In any reason for you to get a surgery whether it is caused by a disease or for beauty, after surgery many people want their wounds to heal quickly and without scars.
There are techniques on how to take care of yourself after surgery such as;
- To prevent scarring.
Most of the time after surgery, the doctor will cover the wound with waterproof plaster. It helps patient to take shower comfortably and reduces the chance of surgical wound to be exposed with water. Because exposing the wound to water can cause the wound to heal slowly than usual and chance of getting a scar is higher. Once the wound begins to dry, it can be switched to a silicone sheet that reduces it from getting a hypertrophic scar which commonly called as Keloid. Silicone Sheet can also help protect the wound from water.
- Be careful on getting infection.
Whether the surgery used is an absorbable or non-absorbable suture, it does not affect on scarring. But it depends on the type of suture, technique to close the wound and other factors involved such as, if the wound is not well taking care of until it becomes infected and may cause the wound to bulge. Therefore, be very careful. Do not remove the plaster yourself or if you have itchiness, it’s best to consult a doctor. Your doctor may prescribe a medication to reduce itchiness caused by allergies of waterproof plaster. Should also maintain cleanliness of the surgical wound area to reduce the risk of infection.
- Nourish with good food.
Eating well aid the wounds heal faster. Eat food such as; high in protein from meat, good fats from olive oil, carbohydrates like unrefined brown rice, fruits and vegetables that contain vitamins. These can help in the regeneration of new skin cells and tissue accelerating wounds heal quickly.
- Refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol.
Toxins from cigarettes can destroy the cells responsible for skin repair on the surgical site resulting to poor blood supply to the surgical wound and also increases the risk of infection in the wound. It is best to refrain from smoking before and after the surgery for at least 4 weeks.
- If you start to notice that the scars are getting bigger and forms into keloid, you should be hurry to get a laser treatment. In general, we recommend a Vbeam or Pulsed Dye Laserto help reduce the bulginess and redness of the scar together with keloid injection. We can do laser about 4-6 weeks after the surgery.
