Skin S.O.S. - Scar Remedies

Kimberlee

You might find help with your concerns about prosthetics at a topic called,  "Living Without Reconstruction after a Mastectomy"...you can find it on the Forum list at the top of the screen.

so sorry you are having to join this discussion site but you came to the right place for support

take care

You're welcome, Kathy.

Not to go OT, but Kimberlee, I'm not sure why you say you're not a candidate for reconstruction, and perhaps that's your choice.  But if by any chance it's because one plastic surgeon told you that you're not a candidate, and you truly wanted recon, please know that there are some brilliant vascular PSs around the country that many of us have used who do incredible reconstruction (both immediate & delayed) from natural body tissue (tummy, hip, thigh, etc.).  Many women here can share their stories with you if by any chance no recon isn't your choice, but just something you were told by a PS with limited abilities.        Deanna

Well I finally thought of a way to hide my LD scars and the upper scars where the skin was taken for the areolas (which is still red after almost 3 yrs).....I went for a consult today with a tattooist...I am getting them tattooed!!!  nothing heavy...very delicate...something I came up with and  presented it to her and she liked the idea.  I am soooooo excited about this.  I will let you know how it turns out....

My husband suffers from keloid type scarring.  He went to acupuncture for a back problem, and the doctor surrounded his scars with needles.  I was shocked to see how flat they became.

as of right now it is a no go getting tattooed....I went for a second opinion about tattooing the scars and was told that my scars were not "dense" enough...the ink would just run under them and would not look good.  I was told to give them more time or to ask my PS if anything can be done to make them dense.  I go for my checkup in July so will talk to my PS about it....I really don't think he will know what to do.  So I guess the tattoos are not going to happen. I was very disappointed.  I may try the acupuncture and see how that goes...worth a try....

I have a couple small lipo spots (1/2") that are red but not raised, 2 red slightly raised JP drain sites and 2 mastectomy incisions (approximately 1 1/2-2") that are flat but red. I will have 4 additional lipo sites that will need treatment once they are healed.

I am willling to pay for something that works. Thoughts? TY!!

Hi  this product seems to be working for me because part of my scar is almost completely gone, and the rest is fading. My biopsy scar  looked like I was slashed- it was so ugly it was painful for me to see it- it was red and thick and jagged

Its been  8 months and I still have aways to go but there is big improvement with that said I 

use "Scar Guard" you brush it on comes in .5 oz bottles for about $30.00 lasts along time.  It really has improved.

Anyway I imagine that I will be using it for many more months but I am seeing results- tried mederma, and two others..

Hope this helps and good luck

Chocolate

Linda- I just wanted to let you know that I think you picked a pretty painful spot for your first tattoo! I have one on my wrist, and while I was getting it done a big burly guy with 2 full sleeves came in and told me even he wouldn't get the wrist part touched up because it was too painful!  I would imagine an ankle would be about the same.    Obviously, they hurt no matter what, but maybe the back wouldn't be as bad?  Although I suppose there's no way to know until you try...  Anyway, just thought I'd share.    Yours sounds really cool by the way!

That's gotta be EXTRA awful when you're not expecting it!!  Yikes!!

Thanks Deanna!!

I am a year out from my BMX w/ TEs, and four months out from my exchange to permanent saline implants.

In the very beginning, my BMX scars were awful - thick, uneven, and puckered. Because I was getting fills every two weeks, I zipped my lip and just let the expansions take place.

Slowly, the scars started to heal, and by the time I would have said anything, it was time for my exchange. I knew the PS would be going in through the same BMX incisions, so I figured he'd make everything nice at that time.

After exchange, I learned he only used the outer third of my incisions to remove and replace the TEs. The original scars had faded and flattened to a pencil-thin, silvery line. The new scars, though, were quite red and swollen.

I asked him about scar massage and applying lotions, and he said to wait. He had done a lot of pocket work at exchange, and there was lots of internal suturing and healing that needed to take place.

He was also a firm believer in putting NOTHING on open incisions...even things like Neoeporin or Bacitracin could contribute to infections. I was allowed to shower but not bathe until all my incisions had completely healed.

I asked him what products I should be using to minimize scarring. He said to thank my parents - that good healing of scars is pretty much the luck of the genetic draw. Some people have scars that fade, others don't. He said not to waste tons of money on products that often made promises they couldn't keep.

So here I am, four months out from Exchange, thinking how well I'm healing, and all of a sudden, I find a red bump on Righty's suture line...which oozes yellow when I press on it, and out comes a small yellow lump, leaving a tiny gaping hole!!!!

Talk about freaked out!!!!! 

Turns out, it was the Attack of the Spitting Suture!!! Apparently, a dissolving suture can be treated like a foreign object by the body, and becomes inflamed or infected, and gradually works its way out... taking the path of least resistance. In my case, it was my incision line!

I immediately emailed the PS, described what happened, told him I'd used hydrogen peroxide and alcohol and Bacitracin, and asked what else I should do. He confirmed that it was a "spitting suture" and that if the redness didn't go away, to come in and see him.

Now I'm kind of starting over with healing these stupid incision lines!!!

(It kind of looked like one was starting on Lefty, but using the hydrogen peroxide, Bacitracin, and alcohol made the redness go away.)

Sheesh!!!

I highly recommend you call your PS and ask these questions. S/he should be telling you.

As far as silicon strips I just used the ScarAway brand.