Shiny scar tissue after surgery to correct a functional deformity or other complication is no fun for most of us. Scar tissue is usually painless and not of concern (perhaps its location makes it easy to hide), but if you'd rather not see that ugly or painful scar tissue again, read on for information on scar tissue reduction.
What is scar tissue after surgery?
I have a habit of reading people's questions and ideas on online health and beauty forums to get our readers' attention and the thoughts of potential readers. It was during one of those "walks" on one of my favorite forums that I came across the questions. "What is scar tissue after surgery?"
Postoperative scar tissue is best described simply as an accumulation of fibrous tissue that accumulates in a wounded area (in this case, the surgical site) of the skin as part of the healing process. Scar tissue usually heals gradually until it eventually disappears, although most don't go away completely.
Scar tissue is normally made up of collagen, the type of protein found in normal skin, but the collagen in scar tissue usually differs from normal tissue in that it has a linear formation in one direction rather than basket tissue. . Formation of collagen, which is normal tissue.
What Causes Scar Tissue After Surgery?
Now that we know what scar tissue is, the next question almost naturally comes up: "What causes scar tissue after surgery?"
Surgical procedures often involve making incisions in the skin and other organs. The body naturally tries to heal this physical cut or wound by invading fibroblast cells from the surrounding area and then starting to build collagen, leading to the formation of scar tissue.
Collagen serves to strengthen the area where surgery has been performed while facilitating wound healing. Collagen build-up usually continues for about 3 months and is accompanied by increased blood supply to the site. This explains the red appearance of some scars.
Over time, the collagen in the scar tissue begins to break down and the blood supply begins to decrease and the scar tissue begins to break down. It is then replaced with normal tissue.
This describes a normal cycle of scar tissue, but in some cases excessive scar tissue builds up, leading to adhesion formation. These are bands of scar tissue that adhere to surrounding tissue and naturally hold separating organs and tissues together.
When this happens, the nerves can become pinched and causepainful scar tissue. Adhesions can also reduce range of motion and limit physiological function. Adhesions are often to blame for abdominal pain, back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, breathing difficulties, chronic pelvic pain and menstrual cramps, not to mention infertility.
Infected scar tissue after surgery
Healing scar tissue often becomes infected when postoperative care is not properly followed. You can always avoid such incidents by following the guidelines to the last word to avoid infection and ensure a speedy healing process, which in turn minimizes the risk and extent of scar tissue formation.
How to get rid of scar tissue after surgery
Scar tissue often occurs after surgery in the area where surgical incisions were made as part of the healing process. Scar tissue can form in the skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and can affect any part of the body. How to get rid of scar tissue after surgery:
medication and cortisone shots.: Medications are the first line of action to get rid of scar tissue. Pain relievers and painkillers are some of the medications used to treat pain associated with scar tissue. It is commonly used to treat acute scar tissue pain, but it can also be part of the treatment of severe scar tissue pain. The cortisone shot also often helps to calm the scar tissue.
Exercises:Stretching and flexibility exercises can also be used to help get rid of post-operative scar tissue. These help exercise and stretch injured tissue, improve overall mobility, and reduce pain. Exercise is a common part of physical therapy alongside massage.
Cryotherapy:This is basically a cold pressing of a scar tissue (using ice packs) which has been shown to have positive healing effects on the scar tissue.
therapies– Various therapies are also used to get rid of scar tissue and treat pain often associated with adhesions and vary from myofascial release, active release technique (ART) and the Graston technique.
Different therapies use different approaches. For example, myofascial release involves massaging the skin around the scar site and underlying tissue in slow motion and applying light pressure to break adhesions and treat scar tissue.
Some myofascial release patients report a sort of itchiness when a scar tissue (at adhesions) is released. Multiple treatment sessions may be required for complete healing of the scar tissue and a realistic expectation is 4-6 1 hour treatment sessions.
Your GP can make recommendations for chiropractors and other professionals who offer such therapies.
Operation– Surgical removal of scar tissue is commonly used to remove heavy scar tissue. There are manyoperative NarbenrevisionAvailable options. Talk to your doctor about the possibility of surgery to get rid of that pesky scar tissue.
Other ways to get rid of scar tissue include:
- Laser scar treatment
- Dermabrasion
- Microdermabrasion
- filler injections
- Acupuncture (useful for painful scar tissue)
Massaging scar tissue after surgery
Also known as scar mobilization, scar massage forms an important part of physical therapy, which is usually performed after surgery. It is often used to reshape healed scar tissue after surgery. Yes, I used the word healed because massaging a poorly healed scar can damage the scar tissue and significantly prolong the healing process.
In general, the scar should have completely closed with no scabs remaining, but you should speak to your surgeon to confirm this before beginning scar massage.
The physiotherapist usually performs the scar massage, but can also instruct you in the correct way of scar massage.
Healing of scar tissue after surgery
Someone recently asked me for advice on how to heal scar tissue after surgery. Well, cryotherapy and appropriate medication (e.g. painkillers or painkillers) can help to improve the healing process, but again, most therapies, including myofascial release, are only suitable for wounds that have healed. Surgery for new scar tissue is also generally not recommended.
Scar Tissue After Abdominal Surgery: Is It Permanent?
Is scar tissue after abdominal surgery usually permanent? Well, scar tissue isn't usually permanent and most will fade after a while. However, it is very unlikely that the scar tissue will disappear completely.
