How to remove a scar after surgery, how to remove scars?

Types of postoperative scars

Before removing a scar left from surgery, you first need to understand what type it is. Scar formation is influenced by wound healing conditions. The process takes place in several stages, during which collagen proteins are first produced, and then its excess is broken down. Highlight:

normotrophic - the healthiest type of scar. It is formed under normal healing conditions and is virtually invisible: it has a color similar to the rest of the skin and is painless to the touch.

atrophic - sunken scar: located lower than the skin around it, close in color or slightly pinkish, often lacking elasticity. Appears with a lack of collagen.
hypertrophic - the opposite of atrophic, protrudes above the underlying skin. Usually has a color from pinkish to dark burgundy, painless and low-elastic. This type of scar is caused by excess collagen.

keloid - a scar similar to hypertrophic, also protrudes above the rest of the skin, has a color from pinkish to dark burgundy, but, unlike other scars, it can grow beyond the original damage and at the same time bring painful sensations. It is formed when there is a failure in the production of collagen and after the wound has healed it continues synthesis.

The formation of atrophic, hypertrophic and keloid scars is caused by complications in the form of burns, suppuration, specific immune reactions, hereditary predispositions or improper tissue joining.

Causes of scars

Surgeries, cuts, burns, pustular skin lesions and any other injuries damage the epidermis, forming a wound. The body seeks to close this wound by filling the defect with connective tissue. Moreover, this tissue has quite a few cellular elements; it is a mixture of randomly located molecules of collagen, elastin, other proteins and biological substances.

Of course, such tissue is very different from normal skin, which has a cellular structure. The scar has a much denser and rougher texture, reduced elasticity, whitish or, conversely, a bluish, purple tint. In addition, it lacks nerve endings, sebaceous glands and hair follicles.

Scar removal methods

Depending on the type of scar, its age and size, the method of removal is determined. Let's consider the main methods and their features.

Salon treatments

Salon treatments are considered the most effective, but expensive option. The variety of services is growing every day. Among the most common:

steroid injections and mesoinjections - injection of drugs that break down or stimulate collagen production. Direct impact on the proteins of scar tissue leads to rapid smoothing of the skin, but has a number of contraindications.
plastic surgery - skin grafting or dermotension expander - using silicone balloons to stretch the skin. Suitable for extensive scars.
dermabrasion is a mechanical resurfacing of the skin that removes one or more layers of the epidermis. It is used to treat all types of scars and, due to its traumatic nature, is equivalent to surgical intervention.
laser therapy - depending on the type of laser, the skin is affected differently, but, in any case, it is associated with the production or breakdown of collagen.

Massage

Massage is most effective in the early stages of scarring. It is used to maintain tissue elasticity and ensure blood flow. Massage is more often used in complex therapy or to get rid of small, fresh scars.

In the treatment of scars, hardware massage is mainly used, in particular endermological massage, a special massage that is even used to work with keloids. During the procedure, a patient wearing a special suit is exposed to vacuum rollers. This massage ensures the breakdown and outflow of fat cells, which provokes the growth of substances necessary for healing.

Classic manual massage will also have a positive effect, but it is used mainly in complex therapy.

ethnoscience

To combat fresh and small scars, traditional medicine is often used.

For compresses, masks, lotions, homemade creams and scrubs, various medicinal compositions are used. These include:

herbs - chamomile, sage, St. John's wort, yarrow, etc.
honey
badger or bear fat
essential oils and much more.

This method requires a long time, and for the treatment of keloid scars is ineffective without the use of other methods.

Gels, ointments

As opposed to home remedies, various pharmaceutical gels, ointments and creams are used. Their advantage lies in their proven composition, because before release the medicine undergoes many clinical trials.

When choosing gels and ointments, you should pay attention to the substances in the composition. Silicone components, essential oils, vitamins and mineral compounds have a positive effect.

The components in the composition are divided into:

Healing, providing accelerated restoration of the skin
Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and skin soothing
Stimulating the formation of collagen and elastin.

Depending on the age of the scar, its type and size, the composition of the ointment or gel is selected.

