Scar

Scar

by AgentX86 - 2020-12-24 17:48:39

As long as the incision is completely healed over, you should be able to use any sort of moisturizing cream on it. Many use aloe but it shouldn't matter much.  If you're having a checkup soon (you should be having one sometime in the next couple of weeks) you might wait and ask, to be sure.

Don't worry too much about what it looks like now.  Over the next few months it'll fade significantly.  I'm told a moisturizer helps but I didn't bother.  My sternotomy scar (pretty bad) overshadows the little PM scar so it doesn't matter.

It will fade

by Edouard - 2020-12-25 02:21:11

Give it time. Initially, your scar will be quite noticeable. You may want to wear it as a badge of honour. You had to face heart disease AND YOU WON!

That being said, your body will be working hard to incorporate that scar into your overall appearance. Over time, it will transform itself into a little line jutting out by a millimetre or so from your skin. It will take the colour of the surrounding area and become barely noticeable.

In the meantime, remember: YOU ARE A WINNER!

Happy Holidays - may the new year bring you HEALTH, happiness and prosperity (and perhaps a little COVID-19 vaccine with that).

healing

by Tracey_E - 2020-12-25 08:13:11

What it looks like now is nowhere close to how it will look when you are fully healed! Closed up is not fully healed.After about a year, mine have always ended up nearly invisible with very little effort on my part. A plastic surgeon told me she could sell me something expensive if it would make me feel better but really all it needs is to stay moisturized. She said lots of otc things will work- cocoa butter, aloe, vitamin e, coconut oil- just be sure it's all natural and doesn't have any preservatives or other chemicals. If it is closed, it is ok to start to moisturize.

Also, keep it out of the sun for the first year. I made that mistake once, didn't just get sun but got a sunburn. It still ended up very faded and blends in now, but it took a lot longer. 

Glad to hear it's working! That's the important part. 

silicone scar sheets

by cyborg_manifested - 2020-12-29 12:41:34

My brother is a cosmetic plastic surgeon and he recommended silicone scar sheets -- I've been using them for my sternotomy scar for the last 10 weeks (use them up to 12 weeks for best results) and honestly they've been awesome -  my scar was all gnarly and keloiding but now its flat and faint, though still visible. My bro said you should start using them after 2 weeks - i.e. as soon as the actual wound has closed. I plan to use them as soon as my ICD scar is ready (I'm not quite 2 weeks in yet). My bro also said not to use any creams for a few weeks more - using creams too early can cause infections. 

I'm also tiny and boney and concerned with how visible all this is, so I feel you!

Here is the silicone sheet brand I've been using: 

https://www.amazon.com/Aroamas-Professional-Silicone-C-Section-Drug-Free/dp/B07L6P7GPF/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=silicone+scar+sheets&qid=1609259771&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&smid=AJZ4MKSUPWVI4&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFHSVBGUjdBRVFWQiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRJZD1BMDA1NTYwM0IzNzNDWjMwSzBOWSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDE2MTkzMUdWM0Q1OVdTWE01SiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=