Managing scars after surgery: what actually works
Silicone, sun protection and time are supported by evidence. Most of what is sold alongside them is not.
The three-phase timeline
A scar is red and raised for 4-8 weeks, gradually pales over 3-6 months, and reaches its final appearance at 12-18 months. Judging a scar at month two is judging it during its worst phase.
What the evidence supports
Silicone sheets or gel applied daily for 8-12 weeks flatten and pale scars measurably. Sun protection is equally important: UV on a young scar causes permanent hyperpigmentation. Massage after the wound is closed helps break down collagen bundles.
What to skip
Vitamin E oil has no reliable evidence and causes contact dermatitis in a minority. Onion extract creams perform little better than moisturiser in trials. Expensive scar kits usually sell silicone at a premium, buy the silicone.
When to intervene
Raised, itchy, spreading scars, hypertrophic or keloid, respond to steroid injection, and earlier is better. If a scar is thickening at week six rather than settling, contact the clinic instead of waiting.
The Ones People Actually Ask.
When can I sunbathe after surgery?
Keep scars out of direct sun for six months, and use SPF 50 on them for a year.
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What Stands Behind The Plan.
