How bad is the scarring from surgery?

[Exit]

Surgery has always been a consideration of mine.

How noticeable is the scarring from surgery?  Will there be permanently visible lines that I'll end up being embarrassed about when I take my shirt off at the pool?

[Grandpa Bambu]

Hey...

How visible your scars would be depend on several factors. Factors such as surgeons skill/technique, how your body handles the healing process, how you care for the healing wound, your skin type/colour (apparently dark skinned people end up with more noticeable scars)...

What is your skin colour?

GB...

[Exit]

I'm white.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Scars tend to heal very well after surgery -- they are dependent on the surgeon's skill and technique, the patient's adherence to instructions, and the intrinsic healing of the patient (Mother Nature gets involved here).

Most scars take 6-12 months to settle down, mature and fade.

Poor scars are rare exceptions -- but plastic surgeons have lots of tools in their bag of tricks -- and most scars can be made to be quite acceptable.

If you really want and need the surgery, I would not hold back for fear of what the scars would look like -- it is a trade-off that is very worthwhile.

Dr Jacobs