Scar Management for anyone finding them taking a long time to heal, red, bumpy, itchy...

melclarity

Hey All,

I just wanted to say in the past I haven't really worried about my scars from surgeries, however since doing my Diep Flap recon in February and subsequent revision surgery in July, I had my abdominal wound reopened. It was red, itchy and bumpy so thought I'd have a consult with people who specialise in scar management. Thanks to my friend @nikkid for the contact, I went today. 

I know in my post op visits there really wasn't much talk of scar management at all, so thought I'd pop a post for anyone who is finding them annoying red, itchy, bumpy and wanted some help with it. They use silicon dressings that I wear at night only, I then massage over 4-6 weeks in circular motions, (even an electric toothbrush) to break up the scar tissue about 4 times a day. My scars are so annoying and irritating,so that's why I decided to get some extra help.  

So I have a great recommendation in Melbourne for anyone needing that.

Big hugs Melinda xo

nikkid

Yep, good work @melclarity - the silicone dressings do an amazing job to flatten and soften the scars and using the back of the head of an electric toothbrush, running it along your scars, absolutely breaks up the scar tissue underneath.

I also use Bio-Oil 2-3 times daily, as you said in deep tissue massage circles to help lighten the scar.

As a result, my tummy scar is looking fantastic and so pale in most spots...flat and soft.

Thx for sharing xxxxx

Romla

My breast surgeon Dr  James Kollias also recommends Bio Oil. Lasts a long time as is so fine.Great product.

steplightly

My physio said to do small circular motions along scar line and use bio oil too.  Its working

KatyJoy

Hi Melclarity, I had double mastectomy with immediate recon with implants and left auxiliary clearance in march and then radiotherapy to the left side which finished in June. My actual wound scars are fine but I have lumpy hard scar tissue under my left foob and cording under my arm and across my chest that is tight and uncomfortable. I am seeing a lady who is a breast care nurse and certified Lymphoedema therapist who has also been trained in remedial massage. She is doing a combination of lymphatic drainage, massage and cold laser therapy, I only began last week so I will let you know how I go. I am also in Melbourne. If anyone would like her details, I’m happy to pass them on.

melclarity

I think they'll do a great job too! all of it makes sense. @nikkid @steplightly @Romla I like the bio oil too! 

@katyjoy oh that's interesting too, I do exercises for my cording with my Exercise Physiologist, it's working a treat, it's just the stretching that helps. Amazing how just massaging breaks down the scar tissue. x

Zoffiel

My major surgery scars are ok, but the minor ones from my oophorectomy and portacath have given me the shits. Disolvable stitches. Humph. They don't.

6 weeks after getting my port out I still have an angry itchy spot that regularly coughs up a bit of pus and a chunk of suture. My GP and BC Nurse have both had a go at excavating it to dig out the offending stitches and the surgeon is playing hard to get. Really annoying and the small scars on my belly are dark and lumpy and raised. I reckon there is still bits of stitch sitting inside those scars too. When I had the port removed I said I'd rather have regular sutures which I knew would be taken out. The look on the surgeons face...no, wouldn't do it. Humph.

melclarity

@Zoffiel omg I totally agree with that! my abdominal scar is actually ok they said, but the incision under my breast lift I had trouble with. I had a couple of stitches the nurse missed so within a week it was driving me nuts, I managed to pull it as much as I could so my daughter could cut it, then it freed it up and started to heal. The dis-solvable stitches hmmm I agree with my nipple recon they used them and there is a spot that took so long to heal, the nurse said it seems its a stitch. So it all healed over, but guess what?? with my silicone dressings I got yesterday I get these small like netted rubber and you use it to massage the scars. So I went around the new nipple and that small spot that had healed???!!!!! pulled the little bit of skin to reveal it is still not OMG! it is very small but fact is it hasn't healed, so I've had to resort to the silver dressing they gave me months ago and redress for a week and see how it goes. 

I agree too my tummy scar was like that, bumpy and itchy, she said yesterday though its settled down and pretty good, I think it has too. She massaged it in circular motions to try and break up the scar tissue a bit, even a soft toothbrush helps do it too. It does sound like the sutures though, I wonder if they just eventually dissolve? I remember my Wounds Nurse commented on the one i had but wasn't too concerned as in it will heal. Uuuugh! 

I hope you can get hold of the Surgeon and get it cleared up asap!!! x

Hello5678

Hi @melclarity and @nikkid could you tell me how long after your surgery you started with the silicone and bio oil? I’m about 7 weeks post mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction and I’ve not healed yet. Have a few weeping spots on my tummy and a scab on my breast. The surgeon doesn’t seem concerned but they’re sore and haven’t improved since I had started chemo 2 weeks ago. Do I wait til it’s healed or will the silicone / bio oil help the healing?  Thank you. 

nikkid

@Hello5678 the general rule is that the scar should be closed (no weeping, no scabs) before you start. Have they given you and SILVER dressings? These really help w the healing x

Hello5678

Thanks @nikkid they’ve given me a waterproof dressing for my breast scab and micropore for my tummy scar. I’ve just put some 1% cortisone cream on the weeping bits on the tummy to help it heal - hopefully that’s ok?

nikkid

It will definitely help - but see if you can ask them for some SILVER dressings...these are expensive but I had them on the weepy bits of my DIEP wound and they were brilliant.

melclarity

@Hello5678 I agree with Nikki in that I wouldnt start anything until there are no weepy bits My tummy scar was fine it was my breast that was weepy at the incision line. Silver dressings are absolutely the way to go, although my GP cleaned and dressed it and it came good within days I wouldnt put any ointments though, they could aggravate it. x Melinda

onemargie

Shit should I have put the mastectomy pics on there I don’t want upset or freak anyone out!!, OMFG!! Hope you are all ok with it!! I just wanted to show you the difference. I’ve never had to use anything on my mastectomy  scars at all. please let me know if I should take the pic down and I’ll email BCNA and ask them to remove it. Margie 

onemargie

nikkid

Hey @onemargie - a heads up and just a warning...the discussion posts here aren't private...anyone in the general public could see them. It's up to you - but this is the reason I only share images in the closed 'Breast Recon' group.