Scar from Rhinoplasty 3 Weeks Ago. Anything I Can Do to Lighten it?

Question

I just had a rhinoplasty and alar last 3 weeks ago but still the scar from alar beside the nose were very dark and noticeable, is there anything i can do to lighten it? pls. help.

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

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

3weeks post surgery is still very early for you to judge the appearance of your scars - be patient and follow up with your surgeon.  Some basic principles:

	
		Sun avoidance 
	
		High SPF sunscreen
	
		Silicone gel

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

At three weeks the incisoins from open rhinoplasty or alar base surgery will often be red and firm. They usually soften up and lighten over time. At this point it is probably best jsut to follow yoru doctor's advice. In general, for my patients, these incision often heal without long term problems.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

The scars present 3 weeks after a rhinoplasty may actually look worse than they did the first week after the operation. These will improve with time. I always tell my patients to avoid sun exposure on fresh wounds. If the incisions are actually dark, a bleaching cream may help, but only under the supervision of your surgeon.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

At 3 weeks post Rhinoplasty, the scar is still healing and you are under the post-op care of your Rhinoplasty Surgeon.  IMHO, you should really follow his/her post-op instructions at this point.

Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Hi,

You should consult with your surgeon about scar treatment options. If it's just a little pigmentation then you can ask your surgeon it bleaching cream is OK (hydroquinone).

Best,

Dr.S.

Scar from Rhinoplasty 3 Weeks Ago. Anything I Can Do to Lighten it?

Answers (6)

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