How Long After Surgery Can You Use Scar Cream?

Every surgical process leads to scars. Scarring is a healing process that shows that the body is recovering; however, it disturbs the aesthetics of the body. Many look for solutions to combat the scars and ask for cream or gel recommendations for the get but when you should start using scar creams. 

The basic understanding says it takes 4 weeks to completely heal the wound, then only you must start treating your scars once they are fully formed. Let’s take a closer look at it.

How Skin Heals After Surgery?

To understand when to start the application of scar cream, you must know how the healing process works to form the scars. Your body goes through the following phases post- surgery: 

• Immediate After Surgery: This phase is crucial as the wounds are open and the body is trying to heal the area. Swelling and redness are common in the phase, but you can’t use any scar cream.
• 2nd to 3rd Week of Surgery: Now that the body is healing, it starts producing collagen to form new skin tissues on the wounds, and scars start to form. They are red and itchy. You must consult your doctor if you could start treatment of your scars. 
• After 3rd Week of Surgery: At the third week, the scars are visible, and you must start a mild application of scar cream or gel on the scars to make them less visible. 

You cannot make the scars completely disappear, but the visibility is reduced to zero. You can enjoy almost scar-free skin if you follow the instructions of your doctor to address these scars properly. 

When To Start Caring For Scars After Surgery?

Everyone has a different healing journey, and thus the care for scars also differs for everyone. But usually it starts once the wound is fully closed and the scars are fully visible. Here’s a tentative breakdown of factors that may affect the time of caring for scars:

1. Ensure the wound is completely healed. If the incision is open and there are signs like redness or unusual pain, then you must avoid applying any scar cream. This may lead to bacterial infection. So, wait until the wound is closed. 
2. Consult your doctor before applying any scar cream, as the scars are different for different types of wounds. The type of cream you must apply must be recommended by the doctor.
3. If the incision size is bigger, such as in the case of surgeries like tummy tucks or breast augmentation, the healing time will take time, and thus your care for the scars will take time. 

Tips To Care for Your Scars 

To start with, you can use some of the home remedies to make the scars less itchy and reduce their redness and swelling. And slowly start the cream or gel as directed by your surgeon. By following some tips, you can reduce the visibility of the scars, such as:

• Protection from sun: The scars must be protected by the sun as the UV radiation can make the scar look worse. Always use sunblock with a minimum SPF of 25–30. Wearing clothes that block the sun or a hat to stop the sun rays can protect your skin from damage. 
• Apply Oil: Massaging on the scar with coconut oil or other essential oils is helpful in reducing the itching. It gives the scars moisture and also reduces the redness and swelling. 
• Apply Scar Creams or Gel: The scar creams containing vitamin E and onion extracts are very helpful in reducing the appearance of scars. Silicon-based creams or gels have proven to be effective on the scars. 

Final Thought

The scars are an essential part of the healing process but do disturb the aesthetics of the body. To treat them properly, you must consult your surgeon. As the healing process differs from person to person, thus the time to start caring for the scar also differs. Mostly, you must start the care after 3 to 4 weeks once the wound is fully healed and scars are visible. Protect the scar from the sun and massage with essential and coconut oil to stop the itching. Use scar cream with vitamin E and onion extract to remove the visibility of scars.