I have a long scar in the middle of my forehead from stitches. What is the best way to heal this? (Photo)

Question

I got the scar from hitting my head on the edge of a counter (2 weeks before my wedding - that's my luck). This was June 6th, 2 1/2 months ago. I got sub-dermal stitches and they put glue across the top to help minimize scarring. However, the stitches didn't dissolve and have been surfacing in little pieces - the scar was raised for quite a while. Now (10 weeks later) the scar is still quite red. I hesitate to use anything chemical/abrasive but want it gone as soon as possible!!

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

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi Sonia, Sorry to hear about your injury, especially before your wedding.  The decision for when to start with scar revision is not a straightforward one.  In our practice we want to start soon enough so that the scar does not become too "set" so as to be difficult to revise, but not to soon to interrupt the normal healing process.  If you post current pictures, it would be easier to say if we would start the process.In our practice, we have done the forehead several times with the Sciton Profractional for laser resurfacing.  Fractional laser resurfacing would be our preferred method for treating your scar.  To see the example of the forehead lacerations from a car accident before and after laser resurfacing, click on the link below.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This needs pulsed dye laser / Vbeam and fractional laser treamtents.  It can even be combined with microneedling and PRP.  A combination approach is best but this can be improved with lasers and needling.  Best, Dr. Emer.

I have a long scar in the middle of my forehead from stitches. What is the best way to heal this? (Photo)

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