What Can I Do About An Open Heart Surgery Scar? (photo)

I had an open heart surgery 6 years ago and now I'm living with a huge scar in front of my breast. I accepted it, never show off this scar and wear terrible clothes, but now, I will get married soon and this scar scares me, I'm so ugly with it, I feel uncomfortable to show it to anybody, even to my fiancé. Can this scar be made smaller or even look better than the recent one?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by fily

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Chest keloids from heart surgery

Chest keloids from heart surgery can be treated non surgically with the following: Selective IIT Cryotherapy Pressure Treatment Pulsed Dye Scar Laser

Chest keloid scar

A keloid scar on the chest is very common after heart surgery. The treatment of choice is injection of cortisone (& less commonly 5-fluorouracil), sometimes along with liquid nitrogen. Topical therapy in this situation is of minimal benefit. Speak with your dermatologist about the best treatment option for you.

Benjamin Barankin, MD

10 reviews

Toronto Dermatologic Surgeon

Treatment for keloid scar

It looks like you have a keloid scar. The first treatment would be to inject with Kenalog (a type of cortisone medicine). Another option is to inject with 5-fluorouracil to shrink the scar tissue. 5-fluorouracil is a chemotherapy drug which works well for thick scars. I typically do a urine pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy prior to injecting in a female patient. Usually repeat injections will shrink a keloid over time. You should see a dermatologist... more

What Can I Do About An Open Heart Surgery Scar? (

You have a very hypertrophiv irregular sternal incision scar. Best to seek in person care from steroid injections over a few months, possible re excision to radiation (doubtful).