Believe it or not, there is ZERO hard scientific evidence backing scar management with creams, ointments, patches, lasers, retinol, steroids, and more. It's a 22.5 billion dollar industry (2022) for good reason...Most people want to avoid unsightly scars!
Your body's ability to heal an incision is largely determined by:
- Your genes
- Surgeon technique
So what to do?
- Pick a surgeon you trust, and who cares about what your scar looks like. Ask them about their technique!
- Follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions. Ask questions!
- MY RECOMMENDATIONS at 3 weeks post-op (EVIDENCE-BASED, BACKED BY SCIENCE):
- Initiate pressure therapy with a compression sleeve, sock, or bandage. Pressure helps regulate collagen synthesis, and is believed to decrease fibroblast activity, decreasing scar height.
- Apply petrolatum (41%) morning, noon, and night to your incision for 8 weeks. This ointment keeps the wound from drying out, speeding up healing.
- Start scar mobilization techniques with help of physical therapy at 4 weeks. Mechanical stimuli on a scar initiates mechanotransduction- cells sense a stimulus and convert it into biochemical signals, effectively influencing the cross-linking of collagen fibers. It helps increase the pliability of the skin, helping it to move and appear like "normal".
The BEST thing you can do to maximize your body's ability to heal is to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water. It will keep your cells happy and functioning properly.