Healing of postoperative scars

Let's start by discussing the first group. After the surgeon has removed the sutures, the surgical area needs speedy healing, the formation of the “correct” scar and the prevention of pathological scars, and the patient’s body needs to restore physical and psycho-emotional strength. Therefore, it is necessary to include procedures that accelerate regeneration.

Plasma therapy takes the lead . Our own plasma enriched with platelets is a powerful stimulus for healing because it contains a large number of growth factors that are responsible for regeneration in our body. Plasmolifting stimulates the formation of healthy collagen and elastin, activates local skin immunity, improves microcirculation and cellular metabolism.

In second place is placentotherapy . The drugs Melsmon, Laennec and Curasen activate the immune system response, which allows the formation of a more aesthetic scar in a shorter time. The placenta increases cellular and tissue respiration, increases the metabolic activity of the body's cells, stimulates the processes of regeneration and self-regulation, and increases the body's adaptive capabilities. Placental preparations have a pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, protect the body from the effects of adverse environmental factors, restore impaired homeostasis, and increase the body's defenses.

Mesotherapy takes bronze . In the early postoperative period, meso-cocktails are used to improve microcirculation and healing and prevent the formation of coarse fibrous tissue. The list of such mesopreparations is large, we will list the main ones: hyaluronic acid, gingo biloba, Rutin, organic silicon, panthenol, DMAE, coenzyme Q10, arnica extracts, witch hazel and others.

Autohemotherapy can also be noted as an adjuvant . The latter, in turn, accelerates reparative processes, improves metabolic processes in the body, increases immunity, improves blood and lymph flow, restores performance and vitality.

When should you not deal with scars at home?

Before starting any treatment, including getting rid of scars, you should consult your doctor. It will help you determine the most effective way to fight in your case.

It is definitely not recommended to use traumatic or unreliable products at home.

Treatment at home should be completely abandoned if in the area of the scar

redness, irritation, and swelling of the skin are noted
eczema, herpes or other skin diseases were discovered
vessels appeared, the color of the defect changed dramatically

Removing scars after surgery

A year after the operation, you can begin procedures to make the scar almost invisible. The golden crown belongs to laser resurfacing ! The laser removes the top layers of skin along with scar tissue and then a new collagen-elastin complex is synthesized.

In honorable second place is collagen therapy , and in particular the drug COLLOST, which stimulates regeneration in the scar area and activates the process of producing one’s own collagen fibers and replacing pathological scar tissue. The skin microrelief is leveled and the normal structure of the dermis is restored.

Rounding out the top three are chemical peels . Depending on the depth of the scar, the appropriate peeling is selected; as a rule, the most popular in working with scars is TCA peeling. Due to exfoliation, the skin becomes more even and smooth each time. As for mesopeelings, they allow the acid to penetrate intradermally, unlike traditional peels, which are simply applied to the skin.

To summarize, we can say that there is a huge arsenal of cosmetic procedures that can make scars aesthetically attractive and invisible!

Main types of scars

All types of scars are divided into two groups:

· Physiological. This is a normal condition - after an injury, during the healing process, the scar gradually turns pale, becomes compact, and does not cause physical discomfort.

· Pathological. A healed scar increases in size, becomes brighter, turns blue or red. Thus, pathological scarring develops, requiring immediate intervention by a specialist to stop the process.

Scar treatment tactics depend on its type:

· Normotrophic. A natural, healthy scar that is slightly raised above the surface of the skin and has a deep pink color. Over a certain period of time after the injury has healed, the scar lightens, smoothes out, and becomes elastic. This scar is practically invisible on the skin and rarely needs correction.

· Atrophic. It is a depression in the skin that is formed due to insufficient tissue restoration. The reason for the appearance of an atrophic scar is that too few collagen fibers are synthesized.

· Hypertrophic. A dense, strongly protruding scar on the surface of the skin. There are two reasons for the formation of such a scar - either excessive regeneration of the dermis, or complications at the site of injury during the healing period: inflammatory processes, tension of scar tissue.

· Keloid. A subtype of hypertrophic scar, which is formed due to the high production of collagen by the body. It protrudes strongly above the skin and also extends into the deeper layers of the dermis. It is sensitive - touching a keloid scar can cause pain and burning.