Scar stories?

[happyheart]

Now to an important topic: vanity.

I've been wondering how I will look on the beach next summer sporting my 9" vertical badge of courage. While this may be less of an issue for the hirsute types, my skin is more like--ah--Governor Schwarzenegger's.

My questions include:

Is the incision straight up and down or curved?

Do scars fade or become less noticeable over time?

I understand something called a "cosmetic close" is offered. Is that worth asking for?

I've also seen a product advertised that claims to make surgical scars disappear. Fact or hype?

Having researched all the tough surgery questions, now I'm down to ones which expose me as superficial and vain.

But hey, I'm from California.

Thanks.

 

[geebee]

Having gone through 3 surgeries, I have a little info.
I had my first surgery in 1980 when, in retrospect, I thought scars were the last thing the surgery team cared about. When I got better enough to care about how I looked, I noticed my scar (which is about 12" long) curved at the top for the last 3 inches.
I thought "how stupid", you would think a good surgeon could cut straight.
When I had my follow-up visit with the surgeon, he asked me what I thought of my scar (I thought it interesting that he would even care). I decided to be honest and I told him it seemed odd that the top was crooked. He then told me he always did that for women because, if you wore a shirt that had the first couple of buttons undone, your scar would not be visible. He was right.
The only problem is it looks a little odd in a swimsuit but, at 52, I don't wear too many low cut things so the "crooked" scar is working for me again.
I am sure there are many better ways of cosmetic corrections these days. You could probably even work with a plastic surgeon to find out how to minimize scars.
I had some scar repair surgery done in 1995, due to an infection that wouldn't clear up. The plastic surgeon I had ordered two compression vests for me to wear that minimized scarring. These are the same vests used to treat burn victims. It certainly helped with the puffiness you get with scarring.
I also used vitamin e oil on my scar from the day I got out of the hospital each time. Although the doctors said it wouldn't hurt me, they also said they did not think it would help. I do not agree. I think it made a tremendous difference. I compared my scar to others who did not use vitamin e and mine is much less visible.
There is nothing wrong with vanity. Although I am a little proud of my scar as a battle trophy, I would still do all I could to minimize scarring should I need more surgery in the future.
Scars definitely fade over time. I do not know anything about the scar medicine out there but I would guess it has vitamin e oil as a primary ingredient.
Hope this helps and best wishes,
Gina

 

[KathyH]

I had minimal invasive surgery- scar is 4 1/2inches. Mine is only 6 months old. A nurse told me to put vitamin E on the scar, I tried it on the top half, and it is noticably more faded that the lower. They say not to expose the scar to the sun for the first summer, I just made sure I had 30 sun block on. There are alot of old postings on this subject.
Kathy H

 

[Debrinha GT]

I've always had them!LOL!!

I've always had them!LOL!!

Hello happyheart and geebee, I've never really given my scars much thought, I mean, since I've had them since the age of ten and I don't even remember what it's like not to have one, I've come to accept them as part of my body. I too have had three MVR(replacements), all with tissue valves, and with the fourth one on its way, I've never considered doing anything about them, quite the opposite, I'm quite proud of them. I'll try and post a picture here soon, ok?
Débora from Brazil

 

[Harpoon]

My first OHS scar is (Was? Can't really see it now with the new one over it.) over 29 years old and has faded a lot over time. it's not the straightest line that there ever was and I think that's just because as you grow (especially from the size of an infant) the line gets skewed some.

My last round of OHS left me with more scars than I can count, literally. Besides the obvious zipper scar I've got a thorachotomy scar that looks like it came from a shark bite and a thousand other little scars from pacer wires, IV's, drainage tubes, and all other assorted medically approved torture devices.

I've also got a number of stretch mark scars now, they're what "bother" me the most, a pair each just above my armpit over my shoulder and a couple inside my thighs. I THINK it's from doing kung-fu stretching which I started about 8 months post-op...

My wife sells AVON and they have a stretch mark cream that I've been using off and on. I also have a cream for scar tissue that's supposed to help it fade away. Basically lots of aloe and skin friendly vitamins. I dunno if it's working or not, I'm probably not applying it enough as I should (really a few times every day, but I'm lucky if I remember to do it at night before going to bed...)


If it's an option and you're really concerned (which should ONLY happen if your main source of income is from being a swimsuit and lingere model, in my humble opinion) about it then you might ask for a minimally invasive proceedure. I've seen scars on women who've had VR's that lay a few inches below their right armpit, just back behind their breast. It's small, maybe 3-4 inches, and would be hidden by most bathing suits or a bra.




Maybe it's just me but, I'd be more concerned about SURVIVING surgery rather than how nasty looking the scar will be afterwards....

But then I'm just a guy and could never POSSIBLY understand these things.


