What's the best aftercare to reduce the appearance of post-op scarring?

Scar gels work after the wounds are healing well.  Key
factors in the healing of any wound are nutrition and vitamin supplements.
There are specially formulated vitamins that are designed to optimize
your healing that we use from Vitamedica. In addition, we use Arnica and
Bromelian to reduce the swelling and bruising. Before and after surgery,
nutrition is a key component that is overlooked by almost every patient and
surgeon. After the operation, your calorie and protein requirements are
increased. We design a nutritional regimen for each patient which is
provided to them during the preoperative teaching. In order to meet the
calorie and protein requirements after surgery, the patients typically
supplement using protein shakes. Calorie and protein intake are recorded
on a log that we provide and review at the postoperative visits. The
combination of homeopathic medicines, vitamins supplementation, and adequate
calorie and protein intake are critical to the wound healing process.
Prior to surgery, we ask the patients to stop all of their own
supplements as some can cause problems with bleeding during and after surgery.

There are many scar therapies available that can improve the scarring. Topical therapy that contains silicone is a good option. Scar strips can be found online, Scarguard and Cimeosil are excellent products to apply on scars.Massage therapy is a good adjunct to topical therapy. Micro needling is another excellent option. All of these can be used and should be use for a year after your surgery. Good luck!

Silicon gel and #silicon sheets can be used to manage post surgical #scarring. Products such as #BioCorneum, #Scarguard and others are useful. On occasion we will use laser treatments to diminish the redness of scars. Scar therapy with #scar maturation products can be started a few weeks following your #surgery. However, #concerns pertaining to your personal #healing should always be discussed with your surgeon. 

Thank you for your question. The type of scar treatment we usually recommend after top surgery really depends on the type of scar that the patient usually forms after any surgical procedure. For the patient without a history of adverse scarring (keloids or hypertrophic scars) we usually recommend any good silicone based scar gel. It is used morning and night and is used in conjunction with scar massage to keep the scars flat. With continued use the scar pinkness gradually fades and the scars become lighter. For patients that have a history of keloids we generally recommend silastic sheeting which is used as soon as the scars are healed. The sheeting is used and worn continuously except to shower (or as recommended by the manufacturer). We have also had success with IPL laser (intense pulse light laser) to get the redness out of the scars and this can be done when your surgeon determines it is safe to pursue. I hope this helps and best of luck with your healing and the rest of your transition!!

Everyone from dermatologists to plastic surgeons has an opinion on this, which leaves a lot of patients confused between the difference between just using cheap vaseline on their wounds or products that are upwards of $200 for a 1 month supply. There is no right answer, and some of the evidence for the efficacy of products is anecdotal. One agreed upon principle is keeping the scars and wounds moist as they heal and even after several months. It has been suggested that the mere act of putting anything on the scars is beneficial because you are massaging the scar tissue itself and softening it faster. You can ask your plastic surgeon what he/she would advise, but just be wary that more expensive products won't blow your mind. They may just fade your scars out faster and you'll end up at the same place you'd end up if you had just used vaseline on your incisions, you'll just be there in 5 months instead of 12. 

Every plastic surgeon has their own regimen to try to reduce the appearance of post-operative scarring.  There is, unfortunately, no one "best" regimen.

Hi,Thanks for the post. Most plastic surgeons will use some sort of scar therapy regimen, especially in the first three months when the scar goes through the most inflammation. Products that contain silicone, either in cream form or adhesive sheets work well. In addition, using Vitamin C supplements as well as maintaining good nutrition are important. Finally, in double incision cases, restricting excessive upper body movements in the early healing period helps keep tension off the incisions. Sincerely,Dr. Dadvand