5 months out from breast lift - is it too late to start using silicone tape for hypotrophic scars?

It is not too late to use silicone sheeting on your scars, however, if your scars are very large, you may not get the results that you’re looking for. If your scars are large, the silicon sheeting may not flatten them as much as you wish and you may want to consider having a revision of the scars done and using the silicone sheeting immediately on your new incisions to prevent the hypertrophic scars from recurring. Discuss this with your plastic surgeon who would have the benefit of an examination of your scars.

Thank you for your question. It’s not too late to use silicone tape, even at 5 months post-op. Silicone tape creates a protective layer over the scar to keep it hydrated, which can soften the tissue. Silicone tape also reduces water loss in the skin, which can help regulate collagen production around the scar, preventing raised areas. Use silicone tape consistently for at least 2-3 months to see substantial improvement. Many patients notice ongoing improvement even after several months of use as scar tissue continues to remodel. If your scars are particularly stubborn, talk to your surgeon about combining silicone tape with topical silicone gel or other treatments like microneedling or laser therapy to enhance results and target deeper layers of scar tissue.

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon