How Soon After Surgery Can I Start Using Silicone Scar Sheets?

When patients undergo cosmetic surgery, they’re often
concerned about scarring.A variety of
treatment options have been developed to minimize adverse wound healing
following these procedures.The use
of silicone sheets has recently become popular for treating post-operative
scars.This material is typically
applied to surgical wounds three weeks after surgery.This allows adequate time for small areas of
breakdown to heal and wound edges to seal.Treatment lasts for variable periods of time but, in most cases, the
duration is about three months.This
maneuver is associated with excellent clinical results and high levels of
patient satisfaction.At this point in
time, it’s reasonable to use silicone sheets as long as all your wounds are
completely sealed.

Answer from Dr. Sean Hill, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at Lone Star Plastic Surgery – Frisco, TX:
Scar care is a critical part of your recovery, and the steps you take after surgery can make a big difference in how your scars heal — both aesthetically and long term. At Lone Star Plastic Surgery, we provide every patient with a customized scar management plan based on the procedure performed, skin type, and incision location.
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I generally start scar treatment at the 4 week mark. I would wait longer if there's small open wounds or scabs along the incision. Hope that helps!

After surgery, generally the wounds take 2-3 weeks to heal, Once the wounds are fully healed i encourage to start using moisturising cream and massage and use of silicone gel on the scar . Silicone sheets can also be used on the scar . It is advisable to keep using these for 4-6 months to get good results.

At 25 days your wounds should be mature enough, however I would advise to wait for a few more days until the scabs completely fall off, before you start using silicone sheets. For the dry areas at this stage you should apply a moisturiser once or twice daily. You can clean the incisions in the shower, dry the areas and then apply the moisturiser. Don't pick the scabs, just let them fall off on their own. I normally recommend bio-oil, but there are many good products in the market and I am sure your clinic can make some recommendations. Your incisions will have matured by 6 weeks and then you can start with the silicone strips. You need to wear them for minimum of 3 months, as well as massaging the scars regularly.

Silicone sheeting or strips has been shown to reduce the incidence of keloids (thick, over-grown scars) on cuts and incisions. Many surgeons use them routinely for larger incisions. Sheeting is used more commonly on the body than the face. Sheeting is started whenever the incisions have healed enough that there is no longer any scabbing or crusting. This is usually 3-4 weeks after surgery. Sheeting is left on the incisions almost all day long and is generally used for 3-4 months. Scar massage should still be performed about twice a day even when sheeting is being used. The silicone is taken off for showering, during exercise, and if the skin becomes irritated. Good question. Also discuss with your doctor. We use this on almost all of our tummy tucks and breast lifts or reductions.

Thanks for your inquiry, if you were my patient, I would want you to wait till the scabs are healed, but check with your surgeon.

This is something to discuss with your surgeon who knows you best. For my patients, I want them to wait until the incisions are completely healed. Good luck.

Thank you for your question,
I usually recommend that my patients start using gel or silicone for scars the second week after surgery. its important  that your incisions are completely healed before start using them.
good luck!

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  For most patients silicone sheets can be used as soon as any initial surgical dressing is removed, assuming no wound healing issues.  Your narrative indicates that you would be fine to start using them.  Hope this helps.

I would recommend beginning the use of silicone scar strips as soon as your incision is healed over without crusting areas, usually two to three weeks. I would recommend using them continually for at least three months. There is no data to support using them longer than three months but it certainly won't hurt anything if you choose to do so.