Try these treatments for surgical scarring.

Scarring after surgery is inevitable, after all, your surgeon is making an incision in the body and that incision will take time to heal. Depending on the type of surgery you have had, the intensity of your surgical scarring will vary. Other factors that may effect the type of scar you end up with are things like genetics, age and your complexion. We’re diving into a bit of scarring 101 below.

There are a few stages of scarring as a wound heals. 

Inflammatory phase occurs within the first 12 hours – 5 days post surgery. This is the time when your body will release more blood and other fluids to the incision area to help close the wound.

Proliferation phase also occurs within the first 24 hours -7 days post surgery, at this time the skin begins to create the platform of permanent scar tissue around the wound. 

Maturation phase starts at 2 weeks and can last up to 12 months. During this phase the body is producing more collagen to reconstruct the scar, some people are surprised that after about 2 months the scar may look worse as it becomes more red and raised in appearance. Do not be alarmed, even the most thick and purple looking scars will eventually flatten and lose colour, with the right treatment.

To reduce the severity of your scarring, it’s best to avoid smoking, eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of water and also refrain from having a cheeky wine or two for a while. Be conscious of how much rest you are getting and limit your exposure to sun. All of these little elements will give you a better scarring outcome. 

Scarring can be a bit of an eye sore and deter from your cosmetic surgery results. We have multiple treatments in clinic that can accelerate the healing process, reduce the colour of a scar and ensure its’ long term presence is as discrete as possible. 

Let’s take a look at the options we have for the reduction of surgical scarring. 

LED Light Therapy: 

LED Light Therapy is popular for so many reasons, and they’re all pretty impressive. Red light therapy is a natural pain and inflammation reliever, and speeds up the healing process of wounds. Red light will significantly reduce raised scars, repair the skin’s tissue and reduce the overall visibility of a scar.

This therapy works by exposing the skin to low levels of red and near-infrared light, the repeated exposure produces wavelengths of light that generate heat and penetrate the skin. This light allows the cells to function efficiently which in turn rejuvenates and repairs the skin. Best part of LED light therapy? Zero downtime.

Session time: 30 minutes
Recovery time: No recovery time
Treatments: 6-10

Lumecca IPL Therapy:

Lumecca is one of our newest treatments in clinic and is predominantly known for targeting pigment. However, this magical machine is also great for scarring. It is powerful at restoring and repairing the skin. Lumecca uses intended pulsed light (IPL) which penetrates deep into the skin and treats the underlying causes of scarring – damaged tissue. This treatment will boost the production of collagen, the protein that is essential for healthy and youthful skin.

Along with reducing the height of a scar, Lumecca will also reduce the redness, improve the texture and size. Many clients report an improvement in their scarring after just a few treatments (you’re in luck, we have packages of 3!). We love this treatment as it is highly customisable to suit your specific needs and the variety of scars, it also has short downtime of just a couple of days. 

Session time: 45 minutes
Recovery time: 1-2 days
Treatments: 3

Morpheus8:

Morpheus8 is making moves within the clinic! This therapy has become extremely popular as the results on surgical scarring from just 3 treatments is incredible, especially hypertrophic scarring (raised scars). Morpheus8 utilises radio-frequency energy to rejuvenate the skin, with a minimally-invasive approach. Using micro-needles, this treatment applies the radio-frequency energy into deep layers of the skin.

This process triggers skin cell renewal and tissue rebuilding, hence the improvement of scarring. As Morpheus8 provides tissue remodelling at the depth of 8mm, it is one of the most advanced and effective radio-frequency treatments. A little side note, downtime for Morpheus8 is approximately a week.

Session time: 60 minutes
Recovery time: 5-7 days
Treatments: 3-4

Laser Genesis:

Laser Genesis is the collagen producing powerhouse! We love this treatment as it has the skills and finesse to produce microsecond pulses that not only penetrate the surface layers of our skin, but also have deep dermal effects. This process actually triggers the bodies natural healing process, and in turn treats scarring.

This FDA approved treatment utilises advanced technology to break down scar tissue, reducing the scar size and colour. Like a lot of the treatments on our menu, this one also stimulates collagen production and encourages new skin cell growth. These new skin cells work to replace the damaged scar tissue, resulting in a more even toned and obvious reduction in surgical scarring.

Session time: 20 minutes
Recovery time: No recovery time
Treatments: 3-5

Skin Needling:

You’ll notice a common theme with these treatments – they all produce collagen, we love collagen. Collagen induction therapy, widely known as skin needling, is micro trauma to the skin, which prompts the body’s healing response of collagen and elastin production. This process leads to less noticeable surgical scarring and a more even skin texture.

Skin needling has been very effective for clients with chronic acne scarring, but it also works well for surgical scarring. This treatment is good for anyone who wants to dip their toes into needling therapy, it’s a more gentle approach, a lower cost and minimal downtime. 

Session time: 30 minutes
Recovery time: 1-2 days
Treatments: 3-6

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