Scars are an inevitable part of the surgery experience, and you may wonder how your scar will look after you recover. Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and mastopexy (breast lift) patients are especially interested in their ultimate scar appearance, given the significant incisions involved in these procedures.
Dr. K is an authority on wound healing and tissue engineering, giving her specialized insight regarding surgical scarring. To answer your questions about scars after surgery, let’s look at what factors affect healing and what you can do to improve the process.
Why surgery scarring happens
Scarring is possible whenever the skin is damaged or opened, developing when fibrous tissues in the deepest layer of skin are damaged. The incision becomes water-tight in 24 hours and is “healed” two to three weeks after surgery, becoming a scar. Scarred tissue can also undergo a process known as remodeling, where large clumps of cells are loosened and replaced with adequately aligned cells.
While some scar tissue may never entirely go away, scars are not inherently permanent and often lighten or improve over time. For example, a surgical incision that is controlled and appropriately closed will heal to a thin, almost invisible line for most patients.
Factors that affect surgical scar healing
Several factors affect the quality of a surgical scar; some are technical in that they result from the surgeon's skill at the time of surgery, while some are intrinsic to the patient, including genetics.
As with the surgical result, the scar's quality depends on your plastic surgeon's skill and technique. They must:
- Use minimal tension to put together the skin
- Match the edges of the incision precisely
- Use a multilayered closure to distribute tension evenly
However, significant factors in the formation of scar tissue are intrinsic patient factors, such as:
- Genetics
- Ethnicity
- Skin pigmentation
- History of forming a thick or raised scar
- Skin elasticity
What you can do to heal surgical scars
As the patient, you can help reduce scar formation and accelerate healing for a more cosmetically appearing scar. Here are some tips for healing scars after surgery:
- Stop smoking, as nicotine and smoking decrease microcirculation to the wound, so nutrients and oxygen do not reach the incision as effectively
- Sleep and rest, as avoiding exhaustion and getting enough rest will help your body heal
- Eat healthy foods and increase your protein to help raise essential nutrients and healing factors
- Avoid movements that may risk pulling your incision apart and reopening your wound
- During the first year after your surgery, keep your scar away from sunlight by wearing protective clothing or using at least a 35-SPF sunscreen
- Practice good wound care to prevent infection and reduce your chance of scarring
- Follow your surgeon's instructions for showering, such as using a waterproof dressing for the first few weeks when you are showering
- Avoid soaking in a bath or putting soap on your wound until your incision is healed
- Take care when patting your incision dry
Core Aesthetics: the choice for superior surgical scar healing
Dr. Elizabeth Kiwanuka, the founder of Core Aesthetics, obtained her Ph.D. in wound healing and tissue engineering. The consummate expert has been featured in multiple articles and publications related to scar healing, including:
- The external microenvironment of healing skin wounds
- Assessing the quality of healing in skin: a review of available methods and devices
- Harnessing growth factors to influence wound healing
Dr. K combines state-of-the-art skin-tightening and muscle-building techniques to restore youthfulness and grace to her patients’ physiques while reducing suboptimal scarring. Above all, she prioritizes her patients’ individuality and ensures they receive treatments that help them reach their goals, leaving her office looking and feeling their best.
To learn more about how Dr. K can help you heal scars after surgery, contact us to schedule a consultation.