But if there is cause for concern, perhaps affecting your range of motion or being associated with pain, or if you would rather speed up the healing process, you may want to speak to your surgeon or GP about some of the treatment options and scars. Tissue management and treatment options we have highlighted in this article.
How to reduce scar tissue after surgery: prevention
There is always a risk of scar tissue forming after surgery, regardless of the skill of your surgeon and the location of the surgery. This is simply attributed to the fact that the surgery requires incisions through the skin.
Of course, the risk of more scarring is greater when the operation is performed by a less experienced surgeon, but the surgeon's experience has little bearing on actual scar tissue formation.
However, there are several ways to prevent and reduce scarring. Here's a quick guide on how to reduce (and of course prevent) scar tissue after surgery:
- Follow your surgeon's aftercare guidelines closely to prevent infection and ensure a speedy healing. Delayed healing is often attributed to an increased risk of scarring.
- Avoid smoking: This isn't the easiest thing to do, but it's a worthy sacrifice considering it can prolong the healing process. In fact, most plastic surgeons require you to quit smoking for a few weeks before they can operate on you.
- Stay away from alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.
- Eat the right diet and get enough protein, as protein is the building block for tissue healing. In particular, include shellfish, fish, poultry, and dairy in your diet.
- Stay well hydrated. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.
FAQs
What makes scar tissue go down? ›
Steroid injections.
Steroids are injected directly into the scar tissue to help decrease the itching, redness, and burning sensations that these scars may produce. Sometimes, the injections help to decrease the size of the scar and soften the scar tissue. Atrophy and skin discoloration are the main side effects.
Scar tissue is broken down within a deep tissue massage. A deep, firm pressure is used during a deep tissue massage aiming to get deeper within muscle fibres and tissues. A deep tissue massage breaks down adhesions and collagen fibres that can be caused as a result of scar tissue.
What shrinks scar tissue? ›Dermatologists may inject a corticosteroid solution directly into a hypertrophic scar or keloid, which may help reduce its size. Steroids break the bonds between collagen fibers, which reduces the amount of scar tissue beneath the skin.
Can scar tissue get smaller? ›Treatments can reduce a scar's size or appearance, but the scar will never completely go away. Some treatments prevent a scar from forming as a wound heals. Scar treatments include: Dermabrasion: A common acne scar treatment, dermabrasion removes the top layer of skin by gently “sanding” the skin.
Can you massage away scar tissue? ›While massaging can help you remodel your scar tissue, it's essential to only do so once the scar has matured. Massaging a scar when it's not fully healed can interrupt the healing process. It can also reopen the scar exposing it to bacteria and infection.
Does stretching break up scar tissue? ›Stretching — Your physical therapist may guide you through gentle stretches that help improve your flexibility and break up scar tissue.
Does vibration help scar tissue? ›Vibration can help with scars that are very sensitive, therapists use vibration to break up scar tissue. When introducing vibration for scar management, allow the patient to be in charge of doing the massage as they are able to identify if the vibration is too painful.
What softens scar tissue? ›You can use any type of over-the-counter cream such as Vaseline, cocoa butter or hand lotion for this. The tissue should be massaged in the direction of the scar for ten minutes twice a day. This is useful for 3-6 months or for as long as it seems to be helping.
How do you flatten scar tissue at home? ›Pressure and massage: One of the cheapest and most effective ways to help heal the scar is to apply pressure and massage to the area. You can use bandages or tape to apply pressure. Over time, it can help weaken the scar tissue and improve the appearance of the scar.
Does apple cider vinegar break down scar tissue? ›Apple cider vinegar comes from the fermented juice of apples and can be found easily in supermarkets. The acids in ACV may help reduce the appearance of scars by removing the damaged, outer layers of the skin and promoting regeneration. This process is often referred to as “chemical peeling.”
Does vitamin E help with scars? ›
Conclusions: This study shows that there is no benefit to the cosmetic outcome of scars by applying vitamin E after skin surgery and that the application of topical vitamin E may actually be detrimental to the cosmetic appearance of a scar.
Does scar tissue from surgery go away? ›Treatments can reduce a scar's size or appearance, but the scar will never completely go away. Some treatments prevent a scar from forming as a wound heals. Scar treatments include: Dermabrasion: A common acne scar treatment, dermabrasion removes the top layer of skin by gently “sanding” the skin.
Does scar tissue ever go away after surgery? ›Complete scar removal is not possible, but most scars will gradually fade over time. A number of treatments are available that may improve a scar's appearance and help make it less visible. If scarring is unsightly, uncomfortable or restrictive, treatment options may include: topical silicone gel or silicone gel sheets.
Can you get rid of internal scar tissue from surgery? ›Astym treatment is effective at reducing or eliminating internal scar tissue or adhesions. Once the scar tissue and adhesions are reduced or removed, stiffness and aches and pains often go away.
Can scar tissue from surgery be removed? ›Scars may be treated with a variety of different lasers, depending on the underlying cause of the scar. Lasers may be used to smooth a scar, remove the abnormal color of a scar, or flatten a scar.
What oil is best for massaging scar tissue? ›Lubrication. It's important to use a small amount of oil when massaging your scar tissue as this will keep the tissue pliable, making it easier to massage. Most people use baby oil, vitamin E oil, or simply lotion.