Masectomy Scars

My scars are hardly noticeable as they faded away fairly quickly. What is most noticeable is not having nipples. I didn't use anything at all to reduce the look or minimize their redness. Have you looked into mastectomy tattoos? I'm not a tattoo person but I would love one of these beautiful pieces of art on my chest to distract from the negative. However my lymphadema specialist said this is a terrible idea, so had to give it up. Is this a possibility for you?

Amy

I am considering a uni mastectomy with no reconstruction.  Can anyone tell me how high the scars are after surgery. Thanks.

Thanks Janet -- but how high or near the collarbone are the scars?

I am a Uni, no recon and I used the Silicone strips for my Umx and then for the further revision surgery I had to remove a Dog Ear. The ones I used were called Scar FX and I purchased the 22" strip, cut it in half so I had 2 going at once. I wore to bed every night for months and my scars are pale and flat. I also massaged my chest with essential oils in a a carrier oil, every day and did the stretching exercises to help prevent adhesions. That may all sound a bit OTT, but I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and didn't want any other pain to deal with. I also wanted pale flat scars.

The reason I used the scar strips for this surgery was because I had a big hand surgery across all my knuckles for RA years ago and my hand surgeon got me onto the strips right after the surgery.,My scar faded very quickly, was completely flat, with no redness. I know a lot of Plastic surgeons use them to prevent redness and to flatten facial scars, as do burns Doctors.

Ariom, when did you start using the strips- how long after surgery? Also would any oil work for massage? I was thinking of emu oil which I used during rads-also how do you massage, circular motion? Thank you- having MX tues and trying to prepare!

I had a mastectomy, DIEP reconstruction and a breast reduction on the other side, all at the same time. For the first time my body reacted badly to all the dressings and taping, by burning and blistering. Because of that my scarring was more severe than it should have been. I was referred to the burns unit where I was given silicone strips that I had to cut to length and shape. I took them off at night, washed them and hung them up to dry. The physio at the hospital told me to massage the scars, any cream or oil will do, as it's the act of massaging that helps not what you do it with. I decided after 9 months that I had had enough of the strips and would be happy with however my scars were going to look.

There was a definite improvement and time has helped too. I don't think some of my scars are ever going to fade completely but I have developed a better attitude towards them. My daughter did my areola tattooing which was an interesting mother-daughter bonding session!

slv, I started the massage with the essential oils in the carrier oil around the dressing and under my arm straight after surgery and the strips, when the incision was healed, so quite a few weeks after the surgery. I applied mine at night and used micropore tape to hold the ends in place.

The only reason I used the essential oil blend is because I have been using these oils which are an analgesic blend, for Rheumatoid Arthritis for about 15 years. The essential oils are antibacterial and the carrier is sweet almond macadamia and wheatgerm oils, so very moisturizing and great for the skin. It certainly isn't necessary to use this kind of oil, I sometimes use virgin coconut oil too. Emu Oil would be great, because of the anti inflammatory action.I should also mention that I also had Mondors cording, which needed to be massaged, along with the stretching exercises which I started as soon as I left the Hospital and did religiously 4 times each day for months.

I started off really gently with circular motion and built up to a firm massage. I also went to a massage therapist who does myofascial release. It was tender at first , but she was great and I have no adhesions.

I realize this may sound a bit anal, to have done all this, but my Mother had BC in '94 and she had quite a number of issues with pain and probably adhesions and LE, because we weren't really aware of what we could do to prevent or improve these things after her radical Umx.

I have RA and didn't want to risk anything that could cause more pain, or to affect my range of motion, so this regime worked for me.

I'm just a little over a year out from my recon and my scars are still deep and purple.  Sounds like the other ladies here have had better luck.  Hopefully mine will start to fade soon !   Sounds like between the sheets and creams you're on your way.  I Hadn't heard of those myself.

Hello Lily, nice to see you. How are you doing?

Tessa, another one that some here have used, is a vitamin E capsule, just use a pin to break the capsule and squeeze on to skin a couple of times a day.