What can I do about old scar tissue that is painful and causing stiffness and limited range of motion?

Question

I’m 40year old.Experiencing tender to sever pain in my lower back/stiffness and at times limited range of mobility. The scar is indented on both sides of my low back/hip area. It comes to a v shape right between my the top of my butt crack. At first i started seeing spine doctors, neurologists, neurosurgeons and finally a pain management doctor. However the only thing that has brought relief is cupping, manual lymphatic massage to the area and accupuncture. (The relief is short/3 days at most. I need advice for a long lasting solution. Note: when therapists work on this scar I can sometimes feel zingers of pain in certain areas. I need this indention and scar tissue broken up so I can get my quality of life back. Thank you to anyone willing to give me advice, Side note: I’ve had all the MRIs from my brain to my butt and there is nothing wrong except normal aging.

Yasemin Aydinli, MD · Answer

The zinger type pains you feel with pressure suggest small nerve endings caught in the scar tissue, and the indentation suggests the scar is tethered to the deeper layers. When massage, cupping and acupuncture give only short relief, the next step is usually treatment that softens and releases the scar itself. Antifibrotic enzyme injections such as PBSerum HA 2.0 can help break down the fibrous tissue, and steroid injections or fat grafting are further options that soften the scar and cushion the area. Fat grafting in particular has documented benefit for painful scars.
Surgical release is the definitive option: the scar tissue is excised and the area closed again, sometimes combined with fat transfer to fill the indentation. A neuroma should also be ruled out, since a trapped nerve can be treated specifically. An in person assessment of scar mobility and a diagnostic local anesthetic injection would clarify which approach fits you best.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello Jolene55 in Dallas, TX, Thank you for your question regarding what you can do about old scar tissue that is painful and causing stiffness and limited range of motion. Thank you for your history. You did not mention what surgery caused your lower back scar and indentation. Since your question is in the REal Self lower body lift section, I assume you had a lower body lift. Lower body lift surgery and scarring can cause long-lasting pain, but such pain is rare. Most plastic surgeons would rely on the advice from your pain management physician. Pain management doctors are the experts in pain treatment. Body lift scar revisions are possible; however, a scar revision may not relieve your pain. Indeed, a revision may cause more inflammation and scarring and thus more (not less) pain. Before you consider a body lift scar revision, most plastic surgeons would suggest that you try localized injections of steroids and 5FU into the scar. Stretching and working with physical therapy is also critical. You may also want to consider an epidural nerve block. Alternatively, if you do consider scar revision, perhaps only do one side at a time, just in case the scar revision worsens it. Good luck. I hope I have answered your question regarding what you can do about old scar tissue that is painful and causing stiffness and limited range of motion. If you have any more questions regarding the lower body lift, 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, belt abdominoplasty, or belt dermolipectomy, please contact an experienced plastic surgeon. Since the body lift is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the lower body lift. Do your research. Make sure they have performed at least 150 circumferential lower body lift surgeries and have the before-and-after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before-and-after pictures and review their reviews on RealSelf. If you cannot find an experienced, lower body lift surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS, FASMBS (President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons; certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery; and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

Mehmet Ozdemir, MD · Answer

Your symptoms suggest that mature scar tissue or adhesions may be contributing to your pain and restricted movement, especially since manual therapy provides temporary relief. I recommend evaluation by a plastic surgeon experienced in scar revision. Depending on the findings, treatment may include surgical scar release, fat grafting, or other reconstructive techniques to improve mobility and reduce pain. A multidisciplinary approach with pain management and physical therapy may also provide the best long-term outcome.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Your situation is complex and without an in person consultation, including seeing proper before and after pictures, I don’t think any of us can give youany useful answers to your concerns.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

What can I do about old scar tissue that is painful and causing stiffness and limited range of motion?

Answers (4)

More Body Lift Questions

180 pound weight loss - FDL tummy tuck first? Body lift? What procedures next? (Photos)

62 years old - Am I too old for plastic surgery after weight loss?

Lower body lift, butt contouring after 100 pound weight loss - how can I lift without loosing butt size and shape? (Photos)

100 lb. loss - Liposuction, or would a lower body lift be more appropriate to achieve a smoother, tighter contour? (Photos)

Pregnancy after Body Lift - will it affect the results?

Lost 80 pounds, hanging skin around torso and legs - what procedure would be best? (Photos)

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS