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Silicone Strips for Tummy Tuck Scar?

I am 2 weeks post op from a full tummy tuck. My scar is a bit raised on my right side and i would like to know if silicon strips will help in smoothing it out?

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13 Doctor Answers | Asked by Zina1 in Yonkers

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Scar management and puckering after tummy tuck

You have puckering of your skin over the lateral aspect of your abdomen which occurs when removing generous skin redundancy. Think of your skin like its cloth, if you were to pinch the cloth it would pucker on the sides. The puckering will subside within 3 to 6 months of surgery and this will improve scarring. In addition, silicone sheeting and more recently silicone cream has been useful for preventing hypertrophic scars. You may initiate scar management by 2 to 4 weeks once your... more

Silicone gel sheeting and scarring from a tummy tuck

At only 2 weeks postoperatively, there will still be a considerable amount of swelling including contour irregularities which can take 6 months to a year to maximally improve. Silicone gel sheeting can help with the ultimate scar (not the generalized swelling) but needs to be worn for 12 - 18 hours a day for several months. I usually start my patients on this around 3 - 4 weeks after surgery. The silicone gel sheeting has been quite effective for many patients. You may want... more

Tummy Tuck - Silicone Strips for Tummy Tuck Scar?

It's probably fine but at this early stage you should not do anything without clearing it with your own plastic surgeon. At two weeks, many of my patients still have steri-strips on so the issue of silicone or other strips does not even come up. And there seems to be little downside to them, aside from some potential irritation (which can be caused by almost anything). Whether or not it clearly produces a better scar is somewhat debatable but using them now - with your... more

Silicone strips for the tummy tuck scar

Silicone sheeting or strips are a well known treatment for improving scars, especially hypertrophic or raised over healed scars. In order for the strips to be effective They must be applied after the incision is dry and healed, about three to four weeks, and be worn continuously held in place lightly with paper hypoallergenic tape. Patients find the silicone hard to keep up with and prefer scar creams and massage. The wrinkles you have are due to tissue mismatch, and over time may... more

Silicone sheeting for scars

The irregularity you see is the pleating effect from a mismatch between lengths, and thickness, of the two sides of the scar. Because the length is greater in the upper skin edges, a pleating or gathering of the edges is required to match up with the shorted lower skn edge. This geenrally imprves over time but the end result is variable and you will need to wait 6-12 months. Silicone sheeting is not meant specifically for this situation but can be helpful in reducing thr edema and... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Silicone Strips for Scar Reduction

There is a lot of individual variation among patients with the quality of their scar formation. I do think that silicone strips, sheets, and even gels are the best means of reducing scars and accelerating scar maturation. The only down-side is the cost.

Silicone strips after tummy tuck

The skin folds you have will get somewhat better over time and silicone gel sheets may help. Ask your surgeons if a GelZone Wrap with silicone gel on the inside would be a good choice for you. (It has worked well for some of my patients)

Silicone sttips for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) scar

The research suggests that this is one of the best options and it certainly has very little risk but it does require effort for compliance. I have not been tremendously impressed with the results in my practice but it is worth the effort to try everything you can to minimize the scar. Avoid sun exposure and watch for skin maceration or fungal infections.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Silicone Sheeting for Tummy Tuck Scars

You have some skin "puckering" around your scar. Some or all of this will resolve with further healing. There are several things you can do to help: The Silicone or silastic sheets scar massage with Mederma or the equivalent Compression from a girdle over the scar If the skin irregularity does not completely resolve a minor scar revision could be considered, but wait until the healing is more complete. Good luck!

Silicone Strips for Tummy Tuck Scar

From the photo, I would tell you that in my opinion, I doubt the silicone strips will make much difference, but they on the other hand will not hurt. You are only 2 weeks post op, give it time. You will have a better idea at 3 months whether or not this scar will improve. If it doesn't, you will likely need a scar revision since the gathering is significant. But give it time.

Silicone Strips for Scars

I think the silicone strips are helpful. You are recently post-op and you will be pleasantly surprised how nice the incision will look. It just takes time for all the healing. Good Luck.

Silicone sheeting

If my patients are developing a hypertrophic scar i will start silicone sheeting, but never before three weeks after surgery. Make sure you follow the directions and ask your surgeon to advice how long each day to apply.

Silicone Strips for Tummy Tuck Scar?

Thanks for the posted photos. Only revision can improve not silicone sheeting. It appears as a poorly planned incision, the top incisions length was much longer than the inferior. Best of luck from MIAMI Dr. Darryl j. Blinski