Scaring - Vitamin E

Hello Ladies,



For everyone who has welcomed me already, thank you. I am excited to start some of my questions/discussions with you.



For some of you who have not seen my intro, I'll give you a quick update....



I had my BA July 28, 2011. I am 5'8 and had 500cc done in both breasts. I bought a bra from LaSenza (even though I know I'm still in the wearing my sports bra phase, it was an emergency outting where I needed the extra vavoom than the sports bra. This bra has extra padding over the underwire which makes the underwire unable to rub on my incisions) I fit into a 34DD bra so I am guessing by the end I will probally be a full D, which was my goal. But after seeing me as a DD I wish I got them bigger BUT all well, I think I got the result I wanted, it is just hard seeing them so big then shrinking haha!



So my question to everyone is how did/do you prevent major scaring?



My surgen recommended I wear the 1" paper tape (I think that is what it is called) and change it every week. I can not remember for how long but I had asked him about Vitamin E and he said he would not recommend I use it until I hit around the 3 month mark, the reasoning for that, I don't know? I have another appointment on Monday, Aug. 22, 2011 so I will try to get more answers. I have heard from a few women that they started to use Vitamin E oil right away and they have no scars??



I know everyone heals differently, but should I be using Vitamin E oil this early after my surgery or does it really matter?



Anna K

I was also told nothing on my scars for some time, it takes weeks for them to fully heal and by rubbing oils and such on them can not only put you at risk of infection but interfere with the healing process. I started using bio oil in the morning and silicone strips at night from around the 3 month mark, my scars have healed and faded wonderfully and are still continuing to fade. I recommend following your doctors orders.

Hi sarahdawn31,



Thank you for the reassurance. I figured doctors know best, but wondered why other women risked using oils right away in hopes nothing would happen. Maybe they got lucky, but it is nice to know I am doing what I am suppose to and there is still a chance I can do my best for no scaring. I hope! Glad to hear yours are healing wonderfully and I hope mine can too :)

I use Bio oil on my breasts but not on the scar yet... :flowers:

My PS also told me to use papertape. He told me the reason for this is because it helps to stop the scar tissue from spreading/pulling with the stretching of skin, and movement etc. I have been told I have to use it for 6 months post-op, as that should be long enough for the scar to fully knit. Like you - he also mentioned nothing about needing any oils / creams, etc. So I'm just going to do as he tells me... :-)

Yeah, I think it also helps stop the bra you are wearing from rubbing on the scar as well - which also handy! He said the scar always starts out as a hairline, but over time can spread out to 3-4mm in width if they're not looked after, just from moving and the skin stretching!

And I've seen it first hand - my bf recently broke his leg right under his knee joint and had to have surgery to plate the bone back together. He hasn't done anything to care for scar at all (calls it war wounds!) and the part of the scar up by the joint where his knee moves has spread out to about 5mm in width, but down the length of the scar where it's more stationary, it's just a hairline. So THAT'S why you tape them!!

To get a ticker, you can just click on mine, and it will link you to the website to get one. You just choose what kind of ticker you want, and what design you want and it'll give you a code. Copy and paste the code into your signature in your profile, and it'll come up everytime you post

Haha, leave it to a guy to not take care of his body and typical for them to say...."My war wound" That's cute! I just hope I won't have to say, that's my war wound haha!



For the ticker, I clicked on yours and it brought me to the website BUT I can not seem to find one regarding BA or anything blank or close to it

Anna K wrote:I had my BA July 28, 2011. I am 5'8 and had 500cc done in both breasts. I bought a bra from LaSenza (even though I know I'm still in the wearing my sports bra phase, it was an emergency outting where I needed the extra vavoom than the sports bra. This bra has extra padding over the underwire which makes the underwire unable to rub on my incisions) I fit into a 34DD bra

Sweetheart, for future, no matter where you're going, for get the extra vavavoom! You're not told to waer a sportsbra 24/7 for no reason, it's part of your aftercare recovery to enable you to get the very best from your surgery! In ignoring the post-op instructions not only are you risking your aftercare package becoming null and void, you also put all the work the surgeon has done at risk too, leaving you wasting the 4/5 grand you paid for your boobs! So sweetie..... do be sensible, you'll have lots of time to show off your new curves, but do respect your recovery first, it will be over in no time.

so I am guessing by the end I will probally be a full D, which was my goal. But after seeing me as a DD I wish I got them bigger BUT all well, I think I got the result I wanted, it is just hard seeing them so big then shrinking haha!

La Senza isn't the best or most accurate place to be fitted for bras hun, you'd be better going to a shop that just specialises in lingerie such as Bravissimo, or any other shop of the same kind that sells only lingerie, they are trained to fit you into your bras so that you get the best fit, if you find the bras too expensive you're not obligated to buy, so just get your sizing and buy elsewhere, you may find some bras differ in how they fit but at least you'll know on average wht your size is.

So my question to everyone is how did/do you prevent major scaring?

Do not touch your scars at all early post-op, the skin needs time to knit back together so leave it alone till your clinic nurse/surgeon gives you the OK to put oils/lotions/mousturises on the scar, the first thing most of us try is Bio Oil and gently massage that into the scar a few times a day. If you aren't happy with how your scars are healing, ask your nurse/surgeon if you can use silicone pads on your scars to flatten them out, if you get the OK try using dermatix silicone pads or cica-care silicone pads, these are expensive, but they're reusabe and you can cut them to size so you do save money over time.

My surgen recommended I wear the 1" paper tape (I think that is what it is called) and change it every week. I can not remember for how long but I had asked him about Vitamin E and he said he would not recommend I use it until I hit around the 3 month mark, the reasoning for that, I don't know? I have another appointment on Monday, Aug. 22, 2011 so I will try to get more answers. I have heard from a few women that they started to use Vitamin E oil right away and they have no scars??

The reason your surgeon has told you no vit E is because he may not want you to use anything perfumed on your scarring for risk of infection, those that used products on their scars early post-op were VERY lucky not to have got an infection, which could lead to you needing to have the implant explanted!

I know everyone heals differently, but should I be using Vitamin E oil this early after my surgery or does it really matter?

It does matter greatly sweetheart. As I said above, using products early post-op could lead to infection...possibly the implants having to be removed. Leave them well alone sweetheart, your scars are OK and will be taking care of themselves. xx

The "No" regular bra rule is more for the breasts than the scar, as the implants need to heal and settle in their pocket and that generally takes the 6 weeks they reccommend the sports bra for, and wearing a normal bra moves the implant out of its intended place and can disrupt the healing process.