Mederma... And Other Scar Treatments. Do They Work?

[Shellbell73 4]

Does anybody have any recommendations for scar treatments? I have very fair skin and scar easily. i.e. I broke my ankle in three places 2 years ago and have a horrible scar on both sides of my ankle from surgery. I was kind of hoping to avoid nasty scars on my belly. I may want to wear a midriff or bikini top someday.

Also ...Does anyone know how 6 weeks out incisions react to tanning or bronzers?

[ShannonH 34]

Well, I can't help you with what works on scars. I haven't thought about hiding mine, I wear them with pride, knowing I'm winning the battle of the bulge.

I can however tell you that I tan once a week, and have been doing so, since about 4 weeks out, and it's just fine. Tanning may make your scars stand out more though, so be careful if you don't want your scars to be obvious. Good luck and best wishes!

[mrsnate 55]

I have found that scar pads work the best. I had a scar on my face that I used them on and it helped a lot. They are silicone covered pads (look like band aids). My cousin used them after a breast implant after her surgeon recommended them.

[mrsteacher 7]

Where do you buy scar pads?

[legal loser 77]

I echo that tanning this close to surgery isn't good for your scars. ( as a melanoma survivor tanning is never good). I use Vitamin E oil on mine.

[carbgrl 119]

Yeah, where do you get the scar pads?

[mrsnate 55]

I bought mine at CVS.

[Furby036 60]

They make a product called Bio Oil. Works great. A co worker of mine feel on her face and it looked like hamburger meat, she started using Bio Oil and she has no scars at all now.

[Mews 37]

Mederma does work well but it does tend to be expensive. I used it to lessen the appearance of my scar from knee replacement surgery. As for tanning, I would put some heavy duty sunblock on your incisions as they are newly healed and still very sensitive.

[Wheetsin 714]

What tends to work best for scars (IME) is keeping them moist for about 2 weeks after the procedure. I don't mean Water moist, I mean Neosporin moist -- not letting them "air dry" at all.

I don't give a dang about my WLS scars so I never bothered with them, but I've had some things removed by the dermatologist in very visible areas (umm... like my face) and wanted to keep scarring to a minimum. I asked two dermatlogists (unaffiliated) and a plastic surgeon, and all three advised just keeping something like a triple antibiotic cream on them continuously for a few weeks.

Only 1 (of about 9) incisions/shaves/etc, that I've treated this way are visible now, and that one is on the very top of my foot. Others from my face, one from my ear, one from my back, etc. are virtually invisible.

If $ creams like Mederma work, I'm guessing it has something to do with keeping the scars "moist." Best guess, I don't really know. You can generic triple antibiotic cream for about a buck.