Arnica and Bio Oil - are they worth using?

What are your thoughts ladies? Will Arnica really make any difference? Also, would bio-oil be the best thing to use to reduce post-op stretch marks?

As always ladies, your help is really appreciated! xxx

I used arnica and I'm not sure how helpful it was, I didn't have a bruise but I still had a lot of swelling. A lot of ladies dont use arnica and still don't have bruising. So I think it's a personal preference. The one thing I did notice is I fell over a few days before my BA and was taking arnica and my ankle had slight bruising but not as much as it would normally and it went quite quickly.
I used bio oil and palmers cocoa butter before my BA and after, I found it very good. I didn't get stretchmarks but then I don't think I was going to get them. These creams can't really prevent them, but they can get your skin in as good a condition as possible ready for stretching. If you do happen to get any, then the creams will help reduce them to the silver lines quicker.
I also had chicken pox a year ago and was left with some scars, which I used pure vitamin E oil in (this is present in small amounts in both bio oil and palmers) and it seemed to work quite quickly for me.

Hmmmm, well that's given me something to think about. I might just give the arnica a miss, but I think I'll start using the bio-oil. I already use palmers as a daily moisturiser for my body anyway. I've got 6 weeks until my op, do you think it would be sensible to start using bio oil from now? Just to prep my skin, or is it too soon? xxx

I used it 2 weeks before, but you can start any time hun. It won't do you any harm and will be very good for your skin.

Thanks misf1! I'll give it a couple of weeks before I start using it....think I'm getting a bit over eager!!!! xxx

lol it's an exciting time hun. You're allowed to be eager. It'll be here before you know it.

If you've been instructed by your clinic to take arnica, then you should take it lovely. Any pre or past op instruction not followed could possibly void your aftercare.

If its choice.. Well, I don't personally think it does anything. I've had a surgery using arnica and another without. The one without, I healed perfectly without a bruise, the one with (although a more invasive surgery) I bruised like a peach! And the swelling was huge!

There's no medical evidence as yet to support its healing properties but if you wanted to give it a go there's no harm in trying it.

You can help prepare the skin pre-op to possibly avoid stretch by keeping your breasts well moisturised and supple. The Palmers you're already using is perfectly fine, its not worth spending money you don't have to hun, just make sure you moisturise morning and night and hopefully you won't get any stretch marks at all. Sadly though if you're prone to them then no lotions, moisturisers or oils will get rid of rid them... bio-oil then may help to lighten them, but I've personally found moisturising as you're already doing is just as good. Xx

Thanks Cookie! I've had no instructions to use arnica yet, but I'm having my pre-op on Saturday so I'll ask the nurse about it. I'm having another consultation with Mr Clarke but not until 26 February, so I will see what he says about it as well! xxx

hi i used arnica gel, not cream and even if it done nothing else it was soooo coolingbto rub on my boobs

i swear by bio oil use it daily have done for years xx

I used bio oil throughout the entire term and afterwards of my first pregnancy... I stretched awfully and it made no difference. So I think its a waste of money. If your prone to stretch marks then you will stretch and there's not much you can do about it. X

i used bio oil in my pregnancy and im covered in stretch marks on my tummy, its not worth the money. just moisturise well hun x

i dont use bio oil for stretch marks. not got any but i use it for moisurisation (wrong spelling lol) xx

Hmmmm, maybe it's just a case of being prone to stretch marks then? I've only had a few on my bum before from when I was really skinny and put on quite alot of weight fast, they've gone now though! I'll probably still get the bio oil anyway and use along with my mosituriser for a couple of weeks before and after my BA, I can't do any harm so might as well give it a try! Thanks for your input ladies :-)