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Plastic Surgery Scar Removal Options

October 4th, 2009

So I’ve been doing some online research on ways to remove my plastic surgery scar.  Here are some of the methods I’m considering and some details I’ve found on each:  (*UPDATE* I found lots of scar reduction products on this website – have yet to look into how well they work though.)

Laser Scar Removal :
-removes the top layer of skin on the scar to expose a more natural-looking layer underneath
-local or general anesthesia is required for this surgery
-risks include hyperpigmentation (dark areas appearing on skin surface), skin irritation, and allergic reactions
–costs $350+/hr x 1 to 3 hours = $350 to $1000+ in total

Dermabrasion:
-involves the use of a rotating brush that removes a layer of the scarred skin (similar to  how sand paper works)
-procedure performed under local anesthetic
-dermabraded area may look shinier than surrounding “normal” skin even after as long as 6 months
-costs $3000-$4000 on average

Scar Creams:
-scar creams aim to reduce scars to make them blend in better with surrounding skin
-many of these creams contain vitamin E and/or onion extract, which are popularly believed to be effective in reducing scars
-unfortunately, most people have found a lot of these creams to be ineffective; for example, I’ve been using Mederma for the past 3 months without any noticeable results
-some cause side effects, for example dryness, itchiness, dermatitis, or photosensitivity
-prices vary widely across different products, from very expensive to inexpensive

Silicone Sheets:
-silicone encourages the production of collagen
-feedback from people that have used silicone sheets are mixed; some people find them very effective while others find them useless
-cheap to buy, but inconvenient to use as you’d need to wear them 24/7 for months before getting results (if any)

I still haven’t decided which one to try first.  I’ll sleep on it and maybe do more research online before deciding.  We’ll see.  Which one do you think I should try?

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