Forum Discussion

melclarity's avatar
melclarity
Member
8 years ago

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

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


mastectomy
Reconstruction
surgery
  • sunrise_sunset's avatar
    sunrise_sunset
    Member
    5 months ago
    Thank you @melclarity for this discussion thread.

    It's now 2024. 7 years on, but I think it is still sound advice I have read in here from everyone. I was having terrible trouble with taping my scars to flatten them out with the paper (micropore) tape I'd been given by the surgeon. It doesn't help that I have a reaction to some tapes. The scars under my breasts in particular very itchy, red and skin peeling in places :disappointed:

    I've switched to what I think is silicone tape (3M Nexcare sensitive) now after reading this thread and am hoping that will improve my situation. I have also purchased Bio oil in preparation and thanks to @nikkid I will also consider using the back of an electric toothbrush to help with massage.

    @melclarity if that scar management contact is still relevant in Melbourne, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    5 months ago
    @sunrise_sunset - I had great success with a scar reducing gel called Kelocote.  You only use a tiny bit - but I believe it really helped with making my scar recovery to be almost negligible.

    My surgeon's office used to provide it 'at cost' .... the tubes are only 15g - but they go a LONG way!

    Wishing you all the best xx

  • sunrise_sunset's avatar
    sunrise_sunset
    Member
    5 months ago
    Many thanks @arpie for the suggestion. I will see if I can try that gel - whoa it is pricey indeed.
  • melclarity's avatar
    melclarity
    Member
    5 months ago
    Hey @sunrise_sunset

    I'm glad you found the thread of some help, and yes 7 years on wow! where has that gone. For me and I never thought I'd say this, it's a distant memory. My scars are opaque and thin, time does wonders and to be honest I never ever think about any of them anymore. That's huge! 

    I'll have to get @nikkid to chime in with that contact, I'll contact her. I still have the silicone like dressings. They really were great. 

    I hope you're managing ok, I was allergic to tape too, but once it started to heal it was really swift. 

    Cheers,

    Melinda
  • sunrise_sunset's avatar
    sunrise_sunset
    Member
    5 months ago
    Thank you so much @melclarity for the follow up. That is amazing that you can say that you hardly think about it now! Congratulations on that and happy to hear that your scars are so good. It gives me hope :smile: I am doing much better with the silicone tape and once some infection/inflammation has reduced, I will be massaging the scars.
  • melclarity's avatar
    melclarity
    Member
    5 months ago
    @sunrise_sunset I can happily say after it all began in 2011 and recurrence 2015, lots of surgeries, radiation chemo, then 9 years of prolia injections. I have been discharged 2024 from my Oncologist :) I now only see my Surgeon every year for scans on my right side. Ohhhh hindsight! I wish i'd done the double! 
  • sunrise_sunset's avatar
    sunrise_sunset
    Member
    5 months ago
    Thank you so much @melclarity. I’m so glad that you’ve reached the milestone! I remember what it was like with my first cancer and my surgeon told me he no longer needed to see me after 9 years 😁 Those scars have healed and faded well, natural healing indeed, but for some reason I’m a bit more vain about the breast ones I guess.
    For EBC I had a lumpectomy with reduction and recon of my other breast. So far I feel it was the right decision for me.
  • melclarity's avatar
    melclarity
    Member
    5 months ago
    @sunrise_sunset that's so great to hear, I admit I too was a little vain about the breast ones. It took me 13 years to get my final leave lol, and of course we don't know whats ahead. So we keep going and live each day as a blessing. 

    I actually struggled with the decision of mastectomy, especially as mine was a few months after chemo and precautionary as Id had a recurrence in the same spot regardless of radiation and meds for 4 years :( They didn't do a right side reduction for me and yet I asked them to, whilst the surgeon did a great job, theyre too big and just not the same anymore. I'd love to be a full C not an E. Anyway, as time goes on things change and so does our perspective. 

    I'm sure your scars will settle beautifully. All the best x
  • sunrise_sunset's avatar
    sunrise_sunset
    Member
    5 months ago
    Thank you again @melclarity for sharing. Living each day is indeed a blessing, sometimes it is tougher than others to remember that. I can only imagine how scary your decision was for the mastectomy and am sorry that you did not have the reduction option. I'm one of the beneficiaries of treatment advances over time and am so grateful that when I asked about doing both breasts at the same time my surgeon listened and said it was possible. Hearing from all of you lovely ladies I am sure I will settle with my scars in time as well :heart: