Neck scars are unpredictable. In some cases, the scars heal as a thin line while in other cases, they may be extremely thickened. The goals of therapy are to modulate the scar early on in order to decrease the chance of it thickening. This is accomplished by rigorous massage in the early... more
Getting rid of thyroid surgery scar
My neck scar is 4" long and it pooches out all the way across. This is a fairly new incision but everyone else's is just a flat line even in the beginning. What are my options for flattening it and making it blend in with the rest of my skin? Which procedure would best address this scar?
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8 answers to “Getting rid of thyroid surgery scar”A: Pooching out is a good thing early on!
The best skin closure for neck surgery requires som e pooching out of the incision. Wound healing works by laying down collagen in the wound and then chewing it up and starting all over again, and again. With each cycle, the collagen becomes more organized- tht is a good thing. Another thing the wound does is... more
A: Time can be an important component
I agree with everything Dr. Wallach has said. In addition there may be a role for a tincture of time. Scars typically take 6 months to fully mature. During that time the body constantly remodels them, changing concentrations of collagen and remodeling the scar structure. Sometimes acting with steroids... more
A: Time and tape
I can't tell from your photo how new your scar is, but initially there is swelling of the scar. Usually the upper portion is more swollen than the lower portion. I usually tape all my incisions for several weeks. I think the tape pressure helps keep the scars flat. It may be the moisture as well.... more
A: There are many options but persistence is a key
Scars sometimes have a tendency to come back. Your scar is noticeable given the size and discoloration. It is hard to tell if it is red. Early on, the redness can be improved with IPL or a vascular laser. This will decrease some of the inflammation within the scar. Steroids can do the same as well cause... more
A: Time and treatment for surgery scars
Hello,Some people have a tendency toward forming prominent or hypertrophic scars. If you have other scars like this one on your body show your surgeon. Early on, steroid injections and silicone sheeting can sometimes encourage less prominent scars to form. My tendency is to use less invasive things early on to... more
A: Thyroid surgery and scarring
Think in terms of scar improvement and you will be more satisfied with the outcome. Often scars improve on their own, in spite of what the doctor does or doesn't do. Here on the neck, I would expect intralesional injection of corticosteroids, every 3 to 4 weeks to make this scar less noticeable. Tape... more
A: Treatment of thyroid surgery scars
Most raised thyroid scars flatten over time. However, there is some interval treatment that can be done to help it heal more flat if it doesn't appear to be doing it on its own. There are two over the counter preparations available, one is mederma and another is scar guard. There are generic ones also that... more
Comments
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1 post
5 Jan 2009
My scar is just as nasty looking as your's is. I saw the surgeon again today who said it looks as though a keloid as formed on the left side of it where he started the incision for the surgery. I had an injection of something into the scar today. It did not start to get uncomfortable until he got tot he thicker part of the scar. I also have numbness on that side of my neck which he thinks could also be scar tissue that has built up. I will see him again in 6 weeks to see if it has gotten any better or worse. Hopefully for the better. It has been a long haul from start to finish with this and I'm still not finished!
1 post
15 Feb 2009
I saw this pic after searching scar formation after thyroid surgery and it nearly made me cry. I am post-op three days and mine looks exactly like this. On line, I can only find nice thin scars even right after surgery. Mine seems to have some pouched up and turned out white edges. Do I need to see a plastic surgeon? The thyroid surgeon does not want to see me for two weeks.
1 post
24 Feb 2009
I had a TT last april, and can definitely relate to your situation. My surgeon told me to use vitamin e oil or cocoa butter. I tried it all, even mederma cream. Ultimately, the only real help I found was silicone sheets. I didn't start using the sheets until about 4 months after surgery. I'm coming up on the year mark, and the scar is still very visible. The surgeon said that the red/purple is part of the healing process and takes about a year to fade. There's no way mine will be faded 2 months from now; I can only hope that in time it DOES fade. Everyone heals differently and at different rates. The main issue I have with the silicone sheets is that I cut them to cover the scar, but because of the indentation in front of the neck (and neck mobility in general), the center of the strip starts to lift as soon as I turn my head to either side.
unregistered guest
25 Mar 2009
Hi, a couple of weeks ago I was slashed on my neck! I have a scar on my neck and I was wondering what would be the best treatment for the scar and if Mederma would work well on that scar? What other remedies do you suggest would help on a slash wound ?
2 posts
30 Jun 2009
I have a coworker that had thyroid surgery and I would hear girls at work saying how sorry they felt for her because of her scar because at that time it was raised and really noticeable every time I would have a conversation with her I couldnt help myself from staring at her scar and now her scar is invisible it took about a year and she never did anything to the scar. You cant even see it at all.