Scars. They are the underbelly of cosmetic surgery. Perhaps they are also the main reason many people still shy away from a surgical procedure, even though it could be life-changing in terms of the positive impact on our confidence and well-being. Read on to learn how you can ensure good scar healing after any cosmetic procedure.
What to Do After Cosmetic Surgery
Plastic Surgery for Every(Wo)man
We all remember images of freakish plastic surgery outcomes we’ve seen in the past – say, the 1970s or 80s. We would read about some Hollywood star who had had yet another facelift on a quest to look ever younger, and we would silently congratulate ourselves for not being one of those people who felt the need to pursue perfection – which was just as well, because plastic surgery, for the average person back then, was financially out of reach.
Things have come a long way in the decades since. For one, plastic surgery is far more accessible for everyone these days. Less-invasive methods of fat reduction and skin tightening have been invented, reducing surgery and recovery time. Also, more flexible sedation options are now available. These factors combined have reduced the cost of many cosmetic procedures. Where formerly you’d spend time under general anesthesia in a hospital, you now walk out of your cosmetic surgeon’s practice after a 2-hour procedure and resume your regular activities as early as the next day.
Along with better and more affordable treatment options, a plethora of medical financing providers has sprung up to help patients pay for their procedures. 12-month interest free financing for plastic surgery has become the new standard, allowing patients to spread out the cost without incurring a financial penalty.
Scar Revision and Cosmetic Surgery
And now, back to the scars. Have you perhaps considered a cosmetic procedure like a tummy tuck, but your fear of having a lifelong scar is keeping you from pursuing it further?
First off, let’s say this: Plastic surgeons are skilled at concealing scars. That is their profession. With the knowledge that some scars may never entirely fade, they place them in a way that makes it more difficult to “find” them – for instance, right along the hairline for a brow lift, within the natural fold of the eyelid during a blepharoplasty, or below the bikini line for a tummy tuck.
But still, it is important to treat the scar the right way post-surgery. Unfortunately, some surgeons may not focus enough on proper scar treatment for their patients, or perhaps patients are disregarding the instructions they were given. This leads to patients seeing scar revision later on. At NuBody Concepts Cosmetic Surgery, at both our Nashville and Memphis locations, we occasionally see patients with a previous scar they’d like to have “fixed,” for instance from a previous tummy tuck or even a hair transplant. Plastic surgery isn’t always the culprit – some people also seek scar treatment for marks left by adolescent acne or an old athletic injury.
Scar Revision treatments come in many forms and shapes, depending on the severity of your scarring and the size and location of your scar. They range from topical treatments, such as gels, to injectables and fillers, to surface treatments like microdermabrasion, laser light therapy, or chemical peels, to actual surgery to remove the old scar. For more severe scars, a surgeon may be able to use tissue expansion or skin grafts, or even reposition the scar.
However, leaving scars untreated and later seeking scar revision is not the best course of action. If a scar is treated the right way from the beginning, it has a much better chance of fading over time. Each patient is different and there are never any guarantees. Not all skin heals the same, and certain scars may remain visible even with all the right post-op treatment. But on the other end of the spectrum, we have seen amazing successes where diligent treatment made all the difference.
What is the Best Treatment for Cosmetic Surgery Scars?
It is important to treat your surgical scars immediately after surgery and to continue for as long as the surgeon has instructed you. At NuBody Concepts, our post-op care for surgical patients includes the use of BIOCORNEUM® Advanced Scar Treatment. For selected surgeries, and based on the surgeon’s assessment, you will receive a tube in your post-op kit. Additional tubes can be purchased for $75 plus shipping by contacting our Nashville or Memphis office. As you can imagine, we see and test many different products, and BIOCORNEUM® scar gel is by far the best we’ve found. Which is why we were thrilled to see it win the 2022 New Beauty Award for Best Scar Gel with SPF.
BIOCORNEUM® is a scar treatment that “advances the benefits of silicone sheeting through the comfort and ease of a gel.” It is fast-drying, lightweight, water resistant, and has an SPF of 30. You gently massage a small amount into the affected areas twice a day, and within just a few weeks you’ll be amazed how fast your scar is beginning to fade.
The SPF in BIOCORNEUM® is an added bonus, although you are well advised to apply additional sunscreen and/or cover up the area when exposed to sunlight. It cannot be stressed enough how very important it is to protect your scars from sunlight for up to a year post-surgery. Our plastic surgeon, Dr. John Rosdeutscher, recommends applying a sunscreen containing zinc on the affected areas, as it is the most effective against damaging UV rays. We also carry the ALASTIN range of skincare products which includes a broad-spectrum sunscreen that contains zinc oxide. When you schedule your surgery, we advise you to also meet with our aesthetician to discuss the best post-surgery regimen.
How You Can Order BIOCORNEUM® Scar Gel
If you have been given a tube of BIOCORNEUM® Advanced Scar Treatment for your post-surgery care but have run out and would like to extend treatment, simply call us at our Nashville or Memphis location to order more. The cost is $75 (20g) or $135 (50g), plus shipping. Yes, it sounds like an expensive product. But you don’t need a lot of it – a 20g tube can last 3 months, depending on the size of the area. It is one of the best investments you can make in your appearance.
If you have previous acne or surgical scars that bother you, please contact us for a scar revision assessment or a consultation with our aesthetician.
John Rosdeutscher, MD
Double board-certified plastic surgeon “Dr. R” has been voted Best of Music City #1 plastic surgeon 3+ years.
