bikini, avoid smoking, be conscious of using sunscreen and applying their preferred scar reduction method. These can all help mitigate scarring.

For best results, aftercare and follow-up procedures should be followed rigorously. In addition, if the patient notices unusual swelling, seepage, drainage or anything that looks or feels abnormal around the surgical site, it is usually best to have an in-person clinical evaluation as soon as possible, to help rule out possible problems that may lead to more severe scarring or even worse post-operative complications. You know your body best, and being proactive about your care and keeping tabs on the progress of your healing is invaluable in making sure you get timely attention and treatment if necessary.

If you have a question for Atlantic Coast Aesthetics and Dr. Pane regarding anything related to cosmetic surgery, we welcome the opportunity to assist you. You may send us your question on our Facebook page, contact us by phone at 561-422-4116 or email us through our website at https://acplasticsurg.com. It is entirely possible that your question may be selected as ACA’s Question of the Week, and answered live on an upcoming Google Hangout by Dr. Pane himself. Remember, the only bad question is the one you don’t ask!