Scar Care Instructions
The following instructions will answer many commonly asked questions regarding scar care. There will always be a scar; however, the combination of a few factors will lead to the best result possible.
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Short Term
- Keep a healthy environment for the wound. This can be accomplished by doing some of the following:
- Eating healthy and staying hydrated.
- Avoid smoking and being around second hand smoke at all costs (smoking can plug the tiny vessels feeding and bringing the wound oxygen).
- You may submerge the wound in water (i.e. swimming) after the sutures have been removed, unless instructed otherwise.
- Make sure that you have the sutures taken out 3-6 days (for the face) after the surgery. This will avoid leaving “rail road tracks.”
- When you have the sutures removed, we will apply steri-strips to the wound. You may swim, shower and exercise with the steri-strips on. Just be sure to dry them well after and if they begin to come off replace them as instructed in the office. Keep the steri-strips on for 1-2 weeks after suture removal. This holds the wound together for a longer time without the risk of scarring at the suture sites and will help form a thinner scar.
Long Term
- Avoid the sun, as this could lead to dark pigmentation of the wound.
- Always wear sunscreen. We recommend a zinc and/or titanium based sunscreen for the best protection of the scar. Medical grade broad-spectrum zinc sunscreens are available for purchase in our office. You may begin applying sunscreen after the steri-strips are removed. Sunscreen should be re-applied every 4 hours when you are in the sun, and every 2 hours when sweating or swimming.
- We highly recommend Silagen Scar Cream to minimize scarring. You may purchase a silicone scar cream (available at our office for $60-85) based on size. Apply twice a day for 3 – 6 months after surgery beginning 2 weeks after the surgery.
- Even if you use the scar cream with sunscreen in it, you will need to reapply sunscreen every 4 hours when you are in the sun.
- Beginning at a month after the repair, massage the scar – circular pressure applied a few times a day will help break down the collagen build-up.
- You can expect the scar to continue to improve for up to a year.
Long Term
- Avoid the sun, as this could lead to dark pigmentation of the wound.
- Always wear sunscreen. We recommend a zinc and/or titanium based sunscreen for the best protection of the scar. Medical grade broad-spectrum zinc sunscreens are available for purchase in our office. You may begin applying sunscreen after the steri-strips are removed. Sunscreen should be re-applied every 4 hours when you are in the sun, and every 2 hours when sweating or swimming.
- We highly recommend Silagen Scar Cream to minimize scarring. You may purchase a silicone scar cream (available at our office for $60-85) based on size. Apply twice a day for 3 – 6 months after surgery beginning 2 weeks after the surgery.
- Even if you use the scar cream with sunscreen in it, you will need to reapply sunscreen every 4 hours when you are in the sun.
- Beginning at a month after the repair, massage the scar – circular pressure applied a few times a day will help break down the collagen build-up.
- You can expect the scar to continue to improve for up to a year.
Facial Scar | Case 1
Facial Scar | Case 2
