I'm wondering about the scarring???(for all you lucky post-op folks!!)

[Les]

( sorry......................)

 

[bvdr]

Hi Elena,

I have a horizontal scar on my right chest from the heartport procedure. It is not at all noticable since its actually across the underside of my breast.

 

[alicia]

I have a 9 inch scar that has healed very nicely. I am now feeling confident enough to wear v necks and lower necklines that the top of the scar will "peak out". I had 5 chest tubes and 2 of the scars have completely faded away but 3 are very prominent. After the staples were removed I started applying Nivea cream daily to the incisions. Ive also lost over 45 # since the surgery and Im sure that has helped make the scars a little smaller than they were.

Good luck to you...
Alicia

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi elena!
joey was so worried about his scar. his surgeon said that if he was that nervous and self conscious, he could get a plastic surgeon to do it. (he mentioned he had a swimmer who felt that way and had a plastics guy do it).
but, joey, who normally does form keloids (raised scarring that feels almost rubbery), has a scar that has almost totally faded (he also has a hairy chest that helps cover it). the only dark scars he has are the two spots where he had the pacer electrodes/wires coming out. they aren't keloids though (although darker, they are smooth and small), they will probably fade more in time.
hope this helps.
be well, sylvia

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Sylvia's right -- hire a plastics guy/gal.

 

[hensylee]

Mine starts at the bones at the top, goes about 2 in below ribs. It's pale in color. The sewing back up actually gave me a bit of a lift (cleavage). Then this year I had surgery so have a scar starting where the heart scar left off. It goes to just below the navel, where an older scar picks up and goes all the way. If there was a real zipper in there I could spill right out. My new scar is still real purply but is fading gradually. If you count all the scars on my torso, you'd think somebody was REALLY, REALLY made at me and tried to kill me. Most folks have a faded scar that's not really noticeable. Some are stuck with the keloid but you can tell from previous scars what yours will look like. I also have 4 scars on my right leg and they are so pale you don't even see them. Only I would know, at first look, that they're there.

 

[mike shields]

My scar is about 10 inchs long and probably a little wider then most because of having 3 surgeries and a forth up coming. I remember telling little kids were I swim that I just swallowed a snake and he try to get out.


mike

 

[derekzmom]

Derek has quite a raised scar and it is about 1/2 inch wide. Not the prettiest thing around.........but he's alive....

Hugs

Allison

 

[Gail in Ca]

My scar from my first avr was nicely done.
My dermatologist said my surgeon was an artist.
However, the scar from my 2nd avr is wider for about 3 " at the top mostly. Mine are faded white now, I had invisible stitches for both surgeries, and I don't remember it itching much.
My many chest tube scars are faded and not too bad.
I wear a 2 pc, and only had a child ask once what my scar was from. Most people don't ask about it.
My ugliest scar from my 1st surgery turned out to be one the surgeon had to cut in my groin/leg, to connect me to the machine.
It really hurt and looked bad for years, but now is practically gone.
I don't form keloid, and I didn't even get stretch marks from my pregnancy, (felt lucky for that).
I knew a gal that got her insurance to pay to have a plastic surgeon sew her up, so she would have a better scar. However,
she formed keloid and it spread, too, I think, and mine ended up looking better. So, you never know.
All scars fade to better in time, anyway.
Gail