Scarring is a side effect of all surgical treatments, whether they're for cosmetic purposes or not. Here's how to keep the scars from your skin treatments to a minimum and make your healing process as smooth as possible.
One of the most significant factors in the success of a cosmetic procedure, such as a facelift or a breast augmentation, is the patient’s ability to fully recover afterwards. Following your plastic surgeon’s post-surgical advice is extremely important because it will:
- allow for a faster healing period
- lower your risk of developing any infections or complications
- keep you more comfortable during your recovery
- ensure safer, more satisfactory results
Customised Cosmetic Surgeries and Skin Treatments in Edmonton
Post-treatment care is extremely important after any cosmetic procedure, whether it’s liposuction or a simple Botox skin treatment. Following your plastic surgeon’s instructions and keeping to your post-operative appointments is crucial for safe and effective results.
Want to know more?
5 Factors That Can Affect Scarring After Your Cosmetic Surgery
It’s important to remember that there will always be scarring after a cosmetic procedure that involves an incision in the skin and even though these will fade over time, they won’t disappear completely.
The severity of the scar will depend mainly on an individual’s skin repair response, which can vary according to:
- Age: Older people tend to have less collagen in their skin which means that their scars typically take longer to heal.
- Weight. Patients who are overweight experience poor blood supply to their adipose tissue, which may delay healing of scars. If you’re planning on having surgery, talk to your doctor about losing some weight first.
- Chronic illness. Diseases such as cancer, lymphedema, and diabetes can cause wounds to heal more slowly.
- Sunshine. You should avoid exposing any new scars to direct sunlight for at least 6 - 12 months. Scars are very sensitive to the sun and can darken after excessive exposure.
- Exercise. Don’t do any exercises which will put undue stress on your scars in the first two weeks post-surgery as you don’t want to stretch them. You can get back to your normal exercise routine typically after 6 weeks.
What You Can Do To Minimise Scarring
The most common concern among all cosmetic surgery patients is having a visible scar after their procedure. The good news is that most scars will fade away after time, and there are many things you can do to minimize any skin imperfections after treatment.
These include:
1. Look After Your Wound
During the initial recovery period, make sure you change your dressing exactly as instructed and try not to do anything that pulls at the skin around your incisions. Keep your activity to a minimum.
REMEMBER: The less stress you place on the area, the better your chances of reducing any scars. It’s also important to keep your wound clean so to minimize the risk of infection, which could cause the wound and the scarring to worsen.
2. Wear Support Clothing
After certain cosmetic treatments, you may be advised to wear special clothing to support the healing process. For example, after breast surgery, your plastic surgeon may suggest that you wear a support bra to minimize the movement of your breasts and reduce your scarring.
3. Invest in Cream
Certain creams can help reduce the visibility of any scarring and initially, you may be prescribed a cream after your operation to reduce the risk of any infections that could cause tension around your incision.
When you’re on the road to recovery, you may also want to consider some natural creams that could help with the healing process, including:
- coconut Oil
- aloe Vera Gel
- vitamin E
Check with your cosmetic surgeon to see if there are any particular creams he/she would recommend and then make sure to apply this daily to your scars.
4. Consider Using Silicone Tape
If you have any scars on your stomach or breasts from cosmetic surgery, you may want to consider wearing silicone tape which can reduce the appearance of your scars by imitating the natural barrier of the skin and hydrating the scar. Wear it for as much as you can for at least 3-4 months to minimize scarring.
Call Today
Discover our wide range of cosmetic surgeries and skin treatments, and find out which is the right procedure for you by calling Dr. Ladak at 780-407-6691 or filling in our online contact form.
Dr. Adil Ladak is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Edmonton, Alberta and specializes in a variety of cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures.
.jpg)
