With any surgery that requires cutting the tissues of the skin, there is always some risk of post-operation scarring. The level of this scarring depends largely on the procedure, and how much tissue was affected. If your surgery is on a part of your body that's frequently visible, you'll want to make sure your scar heals well. Luckily, there are ways to help reduce the presence of scarring after your operation through a variety of methods.
Step 1
Take good care of your wounds after surgery. Wound care after you leave the hospital can make the difference between little scarring and noticeable scarring. This has to due with the skin's natural healing processes. By cleaning and covering your wounds, as recommended by your nurse or doctor, you give the skin a clean and more optimized environment for repairing damaged skin and tissue cells.
Step 2
Try self-adhesive silicone sheeting. Silicone sheeting is specifically designed to help scars smoothly heal and blend in with the surrounding tissue. Silicone sheeting works by increasing the pressure on the wound area, as well as helping to keep the skin tissue from drying out. The more hydrated the skin tissue is, the better chances it will have of healing.
Step 3
Consider laser resurfacing. Laser resurfacing can only be done once a wound has healed. The resulting scar can then be treated using a laser to transfer concentrated light energy into the inner layers of the skin below the scar. This triggers the fibroblasts in the tissue below the scar to begin producing collagen. The added collagen causes the scar to take a similar look to the surrounding skin, making the scar less noticeable.
Step 4
Try a chemical peel. Reserved more for mild to moderate scarring, chemical peels use peeling agents, such as salicylic acid or glycolic acid, to remove the outer layer of skin on and around the area where the scar is present. This removes the outer damaged skin cells of the scarring, and can reduce the scar's appearance. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, chemical peels may cause temporary or permanent skin discoloration for people with certain skin types. As such, you should speak to your dermatologist about options that fit your specific skin type before getting a chemical peel.
Things You'll Need
- Self-adhesive silicone sheeting
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