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April 27, 2022
Immediately after surgery, healing is the main focus. The last thing you need to worry about is how your scar will look months or years from now. While Scar Protocol is highly recommended to start as soon as possible after surgery (usually the earliest it can be started is about one week after), there are various other ways that you can promote optimal healing of your incision scar. Here are 7 ways to promote ideal scar healing.
It is well known that sunlight and UV rays damage the skin. A healing scar is extremely sensitive and can burn and damage easier. Not only can this cause added discomfort, but it can also hinder and slow the healing of your incision scar. Therefore, keeping your scar covered as much as possible and using sunscreen when appropriate are the best ways to prevent sun damage to your scar.
Depending on your surgery, your surgeon may already advise you to sleep or even stay in certain positions. For example, after a tummy tuck, patients must remain hunched for one to two weeks to prevent putting pressure on the incision. If the incision pops open or experiences constant stress, it will heal less optimally and slower.
As previously mentioned, it is important to protect your scar from the sun. Whether that entails putting sunblock on the scar or changing up your normal clothing, it is worth it to obtain a less visible scar. For facial scars, a shady hat can help block out the sun and prevent damage.
Your surgeon will likely already advise you to rest and take it easy. After a few days to weeks, you may be able to do some household activities or even light exercise. However, it is important not to exercise the body part of the fresh scar. This can lead to stress, tension, or inflammation. Not only can this be uncomfortable for you, it can cause damage to the scar and essentially start the healing process over.
Smoking and drinking should be avoided before and after surgery due to an increased risk of various complications. However, smoking and drinking can also impact the look of scars and affect healing. Smokers heal slower, tend to see more redness, may be more prone to keloids and hypertrophic scars, and tend to develop more scar tissue overall. While the effects of drinking tend to be less intense, it can increase many complications and issues that could interfere with scar healing.
Once you reach a certain stage of wound healing, some light massaging can help soothe inflammation and promote better healing. The light pressure helps the lymphatic system work more effectively and efficiently. It may even help induce a collagen response. This is easy to incorporate into the application of Scar Protocol.
Instead of taking the usually reactive approach to scarring–aka treating scars AFTER they form–get your Scar Protocol kit before your surgery so that you can be prepared and get on the path to optimal scar healing as soon as possible.
