Dark scars after Vaser Lipo. Will they fade with time?

Question

I have dark marks where the incisions and drainage tubes were placed after the procedure. My 2 front scars are particularly dark and long and horizontal instead of small and round. Is this normal and will they fade? It's a few months post procedure now.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Kelly Killeen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello!  It is not normal to have dark scars following any surgery, but it is common.  Some patients, usually those with darker skin have the tendency to have this complications.  With some patients, it does fade without any intervention.  There are multiple things you can do to treat it though.  First, and easiest are silicone scar products.  They are very effective in some patients.  Second, you can start over the counter medications that lighten the ares, they typically have the active ingredients of tranexamic acid (TXA) or Kojic acid.  Finally prescription medications like topical hydroquinone (with or without retinoids) or oral TXA are sometimes needed.  There also are a variety of in office treatments like microneedling or laser, but I typically don't need them as the topicals work well.  Good luck!

Dark scars after Vaser Lipo. Will they fade with time?

Answers (2)

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