I followed instructions exactly for massaging my scars. I started out with vitamin e oil then switched to maderma oil which I felt worked much better. Very early on I noticed my scars started to swell and expand. At my 3 month appointment my doctor told me this occurred because I wasn’t massaging my scars “hard enough”. He called me in betamethasone with tranilast to apply 3x daily. It’s a very small amount for a not so small price.