How does scar tissue form after surgery

For internal damage, the pain may develop as a result of the scar tissue taking place of healthy tissues, such as in the case of lung and liver diseases. As your condition progresses, you may feel pain from a lack of functioning of these body parts, along with other related symptoms. For example, scar tissue that develops in your lungs can be a result of pulmonary fibrosis.

You might experience a painful cough along with shortness of breath, achy joints, and fatigue. Fibrosis or cirrhosis of the liver may not be painful at first, but the scar tissues that accumulate may cause jaundice, fluid retention, and bruising of the skin.

Despite your level of pain, treatments are available for scar tissue and its uncomfortable symptoms and appearance. Talk to your doctor about the following approaches. Scar tissue on the skin may be corrected via cosmetic surgery techniques, such as excisions or skin grafting. These may be viable options if you have significant aesthetic concerns along with pain. This may be the case with third degree burns, severe wounds from an accident, or other injuries. The downside to corrective surgery is that the process could lead to additional scarring, such as keloid scars.

Therefore, your plastic surgeon will determine whether the new scar would be far less significant than the original scar tissue. If the answer is yes, then revision or removal techniques could bring more relief that can outweigh the risk of additional scarring. This is because the initial scar tissue could go away on its own without needing additional procedures.

Scar tissue from burns, cuts, and severe acne may respond to dermabrasion or laser therapy. Topical therapies also remove the outer layer of the scar tissue, but not the entire area. A downside of dermatologic procedures for scar tissue is that they can temporarily make the area look more noticeable.

Mild pain and swelling is also possible. These symptoms go away within a few days of your procedure. Certain areas of your skin may also respond to topical serums for scar tissue, such as those containing the antioxidant vitamin C. While serums may work well for minor scarring, significant areas of scar tissue may require more aggressive treatments from a dermatologist.

Another over-the-counter option is an antihistamine cream, especially if your scar tissue is relatively new and is extremely itchy. Corticosteroid injections help decrease pain and inflammation.

Steroid injections work best for keloid or hypertrophic scarring on the surface of your skin. Another option is botulinum toxin Botox injections. These work by relaxing muscles in the area of the body of concern, and decreasing pain and discomfort.

These gel or liquid-based materials are more of a preventative than a treatment. Adhesion barriers are known to help with scarring from gynecologic surgeries, such as hysterectomies and cesarean delivery. Your doctor may also recommend compression treatment for your scar tissue. This helps to decrease the inflammation from the affected tissues of the skin while also decreasing pain. You can find compression wraps at the drugstore. Surgery is a form of trauma. That scar can demonstrate itself in many different ways.

At the skin level, a thickened, whitened, elevated scar, called a hypertrophic scar, can develop. Keloids occur when collagen buildup creates a larger, puffy-looking scar that grows beyond the boundaries of the surgical wound. Gels, silicone scar sheets and related products might be enough to even out skin color and improve the texture of a superficial surgical scar.

Injections, such as steroid compounds, can change the appearance, texture and size of elevated scar tissues. Other injectable treatments fill in caved-in scars. Surface treatments such as dermabrasion, laser or light therapy or chemical peels may also improve the appearance of scars. A dermatologist can guide you through cosmetic scar-revision choices.

With deeper scar tissue, Yueh says, patients complain about a sense of tightness rather than sharp pain. It really depends on the surgeon and what the issue is. Also, ask whether minimally invasive surgery is an option.

Moving your joints the right way after surgery not only improves function, it helps prevent excess scar tissue from forming. After surgery, Yueh recommends that her patients work with hand therapists — occupational or physical therapists with specialized training in conditions occurring anywhere from the shoulder to the fingertips.

Targeted exercises and spring-loaded splints help stretch the skin and guide joints back into proper position. Massage and ultrasound therapy help soften scars. Call us and ask to see one of our surgical specialists. When a doctor chooses the appropriate type of laser therapy, people may notice improvements in the thickness of the scar, redness, itchiness, and texture. Doctors sometimes recommend silicone treatments for scar management. After using silicon-based treatments, people may notice an improvement in the volume, elasticity, color, and firmness of hypertrophic scars and keloids.

Different silicone treatments are available, such as silicon gel sheet and creams that people can apply to the scar for 12 hours a day. People may need to use the treatments for 12 to 24 weeks before seeing any results. People can apply dressings onto the scar tissue that apply pressure.

Mechanical pressure can also reduce blood supply to the scar tissue, which will help to flatten the scar. These dressings are uncomfortable, and people need to wear them for at least 23 hours a day for 6 months.

Unfortunately, researchers have shown that pressure therapy may offer only slight improvements in scar height. Researchers have noticed that people have a higher incidence of developing a hypertrophic scar on an area of the body that is under increased skin tension.

Another method to reduce the formation of scar tissue is a nonstretch adhesive microporous hypoallergenic tape. Scar massage is a technique that healthcare professionals use in hospital burn units to improve the function and appearance of scarring caused by burns. The evidence is weak, but some experts believe that scar massage helps to improve and maybe even prevent hypertrophic scars. Anyone considering massaging their scar should discuss it with a doctor first, particularly if they have had stitches or other surgery.

One study evaluated the evidence supporting scar massage. Although scientists need to carry out further research to confirm these results, researchers state that scar massage on hypertrophic burn scar tissue may improve the following:. There are no standard scar assessment tools for researchers, and massage techniques may differ from one study to the next. Researchers need to conduct controlled, clinical trials on the effectiveness of massage for managing scar tissue.

There are several different treatments that doctors can use to prevent and treat scar tissue. However, no treatment is universally successful. Doctors have many options to choose from when treating scar tissue, but some treatments are more effective for certain types of scars. Doctors should also address the psychological effects and movement restrictions that scars can affect some people.

Doctors should make people aware of the often limited success rates of scar tissue therapy and set realistic goals with them. Scars can be unsightly and difficult to remove. Keloid scars occur when the skin overreacts to the injury, after which they grow and darken. This MNT…. Ice pick scars are small, deep scars that can develop following severe acne. A person cannot usually treat ice pick scars at home, but a number of…. Treating burn scars depends on the severity of the burn and how recently it occurred.

The article examines the various types of burn scars, how to…. Hypertrophic scars are raised, red scars that occur due to collagen imbalance at the location of an injury. When a person's body expands rapidly, such as when they are pregnant or bodybuilding, they can develop stretch marks on their skin.

Stretch marks can…. What to know about scar tissue Medically reviewed by Owen Kramer, M.