A question for those guys out there that have had top surgery.  How long did you apply a scar reducing treatment to your scars?  How long did it take to noticeable decrease the visibility of the scar line?

I'm 8 weeks post-op and I'm just curious how long I might have to keep applying product to my scars.  They are still noticeable, which I expected.

Hey man, the healing process is different for everyone. I use scar treatment for about 2 months after that I started to forget or just not feel like putting anything on my scars. I'm 6 months post-op and I've notice my scars fading a lot the past 2 months. I'm sure you watch youtube channels. I have posted my update videos for my chest every month since my surgery and will be posting my 6 month video in about a week. if you want to check out my scars and my healing process you can check out my channel (itsmeparker) good luck man! hope you heal well!

Parker

I never used scar treatment necessarily, just vitamin E.  I applied it several times per day for the first few months and eventually just forgot to do it.  Shortly after my surgery my chest hair started to really grow in, so I have some natural camouflage helping me out.

Quote from: JuniorGreen73 on December 07, 2010, 01:10:11 PM
A question for those guys out there that have had top surgery.  How long did you apply a scar reducing treatment to your scars?  How long did it take to noticeable decrease the visibility of the scar line?

I'm 8 weeks post-op and I'm just curious how long I might have to keep applying product to my scars.  They are still noticeable, which I expected.

What are you using on your scars? Silicone generally is the best thing to use. Instead of buying the expensive sheets, get a silicone-based lubricant and apply it to the scars twice daily. It is the same thing and much cheaper!

I've been using a liquid scar treatment, twice daily.

I know the scars will take a while to fade, just curious on if guys continued using stuff on them for more than a couple months.

Thanks for all the replies!

My stepmom is a physical therapist and she treats scars with a special massage. She used it on her own scar (about six inches long on her leg from surgery) and you could hardly see it within a few months.
You take your index finger and rub over the scar quickly, with a lot of pressure in an up and down motion. I guess it helps break up the scar tissue. I've been trying it and it seems to be working well.

I'm still in the early healing stages so I use a special cream the doctor gave me. Soon I'll start using cocoa butter and liquid vitamin E.

Like Logan said my doctor also recommends massaging the scar because that does break up scar tissue. Be sure you incisions are healed shut before doing that.

Then later on still I'm going to use those silicone scar strips. You have to use those for several months. I've heard from many, many people those strips really work.

I'm just over 6 months post-op now and I still put silicone sheets on my scars. I also massage the scar tissue to break it up, as well, as Logan described. I do that in the shower with soap to lubricate the skin, or with lotion later in the day. I wasn't using the sheets at first, but now that I am my scars are really starting to improve significantly. Prior to that I was using a cream with silicone in it and it was okay but didn't work nearly as well as the full-contact strips for me.

Quote from: trnsboi on December 09, 2010, 10:53:04 PM
What are you using on your scars? Silicone generally is the best thing to use. Instead of buying the expensive sheets, get a silicone-based lubricant and apply it to the scars twice daily. It is the same thing and much cheaper!

Does any one know if this is actually true?

Are there any specific brands that any of you noticed that work better? I hear a lot about bio oil but not sure if it just an expensive name and they're all the same ->-bleeped-<-.

I'm a big, big fan of vitamin E.  I got vitamin E from the vitamin section of the store...I just opened the lil capsules and put the oil on. One of the biggest factors I found was not raising your arms too early! Its hard because folks have to go back to work and stuff but if you can, keep your arms down a bunch at first!

I've been using cocoa butter lotion, liquid vitamin E and Aquaphor twice a day and think that the scars are healing well. I do some massive massaging too each day. I've started testing the silicon strips with my scars where the drains were inserted and I've seen quick improvement.

I used Kelo-Cote for a full 3 months.  Did it help?  I don't know. I have other scars that took years to fade; I am now >2 yrs post op top surgery and my scars are fading but still visible.  I wish I grew some chest hair to cover them but no such luck yet.  Belly hair, leg hair, facial hair, yes, but no chest hair.

I guess I would rather try something than not on the chance it will work.  Kelo-Cote was suggested by Dr. Brownstein and he provided a small sample tube.  The larger tube I bought cost approx. $80.  Expensive yes but cheap compared to the cost of surgery.


Jay

Scars are sooo different for everyone.  For instance, some people get the simplest cut and it's a white scar, for life.  Others, get surgery scars and are left with a simple line, or a very thick red line for life.  It's soo varied for everyone.  Different things also work differently.  The fact remains you can choose to use one or many things, and give them all a few weeks to work, and use them properly while also taking care of your skin (avoid lots of sun / harsh cleansers, etc.).  If one treatments seems to have hit a brick wall, try something else.  Sometimes simple things like Vitamin E and Cocoa Butter work amazing for some.  Other times, Mederma or Bio Oil can be better for others.  Some crappy cases, none of this works and they are stuck or seek laser treatments.

My aunt who has had multiple surgeries, always uses Vitamin E.  Her scars are no longer able to be noticed by touch, but have color differentiation.  It's weird!  So far it's too early for me to try scar treatment as I'm still healing for another week.  But, we'll see.  I wish you luck.  Patience, persistence, and observation will work best. =)

I know my surgeon told me that if down the line I'm not pleased with the scarring there are things she can do in-office to help. I didn't ask any details since I still have some healing up to do.

There are also cosmetic tattooists who work on reducing the appearance of scars. I've seen some results on scars and they can do an excellent job. Does anyone know of a case where a guy had that done to his top surgery scars? I'm curious on results.