4 weeks post op (I removed the surgical tape 1 week ago) and I notice a brown pigment around my scar. My scar is very thin but I'm worried about the color of the surrounding skin where the tape was placed. Will the discoloration around my scar disappear? I had a full tummy tuck with no drain. Is there anything I can do to help it heal better?
January 6, 2014
Answer: Brown pigment around your school or four weeks after tummy tuck. There's a great deal of information that goes on around an incision site right after tummy tuck surgery. Most of it is manifested by a reddish color which indicates that the scar tissue that is forming is hyper vascular. Over about a year this hyper vascular color fades as the scar matures. Even if it does not fade in some occasions vascular lasers can help treat a red scar. The brownish color that you notice may actually be more of an issue with hyper pigmentation. Because you are fair skinned is likely that this will resolve on its own overtime but in hyper pigmentation certain creams or bleaching agents can be used to help diminish the amount of pigment. I would be concerned that it's a little bit early to start with bleaching agents, but discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon and he or she will guide you when the time is right. Your plastic surgeon will also share with you his own regimen for helping to mature and soften the scars over time. In my own practice I recommend massage with cocoa butter or vitamin E as a preliminary approach, but each surgeon will have his or her own specific regimen. The timeframe on scar maturation is really over the course of a year so at four weeks out you are really quite early in the process and there is plenty of time for improvement. Best wishes.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
January 6, 2014
Answer: Brown pigment around your school or four weeks after tummy tuck. There's a great deal of information that goes on around an incision site right after tummy tuck surgery. Most of it is manifested by a reddish color which indicates that the scar tissue that is forming is hyper vascular. Over about a year this hyper vascular color fades as the scar matures. Even if it does not fade in some occasions vascular lasers can help treat a red scar. The brownish color that you notice may actually be more of an issue with hyper pigmentation. Because you are fair skinned is likely that this will resolve on its own overtime but in hyper pigmentation certain creams or bleaching agents can be used to help diminish the amount of pigment. I would be concerned that it's a little bit early to start with bleaching agents, but discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon and he or she will guide you when the time is right. Your plastic surgeon will also share with you his own regimen for helping to mature and soften the scars over time. In my own practice I recommend massage with cocoa butter or vitamin E as a preliminary approach, but each surgeon will have his or her own specific regimen. The timeframe on scar maturation is really over the course of a year so at four weeks out you are really quite early in the process and there is plenty of time for improvement. Best wishes.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
March 2, 2012
Answer: Scar pigmentation Your scar is going through the inflammatory phase of healing. It should go on to fade and you should monitor it for changes and report any redness or thickening in the scar to your plastic surgeon, who may precribe a course of silicone sheeting.
Helpful
March 2, 2012
Answer: Scar pigmentation Your scar is going through the inflammatory phase of healing. It should go on to fade and you should monitor it for changes and report any redness or thickening in the scar to your plastic surgeon, who may precribe a course of silicone sheeting.
Helpful