Scar Care - tape or gel

@badkitty

I would recommend checking with your care team on what they suggest and when it is safe to use products on your scar.

I had few small scars after my breast surgery and did not do anything special with them, guess I did not care how looked when healed. But currently have small incision healing on my face (1 1/2 inch, had about 4 stiches). The stiches' were removed last week. I am concern about how that looks once healed so I am using products to help heal with a minimal scar.

My plastic surgeon recommendations is:
Do not cover unless outside and dusty or windy and could get dirty and lead to infection. For scars under clothing, need to make sure nothing is rubbing or irritating it.
Contact provider if any sign of redness or infection.
As heals, use vaseline, non-scented lotion, aquaphor or similar product
Massage incision from beginning to end, 10 passes three times a day

This article talks about massaging breast surgery scar:
https://www.stephenmcculley.co.uk/resource-centre/what-to-expect-in-recovery/massage-scar-tissue-after-breast-surgery/
In addition, lymphatic massage is a form of massage to help move the fluid away from congested areas towards healthy lymph nodes where it can be drained away more effectively. In my case, seeing incession is on face, I massage lymph nodes in face / neck. You can google Lymphatic massage for more info.. Or ask your care team to recommend a Lymphatic therapists to show you how to correctly do lymphatic massage.

If I may ask, what type of breast surgery did you have and where is your scar?

I have used the tape but apply cocoa butter on the scar. I was told about it when my daughter had open heart surgery as a baby. I applied it religiously and you can barely see her scar. I am a year and a half out and mine look really good although I still have a small area that has some red in it. I haven't been as diligent with myself as I was with my daughter.

I had an area under my R arm 3 weeks after bilateral mastectomy that had a couple of stitches that opened up. Probably due to my reaching in to get clothes from my front load washing machine too soon after surgery. So be careful of that if any of you have a front load washer. I was being careful not to reach high but didn't even think of not reaching in that washer too soon. I healed it with saline solution and pads as my surgeon's nurse instructed. It healed well. But it left a bumpy scar. Then when I went for my 3 month check up the provider told me to try Mederma cream on it once every day. So I did and the scar flattened out pretty well after a couple of months and it looks much better now. So Mederma worked for me. Sending love and wellness wishes to all on this site❤️

Thank you for the suggestions. My areola was removed. I am healing well and think the scar will heal neatly except for one spot that is bumped up and reddened. That spot I would like to help along.

My doctor recommended anything topical with Vitamin E.

I was given silicone tape to fix my, pulled pursestring looking mastectomy scar. Others have had success with their types of scars with Mederma strips. I was told by a breast cancer plastic surgeon that certain kinds of mastectomy scars that are left after complete healing, can be helped, either by surgery or cosmetic dermatology laser, that would be paid for by insurance.

I used scaraway silicone that you leave on until it falls off on a discectomy scar. I have developed keloids in the past. Then switched to silicone gel. I also used drema-e gel for discoloration. All worked well. If you do keloid you can get kenalog injections. Which helped a keloid on my back. I plan to start with scar tape on my breast scars.