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7 Ways To Get a Beautiful Scar After Surgery
After your surgery, there are several ways to optimize the appearance of your surgical scar. As always, talk to your plastic surgeon first- he or she will be able to examine you in person and is able to give you the best advice.
Excellent care after surgery is crucial to getting a beautiful scar. This includes taking antibiotics by mouth, using antibiotic cream on the incision, and following the instructions of your plastic surgeon as directed.
Following instructions and taking a pro-active stance towards wound care is the key to getting the best scar possible. There are several techniques in caring for wounds that you may not be aware of, and your plastic surgeon will be able to give you some.
Eventually, you will have to take over the wound care of your surgical scar by washing, dressing, and changing your dressing on a routine basis. Unless you have a loved one who is a nurse, you will probably have to take responsibility and care for your wound.
Please realize that scars take between 6-12 months to fully heal and mature. Scars form pretty quickly to form new skin, but underneath the surface, it will take 6- 12 months for the scar tissue to completely heal. During this maturation phase, your scar may change color, thickness, width, or itchiness. You should be aware of this and monitor your scar as needed.� If you notice a dramatic change or you’re not happy with the way your scar looks, then you should talk to your plastic surgeon.
Once you have all new skin forming over your scar, it is important to protect it from the sun. Rays from sunlight may cause your scar to become red, thicker, wider, or darker. Protect your scar for at least 6-12 months after your procedure.
It is important to be patient during this time period. Do not be grumpy or despair if your scar isn’t looking quite right within the first 6-12 months after your procedure. Scar tissue responds very nicely to non-surgical options within the first 6-12 months after your surgery. If you only see your plastic surgeon after 12 months from your operation, there is usually not much to do except revise the scar. To revise the scar the Plastic Surgeon has to physically cut out the scar tissue and start over again. In my opinion, non-surgical treatment options should be tried before the scar revision to make your scar look better.
In the end, talk to your Plastic Surgeon because most plastic surgeons take great pride in their work and want to give you the best result possible. Open and honest communication will prevent any misunderstandings that may give you a less than optimal appearing scar.
Dr. Roy Kim is a Plastic Surgeon in San Francisco, CA.
if you’d like to read the original article, please go to http://drkim.com/2010/09/16/how-to-get-a-beautiful-scar-after-surgery/ or http://www.drkim.com for further information or answers to other questions.
Article from articlesbase.com
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