--grunts, snorts, scratches crotch--

 

[Bryan B]

My scar is less than 6" long and very straight. I think since my surgeon is a pediatric surgeon he is used to working in small spaces and was able to keep the incision fairly small considering it was a full sternotomy. Surprisingly my scar almost seems to look better after having my wire removal surgery (he made one long cut right down the original scar. After 7 months my scar had faded quite a bit without putting anything on it. He used glue to close the incision, and I think this method also helps to minimize the scar tissue. I guess it also helps to have plenty of chest hair to camouflage the scar.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Me...I have Scars Everywhere....

Me...I have Scars Everywhere....

While I still haven't had heart surgery yet...I have scars from other surgeries....ALL OVER THE PLACE....I LOOK LIKE I WAS BUILT IN FRANKENSTEIN'S LABORATORY...LOL LOL...(I couldn't resist adding to this one...LOL) Harrybaby666

 

[tobagotwo]

Hmm. My scar is about 10" long. For the most part, over the sternum, it's a thin line. Below the sternum, it's wider, lumpier, and much more colorful. (Um, festive. I meant festive...)

I don't know about scar-minimizing closings, but it won't keep you on the pump longer, so why not? I am using up a tube of Scar Zone, which is one of the (relatively) less expensive silicone formulations used to lighten scars. So far, no big difference. Fortunately, it wasn't a big deal to me, as it was an attempt just to tone it down a bit. But they did get a nice chunk of change out of me for it.

Some people swear by vitamin E or cocoa butter. They're at least reasonably priced. There are also other formulations besides silicone on the market, and there are scar-reducing patches to wear as well. All the specialty antiscar formulations are expensive and take a minimum of eight weeks to show results (which is frequently your second or third tube or package).

Once this tube is gone, I'm done with it. Life's too short, and who wants to see me with my shirt off anyway?

Best wishes,

 

[Ross]

While I still haven't had heart surgery yet...I have scars from other surgeries....ALL OVER THE PLACE....I LOOK LIKE I WAS BUILT IN FRANKENSTEIN'S LABORATORY...LOL LOL...(I couldn't resist adding to this one...LOL) Harrybaby666

Me too! Thoracotomy, Hip Replacement, Appendix removal, Heart surgery,Multiple hernia repairs and all sorts of scars from pacer wires, catheters and Trach tubes and drain tubes.

 

[Mary]

Me too! Thoracotomy, Hip Replacement, Appendix removal, Heart surgery,Multiple hernia repairs and all sorts of scars from pacer wires, catheters and Trach tubes.

Harry,
It just goes to show that there is always someone as bad, if not worse, than you are.
Try to hold that thought!
Mary

 

[Abbanabba]

My scar is about 11"-12" long (no curves) and has faded out quite a bit, but then it is 28 years old! The top section, while flat is quite wide - possibly due to the fact I opened it up after surgery and it had to be redone (..which resulted in several days of being strapped to the bed from shoulder to knee!! ..). The bottom of the scar has a "T" bar (I think these were from drainage tubes) which is quite puckered, but I don't think there's much that can be done to fix that - although will ask when I go in for the next round.

I've also got another very lengthy scar, similar to the one Harpoon mentioned, running from beneath my right shoulder blade to beneath my right breast - again, it is very faded (my partner only just realised the other day it was a scar and not a pressure mark from my bra! ..). Then of course there's the catheter scars and other drainage tube scars, etc, etc.

My most recent is from having a mole removed on the side of my stomach which is about an inch long and quite keloid. I tried the vitamin E oil, but it doesn't seem to have done much to improve the look. I'm hoping it's like a scar on my hand (nast accident with a glass breaking while washing the dishes) which was pretty keloid, but in the last year has faded to a fine line. I try to "massage" it every day to help break it down, so I guess time will tell.

A friend of mine had a LOT of success with the silicone patches that you wear over scars for several hours a day, but they are quite expensive and while you can clean them and reuse them, they still need to be replaced after several months.

I'm working on the theory of keeping the scar site well moisturised before the next procedure which I'm hoping will "prepare" the skin. Hopefully it will be more supple and pliable and therefore heal more easily. Can't hurt right?

A : )

 

[Harpoon]

Best scar I have is a Mercedes Benz logo on the left side of my head above the hairline (I discovered it back in college when I got a "mohawk" because I'm a NUT)

It's not complete, doesn't have the circle around it, but it's definitely Mercedes which would explain why it cost over half a million dollars to fix my heart nearly two years ago!


It's actually from "pro wrestling" as a little kid. A neighbor who was at least twice my size kinda airplane spinned me into a dresser in his bedroom. My head found the corner of the thing just right and I got a quick trip to the ER for stitches. Oh that was a fun night....

 

[Gail in Ca]

When my surgeon told me I had an aneurysm and leaking av, my first thought was , Holy crap, I'm going to have a scar.
Tell the surgeon you are concerned about the scar.
Gail