I tell everyone to come back at 3 weeks for a free scar check. Almost noone ever does unless they are a scar repair. But its mainly to remind everyone that #1. all scars get worse for 6 weeks and then improve. #2. a bit of gentle massage just with the fingertips, a minute prior to each meal for 2 months postop does indeed help. and #3. a bit of vitamin E, or mederma may help the scar in the first 3 months.

We don't sell anything for scars, so its not to try and sell folks some fancy potion, just to remind them how to expect the scar to mature. I don't recommend any expensive scar treatments for the average patient.

Dr. Lindsey McLean VA

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William H. Lindsey, MD, FACS
McLean, VA

Dr. William Lindsey is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians

Dr Lindsey I was interested to read this, I haven't heard this mentionned before. Is there any particular technique to this? I guess a lot of guys myself included would be nervous not to stretch the scar by doing it wrong. I imagine it is very different but I know laxity exercises should wait at least 6 months post-op.

imissthebarber,

I just saw your question. A person would need to exercise common sense but massage in my opinion helps all of the scars made by me. I specifically tell you how hard to push.

Really though, its the closure, not the scar care that matters. I believe 50% of my scar massage regimen is placebo effect. It gives the patient something to do to help the scar.

Having done lots of surgery on faces, I think massage helps speed things up as far as scar improvement, but in my scars, I think at a year, you can't tell the difference between massaged and non massaged scars.

Fortunately bad scars have not been common for me, but the few that I have had, probably were not made worse by not massaging nor made better by massaging. It was either a deep suture failure allowing widening, or genetic predisposition to hypertrophic scarring/keloid formation; and lack of followup for steroid injection.

Dr. Lindsey McLean VA

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William H. Lindsey, MD, FACS
McLean, VA

Dr. William Lindsey is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians

Dr. Konior recommneds rubbing neosporin on the scar for the first few weeks. It keeps the skin moist, which prevents chaffing and itching and also protects with anitbiotics. It REALLY works well for the itch. I have my wife put it on with a q-tip twice a day, then I gently massage it on the scar.

Do what YOUR doc says.

But, as I have posted before, I hate neosporin. About 80% of all of my unusual looking scars (at 7-10 days) (meaning red, lumpy, oozy) have a common thread(not sure if its the cause or not)---Neosporin. So I tell every one of our patients NOT to use neosporin, and most listen to that instruction.

Now my wife, a pediatric cardiologist, slaps neosporin on anything, and has her patients use it. So go figure.

But my kids know that if Dad is around, they better only put vaseline on any cut or abrasion or they'll get a lecture.

As to after the sutures are out... vitamin E and mederma are enough for all but the most unusual scar forming patients in my opinion.

Dr. Lindsey McLean VA

__________________
William H. Lindsey, MD, FACS
McLean, VA

Dr. William Lindsey is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians

Best thing is leave it alone. Too much fiddling can cause problems.