How to make the postoperative scar unobtrusive? Removal and treatment
Often, when patients with serious illnesses are offered a choice between conservative and surgical treatment, they choose the first option. The paradox is that such a decision can be made even if the operation is uncomplicated and gives almost complete guarantees of its successful conduct. Why are people so afraid of surgical intervention? One of the most common causes indicated in anonymous surveys is a postoperative scar. Indeed, a successfully performed operation will eventually be forgotten, as well as the initial health problems, and an ugly scar remains on the body for life. Can I remove it?
How do scars appear?
For sure, all people who have performed operations or sewed deep stab wounds, noticed that after suturing there are more visible scars, rather than from ordinary( even deep) cuts. And yet, the most noticeable scars remain after the incisions for internal operations. So why do these scars appear and what do they consist of?
When healing deep wounds in the damaged area, connective tissue grows and accumulates. It is from it that the postoperative scar is visible to the naked eye. An interesting fact: experts recommend evaluating the type and appearance of the scar not earlier than a year after the surgical intervention. At this time, the scar is considered ripe and it is possible to decide whether it is necessary to improve its appearance and in what way it is best done.
Species of scars
Before talking about removing the scars left after the operation, you need to figure out what they can be. If the memory of the surgical intervention of the patient is left without a relief whitish or flesh colored stripes, we can say with confidence that these are normotrophic scars. Usually the issue of their removal does not even rise, because such scars are almost invisible, and over the years they can hardly be discerned at all.
Much more anxiety is caused by atrophic scars, visually they resemble stretch marks, striae. Looks like these scars are flabby, and usually they seem to be pressed into the skin. Hypertrophic scars differ in pink color and protrude on the surface of the epidermis. The skin around them, as a rule, looks damaged. But there is also good news: the appearance of such scars can unexpectedly change within two years after the formation.
Keloid postoperative scar is not a sight for the faint of heart. It usually forms, if tissue regeneration passes with some problems and complications. Features of such a scar - an unusual shape and bright pink or violet-cyanotic color. The scar is very tight to the touch, and its surface is smooth. The scar can be located at the level of the skin or slightly protruding.
When treatment is urgently needed: what is the ligature fistula of a postoperative scar?
The final stage of any surgical operation is suturing. Often, for this purpose a ligature is used - a special thread, which is used to bandage blood vessels. With normal healing of the seam no problems and complications are observed. If, during the application of the suture, an infection has been infiltrated, granulomas of the postoperative cicatrix and ligature fistula may form. This pathology is considered a complication of the surgical intervention.
Ligature fistula is called inflammation in the place of suturing the wound with a ligature. Granuloma is a seal in this zone, consisting of a thread and a cluster of cells of different types. In fact, we are talking about suppuration of the seam caused by non-observance of sanitary and hygienic norms at the end of the operation and the non-sterility of the thread itself. If there is a suspicion that a fistula of a postoperative scar has formed, the patient must be rushed to the hospital urgently.
Symptoms of this pathology are quite bright. This appearance of seals on the seam and in its immediate vicinity, redness and swelling of the tissues. Often also, there can be a discharge of pus from the wound, inflammation and an increase in the patient's body temperature to 39 degrees. If at least some of these symptoms are observed, you can not postpone treatment to a doctor. Remember that ligature fistula can always lead to the development of an abscess and a lethal outcome.
The main thing is the proper healing of
A good surgeon will tell you about the rules for taking care of a fresh scar immediately upon discharge from the hospital. Today, there is a mass of medications that can stimulate the process of correct tissue regeneration and resorption of the scar. Most often they are released in the form of ointments, for example "Kontraktubeks", "Mederma", "Pyrogenal" and "Dermatics".Virtually all of these tools can be used immediately after scar formation. It is important to apply the ointment regularly and follow the instructions for use. Often such superficial medication results in incredible results. Scars become practically invisible and literally dissolve before the eyes.
What do we offer beauty salons?
Patients who wish to get rid of post-operative scars regularly come to the aesthetic medicine clinics and beauty salons. One of the most gentle methods is mechanical grinding and micro-grinding. You can go through this procedure no earlier than six months after the appearance of the scar. It is important to understand that this method will have a result only if the scar is small and not too deep. For example, grinding is great for removing traces from careless extrusion of acne.
If you are concerned about a postoperative scar not too large, it is worth considering the procedure for cryodestruction. It is about the treatment of cells of connective tissue with liquid nitrogen. The same method allows you to get rid of warts and papillomas. After cryodestruction, the treated tissues die off naturally and after a while they are replaced by healthy skin cells.
Laser removal
The laser has long been used successfully in cosmetology and medicine. The merits of such devices are mass. The laser beam is point and non-contacting the selected tissue site. However, today laser procedures in the removal of scars give only a cosmetic effect. Even the most modern machines can not destroy the scar tissue. But to make a scar a lot lighter and tidier you can. However, be prepared for the fact that you will have to undergo a whole course of procedures, and this treatment option is not recommended for all types of scars.
Plastic Surgery
The most radical and most effective way to improve the appearance and treatment options for many diseases today are considered surgical interventions. If the scar is too large and noticeable, and since its formation more than 2 years have passed, it makes sense to think about plastic surgery. Depending on the type of scar and its size / location, the doctor will suggest the most effective option.
How to remove a postoperative scar if it is large and is located on the visible part of the body? In this case, the doctor can suggest a variant of excision of connective tissue and the application of a cosmetic subcutaneous suture to the site of the incision. If the scar is large and very deep, and also differs flabbiness, it can be removed by cutting completely. After the operation, the surface of the skin will not look as perfect as in the previous version, but positive changes will definitely become visible.
Postoperative scars: photos before and after. Is it worth treating scars?
It is worth noting that the treatment of scars left after operations is a pleasure not cheap. Even the simplest healing ointments are sometimes quite expensive, what can we say about plastic surgery and salon methods. In addition, the treatment of postoperative scars will never help to forget about them completely. Usually, even with complex therapy, traces of scars remain. If you decide to join the struggle for the beauty of your skin, remember: it is impossible to completely remove the scar from the operation today. So is it worth trying to cure it and make it less noticeable? This is a personal matter, it all depends on what inconvenience the scraper feels and how often he thinks about this particular feature. If the scar prevents you from enjoying life and being happy, trying to get rid of it is definitely worth it.