I am leaving monterrey today and the nurse who remembers me from 2 years ago was wowed by how invisible my scars are. Seriously stretch marks are more noticeable! The funny remark was that it helped a lot that I am "so white". yes I am the one that blinds people on the beach with my ridiculously pale complexion - glad to find an advantage! Ha

Disadvantages - sunburns, skin cancer ( my mother had malignant melanoma ). And I like the sun and beach!

I hope have not blinded or offended anyone today, but I was very worried about scars pre plastics and am grateful how well its turned out.

Did you use anything on them? I had a TT after I lost weight with the band and that scar while flat is kind of dark. It only bothers me with some of my dance costumes that sit a bit low because my scar is quite high up. I had hair removal laser which I think darkened the scar even though it was not that close to the scar. I just got the silicone pads to see if those help.

My scar treatment protocol was silicone sheet/strips beginning AFTER incision is healed, no scabs. Then, when I couldn't take the hasssle, switched to massaging in Mederma. Then, when that just seemed ridiculous I massaged in various oils - vital E, coconut oil etc until I completely lost interest. Not very scientific, but thorough.

I protected all scars from sunlight for 2 years. I had laser hair removal starting about 18 months post lower body lift (my pubic hair zone lifted too - TMI) and that had no impact.

I am not actually sure what if anything works but the silicone sheets and massage in oils seem to be the conventional wisdom.

Oh, my lover at the time had been seriously injured in his youth before they had the silicone sheets. He had used vit E oil and darker complexion than I and his scars were very faint. I think the idea with the massage is it helps break down any bumps, makes it flat.

You have to use it as soon as the incisions close, but Embrace scad therapy works to lessen the tension on the incision and is the only thing with strong science behind it (though silicone seems to do well anecdotally). I used the Embrace and am seven months out and some of my scars are already almost invisible

I wish I had taken my laproscopy scars after my VSG as seriously as I had taken the scars from my plastics back in 2011. My VSG scars haven't healed as well as my plastics scars.

I haven't heard of Embrace, should look into it!

https://www.embracescartherapy.com

It's only very recently been available for purchase yourself instead of going through a doctor. I had to go to my surgeons office once every 7-10 days for about six weeks so they could put it on. It's really tricky to get the tension right and occasionally they'd mess up and if they messed up they ate the cost of it which was nice. But I'm sure with some practice and assistance you could put it on at home!