Prominent scar

LegacyUser

Ill go unreggie for this one

Have scar bout 4cm across my neck just around my collarbone after a surgery

Does anyone have suggestions with regard to covering up the scar and or anything that would help healing.

Some info : The scar is from 2 surgeries (1 after the other) and is now over a year old.
I have tried bio oil (putting drops in bath as surgeon said not to apply directly) My surgeon pretty much told me at this stage bio oil is not going to do much... I take the medical professions advice with an open mind but i have to grudgingly admit he may be right. he did offer me laser but said he could not guarantee it would smooth out the surface and may actually make it worse (covering his a** id imagine)

It is in such a prominent place and is still so red that i am really getting downhearted about it as im so conscious of it and thus v limited in what i can wear which coming into summer is hard.. so if anyone has advice on healing promotion and scar cover up or has similar it would be great to hear

I know people will prob tell me not to worry and that scars are great etc .. but while i like other peoples im not too enamoured of my own so id app sound advice

Thanks

SarahSassy

vitamin E cream us supposed to be good and youll find it in any local chemist. Good luck

LegacyUser

thanks sarah but if u read my post you will see iv already tried bio oil and because of the age of my scar ive been advised it will make no difference

chilli_pepper

Try not too get too down about it , these things always seem worse to you than they do to other people...Hopefully what you are currently doing will make a difference soon for you

neacy69

SarahSassy wrote:

vitamin E cream us supposed to be good and youll find it in any local chemist. Good luck

or a product called bio-oil is supposed to be great for reducing visibility of scars...

Anti

If i remember right, boots sell a clear patch, like a plaster to cover a scar, and it heals the skin. I had a quick search, and found nothing about it. Im sure if you call into boots or another pharmacy they can advise you on such. Or maybe a quick trip/phonecall to your gp.

Attol

I guess I'm lucky since I only have scars on my back but I know it can suck pretty bad. I had two birthmarks removed when I was younger and they left pretty blatant scars on my back. I can't see them myself so it is kinda different but I have had jerks comment on them and ask "are you not self conscious? Can't believe you're happy in a bikini with those on your back?". Well no, I'm not self conscious. It takes getting used to and they will fade a lot. It's hard but you will have to learn to live with them and accept that people will be rude about them at times. You'll forget they're there, honest. It seems like a big deal at first but it does get a lot easier. Also I just went to see how mine looked as I had almost forgotten about them. I actually had to go looking for the other one as it has faded so much. I never tried anything to cover them up so all I can do is say good luck!

CathyMoran

I have 3 major scars, one very visible at my neck (I also have a minor scar on the other side), another on my tummy, another on my shoulder blade - they are all as a result of surgery and are between 6 and 8 inches long, there are a few minor ones (less than an inch each) in my sides and on my thighs. I see them as a sign of pride that I survived the operation, I do not care if people look and intend on wearing a bickini during the summer, at least I am alive. I can understand your worries over the scars but you should be proud of them.

Zillah

Scars generally aren't unnatractive unless they're disfiguring. A bit of make-up to reduce the redness and I can imagine most people wouldn't care much.

Of course I know very little about this, just a thought.

Dori Duz

Unreggie-boo wrote:

Ill go unreggie for this one

Have scar bout 4cm across my neck just around my collarbone after a surgery

My sister was left with a scar similar to the one you describe after having her thyroid removed about three years ago.

Like most surgical scars, it was slightly raised and red for about 18 months.

Now, its a thin, flat line 1 shade lighter than her skin tone.

She doesn't bother to try and cover it with make up any more as it's so unnoticeable. This is a shock, btw, as she's called "the pretty one" of the girls in my family (I'm the only other girl! ) and is extremely vain as a result!

I'd seek advice about getting it lazered from a few different practicioners if you feel the need to go down that route.

However, take into account that the appearance of the scar will improve given time.

I hope this is helpful.

Beruthiel

Unreggie-boo wrote:

It is in such a prominent place and is still so red that i am really getting downhearted about it as im so conscious of it and thus v limited in what i can wear which coming into summer is hard..

Wear whatever you want girl. The redness will eventually go away. I have a scar on my upper lip after a motorbike accident. It will never go away. I don't care, am just glad to have survived the accident.
Try and change your out look towards your scar. In the 14 years I've had my scar only one person commented on it. People really don't notice, or if they do, it matters not.

Icequeen

Don't know if you're male or female but if you're male there some talk on this thread about concealer for men and where you can get it and if you're a girl well get some concealer, I know it sounds small but the stuff does work. I have a pretty prominant scar on my cheek and it works for me. Get one thats paler than your skin and put that one on first and pat it down lightly with the finger next to your little finger then get another thats as close to your skin type as possible and put that over the other one. Go for a waterproof one and never rub it in just lightly pat it down. Also I know you're a bit embarrassed about it but, especially at this time of year, it's better to let it get as much sun as possible (using at least a factor 20 sunscreen) because sunlight actually promotes healing and helps the redness fade.

CathyMoran

My hubby has a big scar down his tummy, you would barely notice it now, it just takes time. He has always disliked his scar but I have always found it to be beautiful and even sexy.

