How to Minimize Post-Surgery Scarring

One of the main concerns of patients coming in for cosmetic procedures is how to ensure they end up with as little scar tissue as possible. While it can be difficult to prevent scarring entirely, there are several steps that patients can take to help soften the appearance of scars and ensure that all incisions heal quickly and cleanly.

The visibility of the final scar depends on several things:

• The size of the initial wound
• How quickly it heals
• How well it is cared for while healing
• The skin type, age, and health of the patient

While there is little you can do to change the size of the incision required for your chosen procedure, there is plenty you can do to affect your health and how quickly it will heal following treatment. Read on to see some of the ways you can minimize scarring after your next cosmetic procedure.

1. Boost Your Immune System

While recovering from surgery, it is always beneficial to eat healthily. This will help your body recover more quickly as well as prevent you from eating empty calories that you cannot burn off as easily. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to give your immune system that needed boost and emphasize nutritional, anti-oxidant rich foods in your diet.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

Keep your system hydrated while you are healing and your incisions will heal faster. Avoid coffee, alcohol, and soda as they will actually dehydrate you. Instead, drink plenty of clean, fresh water, preferably filtered. Green and herbal teas are a safe way to supplement your water intake and may contain additional antioxidants.

3. Exercise Carefully but Regularly

Ask your surgeon what kind of exercises you can do while you are recovering. Remaining physically active within the prescribed post-operative instructions of your surgeon is a great way to keep the blood pumping, cleaning out toxins and replenishing nutrients and oxygen to the healing area.

4. Stop Smoking

Before undergoing any kind of surgery it is important to stop smoking several weeks in advance. This is because smoking has a direct effect on how well blood can carry oxygen around the body, making the body work harder.

5. Don’t Pick!

It can be hard for some people to resist the urge to pick at scabs, but it is important to fight the impulse if you want to have cleanly healed skin and the smallest scars possible. The scab will come off in its own time and hurrying it along is only going to make it take longer to heal!

Dr. Fouda Neel may suggest alternative healing methods based on your skin and history with scaring. Book a consultation with our expert staff today to find out how you can minimize scaring during your upcoming surgery!