When Can I Start Using Silicone Scar Products After My Surgery?

So how long does that take?

How Long Does It Take Surgery Scars to Heal?

This is a common question many of our customers have. While there’s no “hard and fast” rule, this can take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks, though it usually takes only about a week or so for the wound itself to fully close.

The rate at which your surgical wound closes will depend on many factors, namely how well you keep it clean and dry. Following your surgeon’s instructions is incredibly important for reducing healing time and getting to apply your scar treatment sooner. If you want your wound to heal as soon as possible, take the following tips into consideration:

• Don’t submerge your incision for at least 6 weeks.

• Don’t poke, scratch, pull, or pick at your incision.

• If your incision starts to open, contact your doctor immediately.

• Do not wash your incision with anything other than warm water for the first week or two.

• Do not apply skincare or scar care products until the wound has completely closed.

• Take it easy; don’t overwork that part of your body.

• Be patient and minimize stress.

How To Get Rid of Scars: Which Products Do I Use?

The gold standard in scar management is silicone. While healing a scar, limiting water loss during the scar’s reconstruction phase is critical, which is where silicone comes into play. Silicone products like our sheeting or gel create an occlusive barrier that puts a halt to water loss in the wound site. When addressing your scars, make sure you have a product for all times of day一 this will ensure that your scar is constantly protected.

A Silicone Scar Sheet (Scar Fx)

Use at night while you sleep

For example, our Scar Fx Silicone Sheets come in many shapes and sizes and can be cut down effectively to give you the exact coverage you need. For more information about this, check out How Do Scar Fx Silicone Sheets Work On Scars?

A Silicone Scar Gel (ScarSil)

Use during the day in high-visibility areas

Silicone gels are great for daytime coverage in spots that are more visible to others, such as the face, neck, hands, and more. Luckily, gels like our ScarSil Silicone Scar Gel go on clear so that no one will notice you’re wearing anything.

A Silicone Cream (Scar Esthetique)

Use anywhere you have discolouration

Silicone creams serve a dual purpose. While their main goal is to protect your scar while it restructures, the other ingredients may have other functions, such as reducing itchiness, minimising swelling, or (like our Scar Esthetique Silicone Scar Cream) equalising the tone of your scar and reducing redness.

Scars form when the dermis (deep, thick layer of skin) is damaged. The body forms new collagen fibers (a naturally occurring protein in the body) to mend the damage, resulting in a scar. The new scar tissue will have a different texture and quality than the surrounding tissue. Scars form after a wound is completely healed.

Some emergency c-sections will use a classic vertical incision, though – especially if you or your baby is in immediate danger. The vertical incision takes longer to heal and is more likely to scar poorly.

There are different kinds of scars. Most scars are flat and pale. However, in cases when the body produces too much collagen, scars can be raised. Raised scars are called hypertrophic scars or keloid scars. Both of these kinds of scars are more common in younger and dark-skinned people.

Some scars can have a sunken or pitted appearance. This kind of scarring occurs when underlying structures supporting the skin (for example, fat or muscle) are lost. Some surgical scars have this appearance, as do some scars from acne.

Scars also can appear as stretched skin. Such scars result when the skin stretches rapidly (for example, as in growth spurts or during pregnancy). In addition, this type of scar can occur when the skin is under tension (near a joint, for example) during the healing process.

Silicone Scar Sheets. 

Silicone scar sheets are a popular and effective treatment for reducing the appearance of scars. 

Here's how they work:

Mechanisms of Action

Hydration: Silicone sheets create a thin, occlusive (moisture-trapping) barrier over the scar. This increases hydration within the top layer of skin (stratum corneum). The increased hydration signals the body to normalize collagen production, decreasing the excess that leads to raised and discolored scars.

Protection: The sheet acts as a protective layer for the scar, minimizing friction and shielding it from further irritation or bacterial infection. This promotes a better healing environment.

"Breathing" Permeability: Though they form a barrier, silicone sheets are designed to be semi-permeable, allowing skin to "breathe" and maintain normal functions.

Tension Reduction: Silicone sheets may gently reduce tension across the scar site, helping to prevent excess scar tissue from forming.

Growth Factor Regulation: Some research suggests silicone may help regulate growth factors within the skin. These growth factors promote collagen production, and silicone could work to normalize this process and reduce excess collagen buildup.

Benefits

Softer, flatter scars

Decreased redness and discoloration

Improved scar texture

Reduced itching and discomfort associated with scars.

Types of Scars

Silicone scar sheets are generally effective for:

Hypertrophic scars: Thick, raised scars that stay within the boundary of the original wound.

Keloid scars: Raised scars that often grow beyond the boundary of the original wound.

Important Considerations

Patience is key: Results may take several weeks or months to appear.

Early treatment is better: Scars respond best within the first year or two.

Talk to your doctor: Be sure to consult a doctor or dermatologist if you have deep or open wounds, signs of infection, or pre-existing skin conditions.

In each of our Scar Heal Kits, you’ll find everything you need to get started on your scar healing journey. Each kit contains Scar Fx silicone sheeting (which comes in a wide variety of sizes for you to tailor to your scar) and Scarsil silicone scar gel. While each of these products work great on their own to keep excess collagen production at bay, we recommend using these products together— which is why we created the Scar Heal Kit! Simply use the silicone scar sheets at night, and the silicone gel during the day for a flat, smooth scar!

Scars are the marks of life— and we can’t always plan for them. With surgical procedures, however, you do have the chance to get the right tools in place ahead of time to treat your scars. Our comprehensive line of silicone scar products is here to help you at every step along the way.