Does anyone have problems with hypertrophic scars. Mine are not terrible, but still wider and raised. Do topical scar reducer treatments work on these type of scars?

Just bought this new stuff Bio Oil from Walgreens. $12 a bottle...but it really seems to be working...and it's only been 4 days.

I've never seen medical research indicating that OTC topical treatments (e.g. Mederma) have any significant impact on scarring.

If you're fairly recently out of your surgery, say 6 - 8 months or less, there' a good chance your scars may improve on their own. Immediately post-op my post incision was fairly raised and very red, even after the others had subsided. Over the course of about 12 - 16 more months about 1/3 of the scar begin to fade and flatten, and then another third. Today (almost 2 yrs out) the scar is noticeable, but nothing at all like what it was.

In August I had a cholocystectomy and that incision crossed my port incision. A small part of the newer incision is still red and noticeably elevated. Not like a mountain or anything, but far from flat. That was about 5 months ago, so I'm hoping that in the next 6 months I see improvement.

I'm a visual person and have a hard time explaining above. This may help.

First pic - right after surgery.

Second pic - 2 months post op.

Third pic - about 5 mins ago. The area indicated in black is the red/elevated part of the newer incision (the overall incision was much larger, that's just the small piece of it that hasn't calmed down yet). You can see how much better the overall port incision is now than 2 months post-op.

That's what my scar looks like (second pic). I hope it goes down a little!

Mine look more like Wheetsin's picture number two, just a lot more red and a little more raised. It has been almost three months. I guess what bugs me the most is the amount they are raised. I guess only time will tell how the end up.

Right after surgery, my port location was indented or concave. Since I have lost, that has minimized as well.

Ok, as someone who has had lots of surgeries, and lots of tattoos ... LOTION LOTION LOTION

To quote one of my favorite movies of all time

"it will put lotion on or it will get the hose"

I have that quote written in scroll work (I am weird) on the back splash in my bathroom were my lotion is kept. I am a fanatic about lotion and stuff. I have no pregnancy stretch marks (freaky considering I am over 200 but I have stretch marks from being fat .. HAH go figure) Due in part to Extra Extra Virgin Olive oil. I still do that one a week, I heat it up (just above normal body temperature) and put on just a light light light bit of it and then take a hot milk bath. After its all said and done, I make sure I put on lotion, non scented, and my skin is amazingly soft. Its my weekly sanity break. LOL

Pix,

You're cracking me up with the freaky saying from Silence of the Lambs.

I do lotion a lot. I try to tell my 17 year old that it is never to early to start moisturizing your entire body...

Olive oil, wow, that is really different... I am sure my husband would like that, a little bread and he could have sex with a snack.... Just kidding and kind of gross... Sorry....

Thanks for the tips though, I will have to give it a try.

Why not try a nutritional approach. Get some Vitamin E and some Vitamin A capsules. Sometimes you can them combined in the same capsule. Twice a day pierce 1 cap of each and rub it into your scars. You may have to use 1 cap on each scar, but experiment a bit. Vitamins A & E are both skin vitamins, they are oil based and will be absorbed into the skin. The result over time is usually less redness, inflamation, and swelling. It's said to work on strech marks too, but I think a high vitamin A&E lotion would be a better approach for a larger area. Check with a GOOD local health food store, preferably a mom & pop type rather than a chain. They are more likely to tell you the truth instead of trying to sell you something.

good luck

gk

The replies above offer some good advice, but they will only do . However, if you want to REALLY want to get your scars down you need to do 3 things:

1. Use Kelo Cote Scar Gel - you can get it at the link below. Put it on 2x per day. I have been using it for 3 months and only used about 1/2 the tub so far. Kelo-cote Scar Gel Skincare Product at SkinStore.com

2. Start taking Arnica Montana. Sold at GNC. Many plastic surgery patients take it since it promotes healing.

3. Visit a dermatologist ASAP. He/she can inject a tiny amount of steroid into the scar and that will dramatically reduce the "raised" part of the scar.

The replies above offer some good advice, but they will only do . However, if you want to REALLY want to get your scars down you need to do 3 things:

1. Use Kelo Cote Scar Gel - you can get it at the link below. Put it on 2x per day. I have been using it for 3 months and only used about 1/2 the tub so far. Kelo-cote Scar Gel Skincare Product at SkinStore.com

2. Start taking Arnica Montana. Sold at GNC. Many plastic surgery patients take it since it promotes healing.

3. Visit a dermatologist ASAP. He/she can inject a tiny amount of steroid into the scar and that will dramatically reduce the "raised" part of the scar.

I got the Kelo-cote gel because of the inspiration from your scar stages pic, Banster. I had an allergic reaction, or something, and I'm not allergic to anything. It caused two of my scars to bubble up worse with yellow pus until they popped and then the scar was wider than when I started. I know reactions aren't common for everybody, but I would highly recommend trying this on one of your SMALL scars first. As soon as I stopped using it, my scars calmed down.

Mine were a little raised. I started putting straight vitamin E on them every day and within two weeks they were flat. They are still a bit on the pinkish purple color, but they are getting lighter. The vitamin E worked for me.