How To Safely Heal Your Scars After Surgery

Undergoing surgery can be daunting enough without worrying about how your scar will heal afterwards. Our experts are here to walk you through the scar healing process and offer advice on how you can promote healing. Let’s dive right in.

After having surgery, you’ll probably be taking some time out to recuperate, and this is exactly what your scar tissue will be doing, too. Your body begins healing as soon as you leave surgery, but scar healing is a complex process that can be helped by a number of different treatments. Scars alter slightly every day, and the sooner you begin caring for yourself, the quicker it will heal. Understanding your scar will help inform the healing process, so you know exactly what’s happening internally, as you treat your external wound.

What is a surgery scar?

A scar is your body’s natural fortress from infections. When the body is wounded, or in this case, operated on, scar formation is a natural result of the healing process and wound closure. When a wound closes, it does so in three stages: inflammation, proliferation and remodelling. Scar formation happens in the remodelling stage, after the wound is completely closed. This usually occurs around 2-3 weeks post-op.

During this phase, your skin is knitting back together and recruiting collagen to the site of the scar to rebuild. Your scar may look slightly different every day, as your body works to repair the three layers of skin (yes, there are three!) that have been severed.

How to heal your surgery scar?

Scars are natural, and you shouldn’t fear them, but there are a couple of things you can do to safely promote healing and minimise the appearance of surgery scars.

Pre-surgery preparation for scar healing

Before even undergoing surgery, you can use our specially formulated topical treatment to prepare your skin for optimum healing. Control Topical Solution™ should be used 48 hours prior to surgery by applying it to the intended surgical areas. This is to prepare the tissue for the upcoming trauma. This product contains Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract which offers anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties to the skin, to sanitise the area and prepare for safe healing.

This product can also be used post-surgery, to reduce pain and promote healthy wound healing.

Applying a topical scar cream

eWhile no product can make scars vanish, there are some intelligent post-operative creams that can minimise the appearance of scars and promote healing. Our ultimate topical recommendation is Conceal Ultimate Scar Cream™. This unique skin restorer acts at all phases of wound and scar healing by stimulating the production of collagen, elastin, and fibroblast migration.

Uniquely, this product contains Chlorhexidine Digluconate, which prevents infections and sanitises the area. Revolutionarily, this means this scar cream can be used early in the scar healing process, which is essential to optimum healing.

Pre-surgery preparation for scar healing

Applying a topical scar cream

While no product can make scars vanish, there are some intelligent post-operative creams that can minimise the appearance of scars and promote healing. Our ultimate topical recommendation is Conceal Ultimate Scar Cream™. This unique skin restorer acts at all phases of wound and scar healing by stimulating the production of collagen, elastin, and fibroblast migration.

Uniquely, this product contains Chlorhexidine Digluconate, which prevents infections and sanitises the area. Revolutionarily, this means this scar cream can be used early in the scar healing process, which is essential to optimum healing.

Post-surgery scar massage

Scar massage is a powerful tool for promoting healing, post-surgery. When you massage the skin, you encourage blood flow to this area, thus boosting the delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients to the scar.

Massaging your scar can be daunting. Many people who undergo surgery feel nervous about touching their scar afterwards, which is totally normal. This area is more tender than ever and you may be experiencing new sensations around your scar that you’re not used to. If you’re nervous to massage your scar, take it slowly. Begin by gently touching areas around the scar and working your way towards it as you get more comfortable. You could try using a soft, clean makeup brush to lightly run over the scar and desensitise it first.

When you’re comfortable touching the area, you can use the Conceal Ultimate Scar Cream™ to perform your scar massages, to deliver your scar essential nutrients and boost elasticity as you massage it.

Massage is only appropriate when your wound is fully healed and there are no stitches or staples remaining. Consult your doctor if you’re unsure.

Can you prevent scars?

You cannot prevent scarring, as it is a natural part of the healing process. You can, however, do a lot in the early days to minimise the long-term appearance of your surgery scar. Using the treatments mentioned above will help maximise the healing process and supply your scar with sufficient elastin and collagen to heal as subtly as possible.

Additionally, you can:

Keep your scar out of direct sunlight, using SPF if the area is exposed.
Stay hydrated, to keep your natural moisture levels topped up.
Nourish your body with lots of nutrient-dense foods, as well as applying topical creams that contain vitamins and antioxidants.

The ultimate surgery scar treatment package

We developed The Wound and Scar Treatment Therapy™ specifically to treat surgery scars, as the combination of our Control Topical Solution™ and Conceal Ultimate Scar Cream™ is exceptionally effective at treating your skin at each stage of the healing process. Get your ultimate scar treatment here.