While cosmetic surgery is a great way to enhance your appearance, it will leave some scars behind. Scars are an inevitable part of any surgery. Over time, the scars fade away and become less and less obvious. If you are concerned about scarring, it is a good idea to discuss your scar removal options with Dr Hunt prior to the surgery. Silicone strips after surgery are one of the first lines of defence against scars. Some people also choose laser treatments at a later stage.
The increasing popularity of silicone strips has caused patients to wonder: will it really help my scars? They cost a lot- is it worth spending money on these strips? The short answer is yes, they can be very efficient in minimising the appearance of scars.
Dr Jeremy Hunt is Specialist Plastic Surgeon with cosmetic clinics in Sydney and Wollongong NSW. He has performed hundreds of face and body contouring procedures in over 20 years of practice.
You need to understand that any kind of surgery will leave a visible scar on your body. Initially, the incision lines are red and swollen. At this point, it is important to stick to all the wound care instructions if you don’t want to worsen the appearance of scars. Every person heals at a different pace and will have a different kind of scar even if they got the same surgery from the same surgeon.
Most of the scars will typically mature in about 12 months’ timeframe. In some cases, it can take up to 18 months as well. Some good options to use post-surgery are silicone strips, dermapen, light therapies, and some other alternative. It is important to have a nutrient-dense diet, drink enough water, quit smoking and follow all the post-operative instructions to the letter to minimise the post-op complications and scarring.
If you follow all the instructions along with using silicone strips, the scars can be reduced significantly. Some of the factors that influence the overall appearance of scars include the type of surgery, length, width, and location of the incision line, and the natural healing response of your body.
There are many types of post-op scar minimisation protocols that Dr Hunt will take into account for minimising surgical scars. These protocols are generally combined with scar management options to achieve the desired results. Some of the options include skin needling, enzyme peels, chemical peels, derma pen micro-needling and other light-based treatments.
Another great option is scar revision surgery. This works for ragged-looking scars and might be topped off with topical treatments such as silicone strips and high-grade vitamin E oils to boost healing.
It is important to remember that every single individual is different and will heal at a different pace. The formation of scars isn’t controllable or predictable in any way shape or form. However, there are many ways to minimise the appearance of scars.
What you do during the post-op phase will have a significant impact on the results of the surgery. It is important to stay clear of smoking at all costs. Otherwise, you might end up compromising the results of the surgery. The surgeon’s skill combined with what you do post-op will determine the results of the surgery and extent of scarring. It is important to remember that scars will take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to look less visible.
Scars come in various shapes and sizes. They vary in terms of depth, quality, texture, and shape. The formation of the scar is dependent on the extent of injury, trauma, location, depth, and length of the surgical incision. The scar is highly impacted by internal and external conditions. While you can control some of these elements, others are out of your control. Genes will play a major role in the overall healing of your scar. High melanin skin types are more prone to keloid scarring and more visible scars. If you have richly pigmented skin, your scars will likely be more visible.
Having overall healthy skin along with great immunity will help a lot when it comes to scar healing. Dr Hunt and your medical team will help you out, but you have to play your part as well.
Silicone strips are a topical treatment that has the ability to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and minimise the look of visible scars. They are inexpensive and will require extra care during the healing phase. Certain patients can expect good results in scar reduction while others won’t see much of a difference.
If you haven’t seen silicone strips before they are ultra-thin sheets of silicone that stick over the skin and have to be applied 24 hours a day. Once your incisions are healed, you can start using them over your scars after consulting Dr Hunt. The silicone strips feature self-drying technology which enables them to dry on your skin within 5 minutes after application. Please note that silicone strips might not work effectively for every single patient.
As per the Silicone Strip Manufacturers, the strips can:
So far, we don’t have enough evidence to prove that silicone strips work well for every single patient. However, they are worth a try and might be very efficient for certain patients.
Silicone strips can:
Like any other product, silicone strips have their benefits and disadvantages. Let’s discuss some of the benefits and downsides of using these strips for scar reduction.
Silicone strips are proven to be beneficial for elevated scars. They also work well for the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloid scars.
If you don’t know the difference between the two, let us try to explain it in the simplest way possible. Hypertrophic scars remain within the boundaries of the damage but are raised. On the other hand, keloid scars extend way beyond the incision line, into the surrounding skin. Both can be itchy and quite painful. Silicone strips can be efficient in reducing the size of these scars.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions we get regarding the use of silicone strips for scar removal:
Dr Hunt will guide you in detail regarding the usage of silicone strips. Here is a guideline:
Dr Jeremy Hunt is specialist plastic surgeon performing breast, body, face and nose surgery. He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing cosmetic and plastic surgery in Sydney.
Careful, considerate and honest, Dr Jeremy Hunt works with you to find a solution that is optimal for your body and your lifestyle. Every patient is unique and, through his guidance, can achieve good results.
Dr Hunt’s personal, one-on-one service and attention to detail has given thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia the aesthetic results they desire.
Dr Jeremy A Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from some of the world’s very best plastic surgeons.
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If breast reduction is something you’re considering, Dr Hunt can thoroughly explain all the options to you in a one-on-one consultation.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health professional.