Gastric sleeve surgery scars
Gastric sleeve surgery scars, gastric sleeve surgery, a popular weight-loss procedure, involves reducing the size of the stomach to promote weight loss. This minimally invasive surgery is performed laparoscopically, which means small incisions are made in the abdomen.
Types of Scars
Small Scars (Laparoscopic Incisions): Most of the time, these will leave on average 4 to 5 small scars each about a size between an inch and half or barely over. This scar is typically situated where it will be least conspicuous.
Healing Time: The scars usually reduce in color and prominence with time. Good wound care, to keep it clean and moist will help in the healing process.
Scar Care and Management
1. Keep your Scar Moisturized: Applying a gel or cream that contains silicone helps to flatten and even the scar.
2. Wear Sun Screen: Exposing scars to direct sunlight can cause them to darken.
3. Scar Massage: Soft massage can help to soften a scar and increase its mobility.
Very occasionally hypertrophic (raised) or keloid scars which are more noticeable, can develop. If this happens, get advice from a healthcare provider about treatments such as steroid shots or laser help.
Emotional Impact of Scars
Although there are less and smaller physical scars, they do heal pretty quickly so I get that others may not really see what different with me but the emotional impact should never be underestimated. Scars that can make some patients feel self-consious. It is essential to remember that these lines are an indication of a large leap towards better living. If there are other concerns, support groups and counseling can help each issue at a time.
Most gastric sleeve surgery scars are tiny and will become less noticeable over time. With tender loving care, these baffles marks may blur into the background as patients pursue their weight damage experience. Different Treatments are also available if scar appearance is still a problem.
Do Gastric Sleeve Scars Go Away?
Gastric sleeve scars do not usually completely disappear as the procedure is laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery with small incisions but can reduce significantly over time. While the scars may be red and raised right after surgery, with time they should become less visible. The scars typically contract and fade for many months to a year.
Factors Influencing Scar Healing
1. Private Healing; The skin of every individual will heal in a different way influenced by elements such as age, frame sort and hereditary qualities.
2. Care: Caring for the scars by keeping them clean, moisturized and away from damaging sun rays will help in better healing of wounds. You can also reduce the visibility of scars through products like silicone gel sheets and scar creams.
3. Lifestyle and Diet: A balanced diet, packed with vitamins and minerals is conducive to healing the skin whereas smoking could retard such process.
Methods to Reduce Scarring
However, if the home remedies did not help in fading out the scars completely then you can go for certain treatments that make them less visible:
• Laser Therapy: This will also help fade and flatten scars.
Steroid Injections – May be effective in treating hypertrophic or keloid scars.
Microneedling: Induces collagen production to soften the texture of a scar
The scars resulting from a gastric sleeve may not completely go away, but they should become almost imperceptible over time with the right care or treatments. The critical part which contributes to treat the derivate is patients often achieve very good results of them after surgery as a whole and scar’s matter cannot induce such level of concern.
Gastric sleeve scars before and after
Before gastric sleeve surgery, patients may have concerns about scarring. The procedure involves small incisions, typically resulting in a few small scars on the abdomen. Initially, these scars are red or pink and slightly raised. Over time, with proper care, they gradually fade and flatten, becoming less noticeable. While some individuals may always have faint marks, the majority of patients see significant improvement in scar appearance within a year, especially with the use of treatments like silicone gels or laser therapy.
With time, these scars often blend in with the natural skin tone, making them barely noticeable, especially when proper care and treatments are used.
