Dr. Dirk Lazarus
Plastic Surgeon

Tel: 021 424 1112
Fax: 021 424 1118

86 New Church St
Tamboerskloof
Cape Town, 8001
South Africa

Every time the skin is cut healing will occur with a scar. Although plastic surgeons will place scars in inconspicuous places, often camouflaged in natural skin creases, and will create the minimal amount of scar possible by keeping incisions short and suturing beautifully, how you scar is often more a product of your genetic make up than anything else. Nevertheless there are a number of important, but simple treatments which can improve the appearance of a scar by about 50%. These include:

1. Taping of the scar with a simple tape such as micropore (3M) provides a splint for the skin in the same way that a plaster cast is a splint to help the healing of a broken bone. The tape once applied can be left in place for about a week and should be worn constantly until the scar is no longer red - about 6-12 months after surgery.
2. Gentle massage in the line of the scar improves blood supply and can help flatten the scar.
3. Scar nutrition with vitamins A, C and E may be helpful although the benefits are largely unproven.
4. Sun avoidance: Contrary to popular belief the sun is not good for scars (or other skin) and sun exposure can cause pigmentory problems. Use creams with an SPF of greater than 15.

Some patients present with established scars which they want corrected. These scars may be normal but just ugly and simple excision, sometimes with small re-orientating procedures such as a z-plasty may be all that is required to improve the scar. Acne scars or ice pick scars can be helped by laser (which I do not do), dermabrasion or multiple tiny excisions.

Other patients may present with abnormal scars which are red and raised - either hypertrophic scars (fresher scars) or keloids (older scars). These can benefit from non surgical treatment such as the application of silicone gel sheets and pressure garments (from an occupational therapists), certain long-acting steroids can be injected, or occasional, surgery may be offered, although surgery is associated with a very high recurrence rate of keloids.