Minimize Scarring and Swelling After Surgery

The best way to help reduce scarring and accelerate healing after a surgery is to go into it as healthy and strong as possible. Consume lots of fruits and vegetables, water, and lean protein to give your body the vitamins and protein it needs from within to heal.

Even the most healthy people will have scarring and swelling after any surgical procedure, even a minor one. Instructions will be sent home with the patient following the procedure, but in general, here are some major ways to reduce swelling and scarring:

1. Apply cold compresses right after the procedure. Cold reduces blood flow
temporarily and will reduce swelling.

2. Rest. Even if you feel pretty good, rest is the body’s time to heal. Healing and cell renewal occur during sleep, so take it easy. Don’t rush healing.3. Hydrate. Water is essential for all vital functions but after a procedure, it
helps bring healing nutrients to every part of the body, including where the
incisions were made.4. Arnica, a homeopathic over the counter product, found in many pharmacies and health food stores, taken orally, is said to reduce inflammation and accelerate blood flow to healing sites.5. Scarring can possibly be prevented by using over-the-counter creams, gels or silicon sheets that are targeted for reducing scarring when applied over the incision sites.

6. Avoid sun exposure if the scar is located where it is not covered by clothing. Use a cream that contains sunscreen, as the sun’s rays will increase scarring.

7. Ablative fractional resurfacing is a minor procedure that removes the upper layers of skin to eliminate or remove scars, especially on areas where scarring may be a cosmetic issue for some patients, such as on the face.

Healing, recovery time and scarring all vary from patient to patient. For questions about any procedures before and after, please contact us at: jaxplasticsurgery.com. Our helpful, friendly staff will answer any and all inquiries.