Scar Management and Scar Protocol
There are many types of scars and many different ways to manage scars. Scars may be traumatic, post-surgical, stretch marks, hypertrophic scars or keloid scars.
It is important to have a scar assessment by a plastic surgeon and devise and appropriate treatment plan.
The treatment plan generally compromises re-excision to give a fresh new perfectly stitched scar, following a scar protocol, applying pressure, steroid injections as needed, V-Beam treatment, Laser treatment, hyaluronic acid fillers, fat fills and external radiation in cases of chronic keloid scaring.
The scar protocol I generally follow is as follows:
My Dearest Patient,
Managing your Scar
It is important to keep scars clean and dry during the first two weeks post-surgery.
We would recommend that you attend our dressing clinic once a week for the first 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. During this time our specialist wound care sisters will make sure that your wounds are healing as expected.
Our general recommendations for wound management are as follows:
-Please keep all wounds clean and dry. Wounds and dressings are not to get wet during the first 2 weeks or until we allow you.
-Please keep wounds and linen clear of household pets especially dogs. Our wound care specialist Master Sister Sheila has seen many a severe infection associated with “dogs in the bed”
-During the first 2 weeks your wounds will be taped with flesh-colour Micropore tape and covered with a sterile waterproof dressing.
Flesh-coloured Micropore tape
Taping should continue for as long as possible, up to six months if possible.
During the wound healing process, the cells that promote healing, deposit collagen as a material of scar healing. If the collagen is deposited in clumps rather than straight lines, the scar healing proceeds in a non-pleasing manner. Thus by applying the tape an external force is applied to the wound, mechano-transduction stimulates the fibroblast to deposit collagen in a straight line and thus facilitate better scar healing.
Application of Scarscience
Once the wound edges have healed satisfactory, usually about 2 weeks, start applying Scarscience. ScarScience is a scientifically formulated ointment that promotes wound healing available from Dischem or from our consulting rooms. I attended a congress in Switzerland where the surgeon showed his results of using Scarscience over a number of years. The results were remarkable.
It is important to apply Scarscience only once the wound edges have healed. Scar Science contains silicone and if applied to an open wound it could result in a mild superficial infection due to silicone being entrapped in he wound.
Once the wound edges have healed satisfactory, usually about 2 weeks, start applying Scarscience. ScarScience is a scientifically formulated ointment that promotes wound healing available from Dischem or from our consulting rooms. I attended a congress in Switzerland where the surgeon showed his results of using Scarscience over a number of years. The results were remarkable.
It is important to apply Scarscience only once the wound edges have healed. Scar Science contains silicone and if applied to an open wound it could result in a mild superficial infection due to silicone being entrapped in he wound.