Scars are a natural part of the body's healing process following any surgical procedure that cuts into the skin. It is the body's way of sealing over the incision wound to protect it from further infection or injury. In most cases, scars will naturally fade over time until they are almost invisible. There are a number of treatments that can be used to reduce the appearance of scars, including tea tree oil or silicone sheeting. The scars can also be hidden with foundation makeup that matches the skin tone.

However, in some cases, patients might experience excessive scarring, in the form of either hypertrophic or keloid scars. Hypertrophic scars will usually be raised and red, but will be confined to the size and shape of the original incision and eventually heal over time. In contrast, keloid scars will not be confined just to the incision site, but can migrate into surrounding skin tissue that was not cut open. Keloids also will not heal over time, but will remain raised, shiny, and thick. Keloids may also be itchy, tender, or painful to the touch.

In the case of tummy tuck procedures, keloid scarring may be particularly troublesome due to the length of the incisions that are needed to perform the procedure. Dr. Paul Pin will use his skill and expertise to prevent keloid scarring as much as possible, but patients should know that there are treatments available should keloid scars develop as the incision sites heal.

What Causes Keloid Scarring

The cause of keloid scarring is still unknown. It is thought that keloids may form because of changes in cellular growth patterns of the skin during the healing process. Although keloids are equally likely to form in either men or women, people with darker skin are somewhat more susceptible. The tendency to develop keloid scars may also be hereditary.

Treating Keloid Scars

There are several methods to treat keloid scars following a tummy tuck procedure. Cortisone injections into the scars every four to six weeks will flatten them out and make them less noticeable. However, the scars will not fade in terms of color.

Silicone sheeting may also help reduce the appearance of keloid scars. The good news in the case of tummy tuck scars is that the sheets can easily be held in place with undergarments.

Finally, some laser treatments may also reduce the appearance of keloid scars. Low level lasers can stimulate healing of the scars. Several treatments maybe required to achieve their desired results.

Fortunately, tummy tuck scars will not be generally noticeable, except perhaps in a bikini. Patients who do develop keloid scars following a tummy tuck procedure have a variety of options available to reduce their appearance when wearing low rise bikinis.

To learn more about keloid scars after tummy tuck, or to find out if you are a candidate for treatment, contact Dr. Pin's practice today.