What can I do to achieve a better scar?

Although scarring is largely a function of the trauma involved in creating it in the first place, for those patients undergoing elective surgery the following activity is recommended.

+ Take a pre-emptive BILHI genetic scarring test. This will give your surgical team the best idea of your genetic disposition toward poor scarring, and the team can plan accordingly
+ If you suffer from a chronic diseas, ensure that you are in the very best possible condition ahead of surgery. Infection rates and healing speed and quality can be directly impacted
+ Ensure you are properly nourished: overly nourished (obese) patients suffer more infections whilst underly nuourished (those lacking vitamins) lack the necessary elements to drive recovery
+ Avoid smoking. Smoking is always bad for healing and patients undergoing face lifts, breast reductions and lifts and abdominal reductions should stop smoking three weeks before surgery. If smokers are also over weight then the risk is greatly increased.
+ Avoid the sun – scars are sun sensitive. Post surgery it is important to stay out of the sun for a period of time, and use factor 50 sunblcok. Patients with olive or darker skin need particularly to avoid sunshine
+ Avoid exercise initially – exercise will cause tension in the wound and should be reduced in the first two weeks

Related FAQs: