How Do You Prevent Scarring After Sutures Have Been Removed on the Face?

Once the skin is penetrated/injured, a scar is permanent.  I usually have patients keep it taped for 6 weeks or longer and somtimnes use topicals, always recommend sunblock, and soemtimes suggest silicone sheeting.  Lasers to improve the color are not on the top of my list.

When sutures are removed the scar is generally red and sometimes bumpy.  Treatment every 2 weeks with the Vbeam laser after suture removal has been proven to improve scarring and hasten the healing process.  Wearing flesh-colored paper tape over the areas 24 hours a day for the first 2 weeks is also very helpful in eliminating the redness and promoting a smooth scar.  Keeping air off the scar is, in general, very helpful so any occlusive cream or ointment will help it heal... more

Anytime the skin is cut, scarring resutls.  So the answer to your question directly is that you can't per se prevent scarring after sutures have been removed.  You can take some steps to ensure that the scar heals in the best way possible.  Keeping the area moist helps, but you really don't need to do this for more than a week after the suture removal.  Save your money on the Mederma, numerous studies have shown that it does not work.  The sunblock is a... more