How long after a tummy tuck and breast lift can I start using the silage scar sheets? Which brand is best recommended?
I usually start patients on the silicone products at about 3 weeks. There are many brands, all of which are good. I give the patients a choice of sheets vs gel.
I do not use them nor do I recommend them. Instead I use the Dornier 940 Diode Laser which is ideally suited for this. Red pigment absorbs this wavelength, so for a slightly raised and red scar, hemoglobin in the scar will absorb the laser light and be destroyed, no more red scar. Additionally most of the volume of a raised scar is water which will be vaporized and result in a flattened scar which will be seen immediately. The earliest I do this is two weeks after the last sutures are removed. One treatment only is required. It is usually done in 10-15 minutes. Simple.
Dear Rowe15, I am glad that you are taking the initiative to use a silicone gel product to get the best result possible after your surgery. Personally, I recommend these products to nearly all of my patients. I typically ask patients to start silicone therapy when the incisions are completely healed, and all sutures are out (normally 3 weeks postop). With regard to products, I prefer Cimeosil, Biocorneum, or a silicone product that my practice has developed with a local compounding pharmacy. I suggest that you ask your surgeon specifically what product he or she recommends. Good luck!
As most patients have mentioned, 3 weeks is a good starting point for scar management, when the wound is "water-tight" and has re-established much of it's native strength. For smaller, cosmetically sensitive incisions such as breast augmentation scars, I usually tape for 3-4 weeks and recommend Biocorneum ointment thereafter. With a tummy tuck, the best thing you can do early is keep the wound clean, dry, and as tension-free as possible. Taping works very well for scar management and tension load sharing.
Always follow the instructions of your plastic surgeon.
We generally suggest to all patients that they can alternate topical product (Prosil, Biocorneum) use with silicone sheeting if they are interested in giving it a try, and figure out what works best for them. Some people like using the sheeting, others find it to be too much of a hassle
The Vbeam laser in an excellent post-operative treatment to reduce and speed the healing of post-operative scars. It is included at no additional price for all of my tummy tuck patients.
PRF is an excellent treatment that is not needed by most patients, but it is one of the tools in the toolbox available for patients who delevop scars that are persistent or are problematic. The Resolve laser can also be used if a scar is pigmented.
I have seen great results with silicone patching, and yes, 2-3 weeks post-op is when I usually start it on my patients. I have also seen impressive results with old scars as well, so in my opinion it is never too late to start using it