Just received this e-mail and wanted to pass on this information that you should know about scars…of any kind.+�-� Please remember that your body may+�-�heal differently and that you should always follow the advice of your Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon when it comes to post-op healing and scar management.+�-� Nonetheless, I think this is still good information for those thinking about Facelifts, Mini Lifts, Tummy Tuck, Breast Augmentation, Blepharoplasty, Browlift, Chin Augmentation, Lip Augmentation, Otoplasty+�-�or even Rhinoplasty.+�-� Please read below….Dr. Francis R. Palmer, III
+�-�I am a surgical nurse with a background in physiology and a special personal interest in scars and healing.+�-�This is a definite science and patients would be helped if they understood it.
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Scars are too much collagen. Normal scar formation involves a balance between collagen and collagenase activity. Many things can help swing the balance favorably.
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First… what doesn’t? Mederma is onion extract. Any product that claims to raise sunken scars and sink raised scars should be suspect just from a common sense standpoint! No study shows any clinical benefit. Dr. Mustoe of Northwestern studied this and published it in the Plastic Surgery Journal. The bad thing here is that people who use this think that nothing will help scars.Not true!
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What does raise collagenase activity and melt scar tissue? Silicone, cortisone, pressure and occlusion.
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Without a doubt, Silicone sheets like Cica Care work if people would use them. The problem here is that they are hard to use and draw attention.
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Silicone gels like Scarfade and Kelocote work but are a bit messy.
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Cordran Tape works but falls off and also draws attention.
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Vitamin E is controversial but a special type of vitamin E has been shown to slow collagenesis preventing scar buildup in forming scars.
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The most popular treatment among plastic surgeons in my research is a Mentor Corporation product called Scarguard. This is silicone, cortisone and vitamin E in a fast drying+�-� liquid like nail polish. It has been shown to raise collagenase activity tremendously in published studies. It is also in some drug stores.
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If a person is trying to prevent scars after surgery or has a raised scar that is old, these products should be recommended. They work!!! This advice would really help your patients!
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Sincerely
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Heidi
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