I must admit that I needed reassurance after my surgery because at the moment I look like the bride of Frankenstein with all my scars, I even have one on my nose! The one on my back has been nicknamed shark bite as it looks like one but I am less concerned about the ones on my neck and tummy as I know that they will fade, my dad had thyroid surgery and I can not see any scar and the same with my husbands scar.

I do think that all you and I can do is wait for the scars to fade and that takes time.

grumpytrousers

Beruthiel wrote:

In the 14 years I've had my scar only one person commented on it. People really don't notice, or if they do, it matters not.

aye - i've got a most noticeable (to me anyway) scar right on my nose. it literally *is* as plain as the nose on me fact, in other words...and while it's not down to surgery (rather a late night that got out of hand) in the six years i've had it, sod all people have noticed it, and less have commented on it. I used to be so self conscious that I'd make mention of it first, 'cos i thought that people might sorta skirt around the 'issue' and then a mate said 'nobody gives a monkeys'...

He was right - they don't. I mean, I tried the vitamin E and boots magic plasters regiments and nothing was doing; scars last, scars fade, scars never go...but to the OP...ignore it - seriously - most everybody else will. And obviously those that make a deal of it...

fook em!

LegacyUser

Dori-Duz thanks a mil .. mine is thyroid scar too (2 surgeries) and your post gave me hope it will fade in time its great to hear it from someone who has seen it too can i just ask was your sis scar very raised still after say 1 year ? Mine is and in my head i cant see it ever fading

Beruthiel as always your posts are wise and true but i think i thought of myself as a 'new woman' before my illness u know.. take me as you find me kinda thing .. It was only after my illness and surgeries and subsequent complete change in appearance that i realised how much value i placed on my appearance when dealing with other people.. Its something i try really hard to not do and overcome but its the truth and i have had a few nasty comments which when you are down in yourself can do some real damage.. However i will try to be a bit braver and not care ..

Thanks guys , went unreggie but as always some great advice ..

Victor

I'm not sure how much surgery Kylie Minogue had, but she seems at ease (relative, I imagine theres a ton of lighting, make-up and editing) in these shots.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266367,00.html
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=260858
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/gallery-23361877-detail/Kylie's%20swimwear%20range%20for%20H&M/pos-1-image/gallery.do

Cancer-chick

Thanks victor

We both did the sinead o'connor look round about the same time !!
so she is someone i can relate to .. My hair has grown back now but thank you very much for this .. I know its lighting and 17 stylists ugly betty style

But its v much appreciated from u

B

lil'one

Hey i used these http://www.elastoplast.com.au/scar_customer.asp
for a few burn scars on my breasts after a work accident. they really worked for me, i have only one kinda noticable scar now about the size of a 2 euro coin, its not half as raised as it was and theres no redness anymore at all;)
you can get them in boots, they were about 20 quid or so at the time and definatley worth a go if the scar is getting to you

Dori Duz

Yurp it was prety raised. To her it was noticable, to the rest of us it wasn't. And believe me, I've always wanted Something to criticise her over(sisterly love!)

She did the bio oil thing and gave it time. I gave her a ring just there, she said it started flattening after about 18 months.

The sunlight will work wonders on it also, as Icequeen said. Just be careful not to burn it, a scar is delicate. USE PROTECTION!

Feel free to PM me If you have any questions.
Dori.

CathyMoran

As Cancer Chick said - thanks Victor, she looks amazing. She was the best thing to happen to chemo patients in a long time, I may even keep my short hair now.

This thread did bring up some issues for me which I discussed with my husband, my scars are very visible at the moment and I think that I was dismissing them too long as at the moment I am still very ill so having scars makes sense if that makes any.

Shane got me Calendula cream which he was told would help with their healing - hope that this helps.

Beruthiel

Unreggie-boo wrote:

i have had a few nasty comments which when you are down in yourself can do some real damage..

Aren't people idiots? Seriously, I wouldn't be long putting them in their place if they were stupid enough to make a silly comment.
Never allow someone with the IQ of a shoe to upset you, pity them instead.

However i will try to be a bit braver and not care ..

Remind yourself that it's good to be alive, that will always put a smile on your face.

doubtfir3

I have very prominent scars on my arms - on my left basically my whole upper arm, shoulder and on the right my elbow looks a bit mad .. then you have the ones on my leg and chest and of course one on my upper lip as well.. add to that the bald patches I have on the back of my head..

yes, you guessed it.. a motorbike accident a few years back

even though they used to bother me, i kinda got used to them and now its not an issue.. really view them as a reminder of something stupid I did and then survived so now I'm almost proud of them.

If you're really worried about it OP, then you can get a product called Cica-Care which is a clear gel plaster which you put on the affected area for 2 hours the first day, then 3, then 6 and so on up to 24 hours for a couple of weeks and it will dramatically reduce the scar's redness.

Keep the chin up.. and don't ever let what others may say about you get you down... just remember that everyone has insecurities about something which will hopefully help you feel a little better about your scar.

SarahSassy

Elastoplast do a scar reducing plaster and Im sure your pharmacist will be able to suggest creams.