What is the Best Way to Get Rid of a Tummy Tuck Scar?

I just had surgery four weeks ago and I can now start applying products to my scar. What do you recommend that works the best for fading a scar? Do the OTC products really work? I've used Mederma and Bio Oil on a neck scar from cervical fusion and it didn't make it disappear into a nice faded white line. I can't tell that it worked. Do you recommend laser treatment? If so which kind of Laser and at what week would you start the process?

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1 month post-op laser over the counter

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by ladynic in Virginia

Doctor Answers (7)
Community Comments (1)

Tummy Tuck Scar Treatment Options

The first concept is that there is no such thing as eliminating a tummy tuck scar. You will always have one, it is only how much fading will occur. The use of topical products will have minimal impact on the scar's appearance even though they are more convenient to use. Taping or silicone sheeting the scars up to three months after surgery is the more effective approach along with time.

How to treat surgical scars

That's a great question. There are a lot of different products and opinions regarding scar treatment. In most my patients I recommend taping for 3 months. It's the easiest and cheapest thing to do that really works. Other options are Mederma, and different silicone preparations. Check with your surgeon about what he/she recommends.

Silicone Gel

In my experience, I have found that oils and products like Mederma do not help improve the appearance of scars. I recommend a silicone gel sheeting. This is the only product that I have found that is effective. I tell my patients to start using this about a month after surgery. You apply the sheeting in a similar way to a band aide and wear it for a period of at least 6 months.

What is the Best Way to Get Rid of a #TummyTuck Scar? ANS:

I currently recommend silicone strips, such as Biodermis, as a pack of five, with each one being applied for almost 2 weeks...Then I have patients go to Scar Guard, which is a silicone gel and have them massage with that....Sun protection for sure and then give it close to a year...But scars are never invisible, just less visible!

Resolving scars after tummy tuck

Laser has not been helpful though we do use products such as Mederma, and some will benefit from silicone sheeting to help the scar resolve. The quality of the scar is often determined by heredity, skin type, and tension, so one solution will not fit all. Sun avoidance is a must.

Tummy tuck scar

I hope your plastic surgeon explained that scars never go away, but can only fade with time. Once the skin is cut full thickess, there will always be a scar and it takes a year for a scar to reach its full healing point. I can't comment on a cervical fusion scar without knowing how it was closed and also note that the back of the neck does not scar as well as other areas because of the tension in that area. I would not recommend laser and think you need a dose of patience and followup... more

Scars fade with time but never go away

Scars never disappear and can not be taken away with any means. Tincture of time makes them fade over 12-18 months and any product that you use meanwhile gets credit for what body would have done anyway. Lasers for scars is simply waste of time and money.

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Comments (1)

Plump Princess NoMO 13 Dec 2012

My friend just had a tummy tuck and lipo with Dr. Ricardo Vega in TJ and he is excellent!! "Thats why I am going" He gave her some cream that has done amazing changes in just weeks for her scar. A girl she met at the hospital did the smae procedures and without using this cream called kitsocell ...well you could see big difference. Hope that helps!!

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