Your thoughts on silicone strips versus massaging bio oil, vitamin E etc? (Photo)

Question

Do the silicone strips make a difference in the healing of the scar as are they worth the investment? Would love the brands you recommend also. My surgeon just recommends massaging bio oil which I am doing plus a mixture of vit e capsules and coconut oil? Thank you. I'm 5 weeks po. I am not able to place anything on the front section yet.

Damian Marucci, MBBS, PhD, FRACS · Answer

Thanks for your question.
The first thing I would emphasise is that's important to follow your surgeon's instructions. They would have a specific preferred scar reduction technique, and if they have told you to use bio-oil, you need to trust them and follow that advice.
That said, I don't mind whether my patients use silicone sheeting, micropore tape or bio-oil. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Silicone sheeting has, well, silicone, which has been shown to be beneficial to scars. Micropore tape is inexpensive and there have been studies (from Melbourne!) showing that patients who wore micropore tape for a year had better scars than those who didn't. Bio oil is cheap, plentiful and everyone seems to have a bottle somewhere in the back of the cupboard. It is a moisturiser which partially explains its benefit, in addition to the positive effects on scar formation.
No matter what you choose, clear it with your surgeon first. The scars take many months to settle down, so don't be disheartened.
I hope this helps.

Michael Hakimi, MD · Answer

The only treatment that is scientifically proven to help with scars is silicone. You must leave it on at least 12 hours a day. The brand does not matter in my opinion.
Vit E can sometimes cause dermatitis so I personally don't recommend it to my patients but I know many do and it is probably fine. I am not familiar with bio oil.

Your thoughts on silicone strips versus massaging bio oil, vitamin E etc? (Photo)

Answers (2)

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