BEST OVERALL SCAR CARE?

[AvionicsMarine]

just wanted to get a general consensus of the best scar care for after surgery to prevent bad contrasts and speed healing. i noticed from other links that there is alot of products out there and some people use vitaman E, cocoa butter, neosporin, etc. what is proven to work, and how soon to use it after surgery?

[DrBermant]

just wanted to get a general consensus of the best scar care for after surgery to prevent bad contrasts and speed healing. i noticed from other links that there is alot of products out there and some people use vitaman E, cocoa butter, neosporin, etc. what is proven to work, and how soon to use it after surgery?

Timing depends on the problem to be treated, what was done, and many other factors.  I prefer to individualize the After Surgery Scar Care and After Surgery Compression Garment Therapy for each of my patients.

Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
Learn More About Gynecomastia and Male Breast Reduction

[ellington7]

Do not use Vitamin E.  It causes bleeding...

[sasidon]

i was asked to use Vitamin E ointment....how abt this??

[ellington7]

Im not sure if the external use of vitamin E is a danger, but I know aural intake 2 weeks before to weeks after surgery will cause bleeding.

[George Pope, M.D.]

Vitamin E cream or oil is fine for scars, and only oral ingestion of Vitamin E before surgery Might lead to bleeding.  I usually recommend Mederma Scar Cream, which can be purchased at most pharmacies.  You apply it twice daily to scars.  It forms a clear film when it dries, and that has to be pulled off before the Mederma is reapplied.

Good luck-

Dr. Pope, M.D.

[AvionicsMarine]

how soon after surgery can we start using the maderma? thanks doc!

[George Pope, M.D.]

You want to be sure that the skin edges are sealed.  It's usually good in my opinion to wait about a week before applying any topical agent for scars.

Dr. Pope, M.D.

[DrBermant]

i was asked to use Vitamin E ointment....how abt this??

I have seen a great deal of hype about Vitamin E scar care treatment, but little proof that it works. I have seen an allergic reaction to the use by one individual. I do not recommend it for my patients. It is my read is that there is no satisfactory proof that one scar care modality is better than another. Scar care does work. It should consist of both massaging and compression. That has been proven nicely. For the massaging component, you do need a lubricant. I prefer the least expensive: cocoa butter.

Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, M.D.
Board Certified
American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society of Plastic Surgeons and American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Specializing in Gynecomastia and Surgical Sculpture of the Male Chest
(804) 748-7737