Hi there, I will be soon getting the sleeve surgery. For those of you who already had the surgery, can you tell me your experience with the scars? Are they very visible? When do they fade? Does it still bother you?

I did RNY. The scars are mostly the same, although there's one incision on the VSG that's longer because that's where your stomach is pulled through. Anyway, I can't see mine at all anymore. They never bothered me at all.

I also had bypass, and my scars not noticeable at all--I have to really look to find them. The only exception is where the main port went in, which is a small, white scar. They don't bother me in the slightest.

It will depend on how you usually scar. I have five tiny fine white lines that I have to look for now from my sleeve surgery. Four are across my tummy in line with my belly button & the fifth one is half way between my belly button & breasts. They’re less than a centimetre long. I used bio oil once the wounds were healed. Vitamin E oil can work to reduce scarring too as can silicon tapes.

Good luck with your surgery.

thank you guys, how long did it take for the scars to fade?

Honestly I can’t remember. After about two months I wasn’t really looking at them. They just got lighter & lighter. They’ve been like they are now for more than at least 6 months. They’re nothing. I have way worse scars on other parts of me from acne, mole removal, etc. I doubt any one would even notice them unless they were really looking for them.

Edited January 1, 20215 yr by Arabesque

Mine faded pretty quickly to thin white lines that I could find if I really searched for them. The 4 along the lower abd and the bellybutton one were removed along with the extra skin when I had my lower body lift in Aug.

Mine faded within one year. I'm two years post-sleeve WLS now and you would never know I ever had anything done. You can't see them at all. If you really look hard because you know they're there you might think you see a freckle.

I guess I'm the exception here...LOL I had a lot of problems with my scars. I had a RNY done on 9/16/20 and they just were refusing to heal. Just last month I was finally able to say that there wasn't any scab on them, but they are still dark pink and have a ways to go to heal. The doctor says that they are doing good and some patients have issues, some don't. I have the kind of body that if there is a chance of problems, it WILL happen to me...LOL

I had laparoscopic stomach in 1999 for reflux and those scars you can't even see. It just takes longer for some people and some people scar worse than others. I don't plan on wearing a bikini swimsuit soon, so no worries here....LOL

17 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Honestly I can’t remember. After about two months I wasn’t really looking at them. They just got lighter & lighter. They’ve been like they are now for more than at least 6 months. They’re nothing. I have way worse scars on other parts of me from acne, mole removal, etc. I doubt any one would even notice them unless they were really looking for them.

Thank you, this is so reassurring. Keep up the great work on you weight loss journey.

7 hours ago, Lynnlovesthebeach said:

Mine faded pretty quickly to thin white lines that I could find if I really searched for them. The 4 along the lower abd and the bellybutton one were removed along with the extra skin when I had my lower body lift in Aug.

HI Lynn, we have almost the same height. I am 4'10", so amazing how you reached your goal! Congrats to you. ?