Should silicone scar sheets are turning my scars red in parts? (Photo)

Question

Hi, I’m just over 3 months post op and I’ve recently began to use New Gel + areolar silicone scar sheets. I’ve only been using them for three days but I’ve noticed that it’s turning parts of the incision/scar red? Is this normal or should I stop using them? (Pic is of my left areola but parts of my right are reddish too) Thanks

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

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Hi TBDGirl98, 
  
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.
  If you are concerned with the redness on your scar after placing silicone scar sheet, you should discuss this concern with your plastic surgeon to properly assess your incision site. Also, different surgeons have different approaches in scar management.
 Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS
  
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
  
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
  
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Douglas McGeorge, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Silicone sheeting keeps moisture in a scar, which can make it feel more comfortable.  The same is true for the oil preparations.Having been through double blinded clinical trials, Solution for Scars is the best treatment for scars.  It can be used around wounds as they heal and on wounds once they are healed and has been shown to reduce scar thickness and redness.It is available on-line through Science of Skin

Should silicone scar sheets are turning my scars red in parts? (Photo)

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Should silicone scar sheets are turning my scars red in parts? (Photo)

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