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scar care

By prissy1 on 18 Jan 2011

Hi everyone...I'm having my tt surgery tomorrow and I'm excited but very nervous. I want to know the best ways to care for my scar and at what point during recovery do you start applying any creams or potions? Also someone recommended arnica for bruising. Does it work?

Comments (26)

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Angiemcc (Community Manager) 21 Jan 2011

Hi Prissy,

You're two days out and probably pretty darn sore right now. Kimmers swears by Palmer's oil for her scars. Others like Mederma and silicone scar sheets. Did your surgeon give you any instructions for scar care?

prissy1 21 Jan 2011
Hi Angie!

I'm sore but its def not as bad as I expected. I've had 2 c-sections and have a pretty high tolerance for pain. Getting in and out of bed is what hurts the most.

In the mornings I'm pain free and full of energy but by noon I can't keep my eyes open and really sore.

I saw Kimmers scar care routine and will prob use it. I have palmers here waiting and will purchase mederma soon.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 21 Jan 2011

Hi Girl!

You will be happy with my scar care routine!  Mine is totally smooth and amazing and I love it. 

Persistence will get you there:)
trishvan99 21 Jan 2011
Hope you are doing good. Get plenty of rest and let others help you. The first week will be the worst of it but this will be worth it! Hang in there.
Katgirl 9 Feb 2011
hi Prissy! So good to see another African American Woman (our skin is different) I finally took the plunge and just paid for my tummy tuck for marcy 3rd.. i'm SOO nervous about the Scaring.. I scheduled it 2.5 weeks out so that I can detox through my hot yoga LOL ... or just to Mentally Prepare myself. What about the SCARING?? Is it thin ? I'm soo scared for the Scaring! Anyway congrats and PLEASE Post some Pics! I was hoping that I wasn't going to be bloated looking by summer so figured I'd get this handled right now. congrats again and thanks for sharing so far.
prissy1 11 Feb 2011
Hi Katgirl! Sorry it took me so long to respond (new job=craziness)

I'm only 23 days post op but my scar looks pretty good, I think I put a picture or 2 up in one of my posts. Its still a lil dark but def thin! I'm hoping it heals up the same way my tummy tuck scar did which was flat and the same color of my skin. I will post some updated pics this weekend.

I wish more African Amer's were on the site as well.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery!! Please keep us updated and drink LOTS of water to keep your skin hydrated.
Katgirl 12 Feb 2011
Thanks so much for responding. I thought that I would get an automatic email response but Considering I live and breathe research, I made a google and our chat came up.. SO How long were you down before you could actually Walk ? I'm so nervous, I can't think Straight! I do a lot of Hot Yoga, High Step and I was jogging until I got a hairline fracture on my toe. Still I'm one of those Curvy Louisiana Girls! I am not hoping to wear a size 8.. I'm just wanting to be Nicely Curvy in my size 10'-12's you know the look with a tank top and jeans? LOL. Well this is my Gift to me. I just turned 37.. My son was delivered C-Section and I've wanted this since he was born "10" Years ago! I knew that I needed a TT instead of just lipo tightening when this summer I gotten a bit more thinner and there was the horrible skin that was loose around my flanks and lower Ab area .. you could see my ABS per se but that little bothersome "mushroom from skin" look just reallllllly get to me! I'm hoping to Heal by Summer. I live in Chicago and the summer time .. well! you can imagine! ... :)

How is the healing going? Did your belly button get moved? I just found out that my TT was rescheduled from March 3rd to March 5th. Also I see there are a ton of juices and Vitamins needing to be taken .. are you on those? Please keep in touch!
prissy1 12 Feb 2011
Being nervous is normal but your gonna be just fine!

I was walking soon as I got home, sttoped over but I shuffled around just a little. I'll say you get up a lil more by day 3...just like with a c-section its important.

The only things I took were arnica montana for bruising a.d swelling, lots of vitamin c, fish oil and flax...make sure to have some stool softener like colace and milk of magnesia on hand because the meds will have you constipated.

Chi-town! I have lots of friends from chicago!
Gastonia109 23 Feb 2011
Hello, Ladies
I've been reading quite a few post it and I am in you all circle as well..it is great to see our people show and tell how our body handle a tummy tuck with the scarring..(palmers cocoa butter yes.lol)..I recently had foot surgery on 12/23 and what I'd been using is olive oil by palmers and the liquid vitamin E mixed together and my scar has blended well already. I massage it every chance I get maybe 5x a day..My doctor was very surprised..so I will do the same for my tt/l scar.. I 'm two days away from my tt/l.. I don't know what to do with myself..HAHA..I have always had a lower belly even before I had my two children. so this is a dream come true for me.
Katgirl 1 Mar 2011
hey there! it's been a while! how are things going? how is the healing going? I'm counting 3 days to go and I'll be in the OR this Saturday! thanks for the tips. I totally forgot about the arnica and strangely my surgeon didn't mention it. I'm grabbing some anyway.
Keep me posted on the healing. are you moving around better or still really sore and the most important. how is the SCAR healing?
Gracey 23 Feb 2011
I have started using strivectin SD for the last 2 weeks, and think it is really doing a great job changing the appearance of my scar. I used palmers until I remembered that I had some strivectin. Mine was a gift and came from Macys. It is expensive but so is everything we are doing : ) Let me know if anyone else uses it and how it works for you.
Katgirl 1 Mar 2011
thanks Gracey for the tip! My surgery is Saturday and I need to start using something like YESTERDAY! I kid you a smack on my hand leaves me a bruise
Marcus Belmont 7 Apr 2011
My wife used Scar Esthetique and some Silicone Sheeting. Something to consider :)
Marcus Belmont 7 Apr 2011

btw we found it here for fairly cheap.

