Is Tegederm helpful in fading breast lift scars?

To my knowledge, these types of dressings will not impact scars.  They are for dressing wounds or incisions. Silicone is for scar management.  You may have confused the two products.  

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

Hi mely09,

For scars, I close all of my incisions in 5 layers and do not use absorbable sutures because they cause inflammation and worse scarring. I tape all of my incisions in the office visits once a week for six weeks after surgery to improve the appearance. After taping, I start my patients on a scar gel therapy for 3 months that they have to put on their incisions twice daily.

As your scars heal, it should flatten out and lighten. Loss of pigmentation or hyperpigmentation may also be experienced but will resolve over time. Always follow your surgeon's post operative care instructions when it comes to scar management to avoid any complications like infection and for faster healing and recovery.

If you are concerned, you should visit your plastic surgeon for assessment and to discuss your concerns, as different surgeons have different approaches in scar management. Your surgeon can also advice you of new innovations that can help with managing and improving the appearance of scars like lasers and other scar treatment modalities.

Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Tegaderm is a wound dressing, not a scar treatment so it will not have any effect on improving scars. A silicone based gel or silicone sheets plus pressure are the only things that have any evidence to support them. I’d suggest booking an appointment with your surgeon to discuss your concerns and see what they recommend. 

I try to use as few dressings as possible as I have seen allergic reactions to so many products.  In general, scarring is a product of genetics. Some people are good scar formers, and others are poorer scar formers. I always minimize the scars to minimize the likelihood of poor scars. There is no one best therapy for scars. Silicone sheets, Mederma, and Bicorneum are reasonable and popular options. I recommend that the scar therapy begin after the scars have healed and there are no open areas, which usually takes 4 - 6 weeks.

Without more information I can only give general info.  In general, the scars fade with time. Tegaderm will likely not help.. I usually tape the scars for the first 6 weeks or so..   Sometimes recommend silicone sheeting.

Dear Mely,Hello and thank you for your excellent question.  You should be evaluated for a No-Vertical-Scar, No-Implant breast lift technique. There are a number of no-vertical scar breast lift techniques, but my preferred technique is the Bellesoma Breast Lift technique. Our technique provides an exceptional breast lift, upper pole fullness, relief from neck and back pain, and no vertical breast lift scar. It uses a woman’s OWN breast tissue to produce an internal suspension technique, without the need for a breast implant. It does not disturb the nipple, areola, or breast glands, so sensation and the ability to lactate is preserved. It uses 3D scanning of your breasts and body to design a procedure specifically designed for YOU, and you alone. Finally, for patients who desire breast enlargement, it can be combined with fat grafting. It is best to answer your question during a face-to-face evaluation, when you can discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure, and you can have a physical examination to evaluate for that procedure. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. If you have any questions, call our office for assistance. Good luck!

Best,

Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS

Harvard educated plastic surgeon

Texas “Top Doc” 2017, 2018

RealSelf100

America’s Top Plastic Surgeons, Consumer’s Research Council, 2010 – 2018

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