Scar Care Products in Oklahoma City
Healing is the great variable after surgery. The same procedure can be performed on a thousand different patients with the same surgeon, tools, and approach.
Even with these constants, some scars will heal better than others. Post-operative incision care can improve the appearance of your scar. At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates of Oklahoma City, we are dedicated to evidence-based practices for scar care, which provide you with the most up-to-date information and help you get the results you are looking for.
Products
We recommend over the counter scar creams (Mederma, Scar Guard, etc.) and Dermatix, which we sell in our office.
Mederma
Mederma is a good product for scars on the hands or face.
Dermatix
Dermatix is recommended for larger incisions on the body, such as those from breast augmentations, breast lifts/reductions, tummy tucks, and brachioplasties. Dermatix, from Valeant Pharmaceuticals, is a transparent, self-drying silicone gel that will significantly reduce the appearance of scars. The product flattens, softens and smoothes scars, relieving the itching and discomfort, as well as reducing discoloration.
FAQ
What is a scar?
Think of scarring as a visible healing act. In the beginning stages of recovery — usually the first two to three months — your scars may be very apparent and pronounced. This is normal healing. As time goes by the scars will slowly become smaller and less visible. It may take up to two years for skin to fully heal from surgery. By then, scars are considered "mature" and you will see their final outcome.
What can you do to improve the appearance of your scars?
In the initial stage post-operatively, do not pick at the area, or rub abrasively. There may be skin glue along your incision. This can last for several weeks post-operatively. It will begin to slowly come off on its own. Nearly all sutures are self dissolving. Keeping the self dissolving sutures moist with Vaseline will help them dissolve faster. After the skin glue is off and the area is fully closed, a scar cream needs to be applied to improve the color and appearance of the incision. Maintaining a well balanced diet with an emphasis of Vitamin E and C will prepare your body for healing.
Why do scars happen?
There are many factors that go into how a person will scar. A few examples include age, location, genetics, and lifestyle. Exercising, eating a well-balanced diet, and abstaining from smoking all assist in healthy blood flow, which ultimately plays a significant role in scar healing. Our practice would like to give you the information and products that you need to have the very best results possible.
Family and Friends: Helping and Healing
Support from your family and friends is very helpful during your recovery. But because they may not understand what is normal in your post-operative care, their comments may unintentionally create emotional turmoil for you. You can trust that we will tell you honestly how your progress is and what we expect your results to be. Please trust in our knowledge and experience when we evaluate your progress. We know it is difficult not to compare your recovery with other people you may know who also had cosmetic surgery, but it’s imperative to remember progress varies greatly patient to patient and everyone has a different recovery.
Cosmetic surgery has certainly become less taboo in the past decade, but your friends may still be reluctant to bring it up and discuss it because they think it may be a private matter to you. Patients occasionally feel upset that “no one noticed” or “said anything.” If you are comfortable discussing your cosmetic procedure then you should do so openly. When people ask how you are, respond saying “I feel wonderful. I just had cosmetic surgery and I’m recovering.” This lets people know that they may talk freely with you. Often if you will open up about your procedure you will find that your friends and acquaintances are very interested in discussing it with you.
One potential drawback after surgery that can take places is that quite frequently patients experience a very brief period of “let down” or depression after cosmetic surgery. Some may subconsciously have expected to instantly look and feel better, even though they rationally understand that this will not be the case. You will be told what to expect during your recovery but the incisions can still come as a shock sometimes to see the initial results. Patients commonly question their decision to have surgery during the first few days after surgery because it’s hard to imagine the incisions once they are healed and everything has settled into place. As the healing occurs, these thoughts usually disappear quickly.
If you feel depressed, understanding that this is a “natural” phase of the healing process may help you to cope with this emotional state. Just try to remember it’s a process and there are stages for each process we go through, healing from a surgery is no different. Your incisions may come as a shock in the beginning but try to remember that over time those incisions will heal and the scars will decrease and the final outcome will be much different than what it looks like right after your procedure.
