kinesiology tape for scars?

[amd]

http://physicaltherapy.about.com/od/Kinesiology-Tape/fl/Use-Kinesiology-Tape-to-Treat-Scar-Tissue.htmi all,

I am two months postop DI and am looking into scar care. I did silicone strips or tape so far, but I am working with a massage therapist who recommended kinesio taping cor scars.  She said her clients have had good results from it.


Here's an article about it: oops, link posted above.

I am giving it a shot and will keep you posted. Just curious if anyone has tried it.

[amd]

Just an update about the kind of scar taping I have been getting done. It's early, but it seems to be lightening my scars some.

I am 11 weeks postop DI with nipple grafts by Garramone.

Here is my chest before the taping:


Here's the tape as it looks while applied:



And here are the incisions after wearing the tape 4-5 days:

[KamTheMan]

Hey man great post. The tape does seem to be helping already. I'm guessing the tape helps pull the skin together to allow the incisions to be more relaxed during healing. Is that right? Regardless, the is a great suggestion. Especially for guys that have to move around a lot after surgery. Keep us updated!

[FTMax]

Looks good man! How long does it take you to put the tape on, if you don't mind my asking?

[captains]

Dude, not to be creepy, but your nipples look amazing.

[Bimmer Guy]

Dude, not to be creepy, but your nipples look amazing.

Personally, I think areolas/nipples are one of Garramone's strong suits.

[amd]

@Kam: I don't actually know how it exactly works, but it's a little different from other kinds of taping. I got it done by a massage therapist who also does Manual Lymph Drainage and is trained in scar massage. I think the way she applies the tape, it actually pulls the skin up and apart a little bit. The idea is that it makes space for the "lymph" to circulate under the skin, which is part of the healing process. Other people use that really colorful kinesiotape that you see on some athletes, but the therapist I saw said it doesn't stay on as long. She orders the little hashtag-looking tape tabs straight from Germany.  She said it's less uncomfortable than doing scar massage to break up tissue adhesion.

@ftmax: I actually got it applied by a massage therapist, which makes it a little more expensive than some tape options. It takes 10-15 min. Here is a description of it and some other pictures:

http://chicagomassageworks.org/LymphTapingScarTherapy.html

@captains: LOL! Your deadpan delivery cracked me up. And thanks.

@Brett: I agree

[Alexthecat]

So you shower in it?

Price ish?

[amd]

So you shower in it?

Price ish?

Yes, you shower in it. She said depending where the scar is, it can stay on 10-15 days (or even once on a calf scar, three weeks). It has stayed on me for 4-5 days though (got it put on Monday night, took it off Saturday). I might be able to leave it on longer, but the tape edges peel up by then, and I am honestly too curious to see if there's improvement to wait. I might try to wait and see if it does more. She said if it stays on even three days, though, it's worth doing.

Price-wise: the tape itself is maybe 50 cents a little square? I am not sure. The main cost is having her apply it. She charges $20 per taping for the time and supplies together.  If it actually works like she says it will, though, it could be worth it. She said she taped someone with a mastectomy scar that was ten years old, and even that long after the fact, it really freed it up and loosened it. I am waiting to see if it really helps the appearance as much too or not. Sorta sounds too good to be true, which is why I am tracking my progress, if any.

[Alexthecat]

I will be getting this done at the beginning of January with Rock Tape which is a stronger form of kinesiology tape at my local Healthsource (chiropractors/massage office). They say it is about $20 a roll and I will be able to get multiple applications with that roll. I'll be sure to take pictures to see how well it works. It will be almost exactly one year since surgery then so it's a good time frame to start it.

[amd]

I will be getting this done at the beginning of January with Rock Tape which is a stronger form of kinesiology tape at my local Healthsource (chiropractors/massage office). They say it is about $20 a roll and I will be able to get multiple applications with that roll. I'll be sure to take pictures to see how well it works. It will be almost exactly one year since surgery then so it's a good time frame to start it.

Definitely keep us posted, Alex! And good luck.
Update on my end:
I did the little hashtag tape for about 3 weeks, but I have been taking a break for a couple weeks. With the holidays, I couldn't make time to get it done, but I was also having a lot of skin flaking and peeling off my scars when I took the tape off. Reading about skin healing, this could have been the dead top layers sloughing off, but it's also cold out now, so I thought it might just be really dry skin.  My massage therapist said it can work fine even if it's on and off (on a week, off a couple), so I will likely go back soon. My scars are definitely fading and getting flatter, but I don't honestly know exactly what has helped most. I will put updated pictures in the recov thread when I get a chance.

[Bimmer Guy]

Definitely keep us posted, Alex! And good luck.
Update on my end:
I did the little hashtag tape for about 3 weeks, but I have been taking a break for a couple weeks. With the holidays, I couldn't make time to get it done, but I was also having a lot of skin flaking and peeling off my scars when I took the tape off. Reading about skin healing, this could have been the dead top layers sloughing off, but it's also cold out now, so I thought it might just be really dry skin.  My massage therapist said it can work fine even if it's on and off (on a week, off a couple), so I will likely go back soon. My scars are definitely fading and getting flatter, but I don't honestly know exactly what has helped most. I will put updated pictures in the recov thread when I get a chance.

Yes, the problem is that time can never be taken out as a variable when looking at improvements.

I'm glad you have been happy with your progress.  Looking forward to pics in the Recovery thread!

[lionheart]

When did you start using it? Before or after the incisions started to scar?

[Bimmer Guy]

When did you start using it? Before or after the incisions started to scar?

He said 11 weeks post op.