Prevent and minimize scarring after Surgery

May 07, 2019

Prevent and minimize scarring after Surgery

Most people’s biggest concern after surgery is whether the procedure will leave a scar or not. Thankfully there are ways you can prevent this in ways you would be surprised to know. Of course, if the surgery was done by a less skilled surgeon, it may result in a greater degree of scarring, but many times the skill of the surgeon has no effect on the amount of scarring that takes place.

But before we go through those points, keep in mind that unfortunately there are factors that are inevitable from stopping you from getting a scar. These are the factors below:

Risk Factors you cannot change

Your age:
As we age, our skin becomes less elastic and becomes thinner. The result of these changes, along with sun exposure, smoking, exposure to the environment and other lifestyle issues, means that skin does not heal as well or as quickly as we age.

Your race:
Some races are more likely to scar than others. African-Americans are more likely to form hypertrophy and keloid scars. Fair-skinned people may find that their scars are more obvious than they would be with a darker complexion.

Genetic tendency to scar:
If your family (parents or sibling) tends to scar heavily, you are likely to do the same.

Size and Depth of your Incision:
A large incision is much more likely to leave a scar than a small incision. The deeper and longer the incision, the longer the healing process will take and the greater the opportunity for scarring.

How quickly your scar heals:
You may be one of the genetically blessed people who seem to heal magically, quickly, and easily with minimal scarring, or you may have skin that tends to heal slowly. How quickly you heal is a personal thing and can change with illness or injury.

What you need to do to prevent and minimize scarring

Here are some rules you should follow to speed up the recovery of your wound and minimize/prevent scarring:

Eat more protein!

Eat a balanced healthy diet with more protein intake. Protein makes up the building blocks of healing skin, so it is essential to provide your body with adequate protein such as chicken, pork, fish, seafood or beef to allow your skin to heal.

Drink lots of water!

Dehydration happens when you are not taking in enough fluids. In severe cases, this can cause electrolyte imbalances and heart issues. In less severe cases, you will feel thirsty and your overall health will be diminished.

Prevent Infection

Always keep your cut, scrape or other skin injury clean. Gently wash the area with mild soap and water to keep out germs and remove debris.

Bandage Care

Change your bandage daily to keep the wound clean while it heals. If you have skin that is sensitive to adhesives, try a non-adhesive gauze pad with paper tape.

No Smoking/Drinking

Smoking not only increases your risk for scars but it can also slow your healing process. Alcohol dehydrates both the body and skin, which decreases your overall state of health and resulting with a higher risk of infection. While your wound is healing, avoid alcohol and focus on non-caffeinated beverages.

Don't over eat

If you are overweight, you may be at greater risk for scarring. Why? The fat under your skin can work against your surgeon's best efforts to close your incision seamlessly.