prissy1 7 Apr 2011

Hey Gastonia! I may start mixing vitamin E oil with my palmers as well, I've given up on using Mederma after reading the post about it on here. Gastonia there are other women of color on here, we just gotta find em :) I started a forum and a couple have answered http://www.realself.com/forum/african-american-women-whove-tummy-tuck-surgery, please leave a comment.

@Marcus, thanks for the tip, how long ago was your wife's surgery and how is she healing?

Happy135 15 Apr 2011
I also am an African american female. 25 with 2 boys I am only 2 weeks p/o from a tt, breast lift and implants. I am going to start my scar therapy soon.
Katgirl 18 Apr 2011
Did you all see the Ultra Lustra Prescription Cream info that I wrote about ( I forgot what link I had posted to) but it's a Lightening and peeling cream that you use very little of however it's 4% hydrocodine cream that peels the layers of dark and lightens at the same time
prissy1 18 Apr 2011
I'll have to ask the dr about it. Are you currently using it? How long and what have the results been like?
Katgirl 19 Apr 2011
Why can't we get notified when there is a new comment ? OK I just got home from the PS today.. I guess he's working on me doing a Video / Advertisement so he's getting me FAB!! .. I haven't used anything but Today He tells me to use Scar Gaurd.. in a few weeks, he's going to have this Teaching Esthetician to use a Lighting Laser in a few weeks to finish up the lightening work on the scar.. Yes I've used the Cream, i have some here and 2 refills (thank GOD) I have that Weird Skin with the Red Undertone! If i scratch i get a scar.. a Hit with something bruises and Scars so yes! I use it just as frequently as I breathe LOL.. It works great!! you can see your skin (the rough part) begin to peel off and the under epilayer begin to lighten. I can clearly see why it cost so much. It really is well worth it. I'm using Scar Gaurd just to smooth out that little area right where my C-Section used to be.. a little small swollen bulge but nothing I wouldn't mind living with considering the rest looks GREAT! .. Let me know whats working for you
prissy1 19 Apr 2011
How expensive is the rx??

That's great your PS is using you and you get free services! whoo hooo! I get an email notification whenever someone responds, you should check your account settings.

I go in Friday for a consult on a breast lift, I am excited!!!

I started the Insanity workout 2 days ago and I am sore as all get out but it feels good to know I will be fit and lean :) Keep me posted on your big debut I would love to see it!
Katgirl 19 Apr 2011
That Prescription (do not scream) it's about $140 from Drugstore.com (you scan your prescription or they transfer it to them from your drug store) your drugstore will charge you .. and I am NOT KIDDING!!!! Walgreens charges $196 !!! and my blue cross blue shields will reimburse me 80% of all of my little bleaching creams etc but the 4% are considered cosmetic and that ultra lustra will certainly not be paid for AT ALL !!! if you get it filled at costco.. the pharmacist will just say that they have a 4% for $36 but it's just not the same.. .. It's well worth it and it lasts forever.. if you're spending $40 for a month supply of anything.. and this lasts for months.. just do the math..it's almost avg the same thing. .. anyhoo let me know
Katgirl 19 Apr 2011
LOL ohh i'm sooo not photogenic! I can't believe that I had the GALLS too post one with my face LOL LOL.. but Yes! I'm going for that. Also I'm getting a Pixel Laser treatment in 2 weeks. My Japanese jump Boot is off of my foot from my Operation 2 weeks ago and I'm Dying to get back to joggging/running but I will take things slow and at least start on the treadmill and doing a powerflex class tomorrow (it's the weights.. lunges, squats etc) it's 1 hr of toning and it pays off. I haven't seen my Gym Friendsd in so long.. they are going to say OMG!! What happened to you ? hahah!! it'll be my secret for now but they will figure it out and probably ask for the number.. I guess thats how we do things!

Ask about the Scar Gaurd.. also that Lustra Ultra and the Laser Lightening once you're midway from lightening up your scar.. There are ways!! if he doesn't know, you'd better come to chicago and I'll take you to my DOC!
prissy1 19 Apr 2011
yes I screamed @ $140 but if it's worth it I will ask for it. I think I saw scar guard in the drugstore.

I've only told 3 friends about my procedure, no one had really noticed a difference, I was't fat before and I was good at dressing to hid my muffin top lol.
trishvan99 22 Apr 2011
Prissy
Have not been on this site in quite a while. How are you? I am let's see 3 1/2 months Post op and doing great. I just got my insanity DVDs, they are hard. I need to post pics not sure how. I have my post op pics next vist in may with my ps. I want to look good....... My scar looks so so. I do use a gel strip but am interested in this cream, do tell...
Katgirl 26 Apr 2011
yes i know but girl it'll last forever! you can use it on other little marks! Yes you're perfect but i'm sure that little thin piece of skin was bugging. ... update me

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