Lap scar

[buliej]

I had a Lap just over a week ago. They only had to make 2 incisions - 1 in belly button and 1 around pubic bone. I've recovered pretty quickly but the incision by my pubic bone is raised - very much so - it feels like some little tube is inserted under my skin although visibly it's already disappearing. IRL I only know 1 person who has had a Lap and she said her scar is still raised like this after a year. Is this what I should expect? why wouldn't it flatten out?

[STARRYSKY]

I had one back in 2001, its still raised, but I think I scar like that, I think its called keloid scarring?? where the scar is raised and shiny, red.
My c section scar is half like that and half smooth, very annoying! the scar in my belly button is the same too.
There is a product available from pharmacies, for the life of me I cant remember the name of it, but its a small tube around $70 for scars, recommended by plastic surgeons, did a training on it once, customers really liked it.

[ausgirl]

I had one about 12 weeks ago now and my scars are quite flat - I had 4 in total, the pubic line one was the worst because it contained a drain tube and was a bit icky to begin with. I found at about week 5 I felt a pop when pressed on scars, which someone suggested was the internal stitches letting go (they are disolvable) - after this the scars did flatten out and get better alot faster.
At a week you are expecting too much from your scars, the internal stitches take 4-6 weeks to disolve.

[buliej]

Thanks for the replies. For some reason I was under the impression that the stitches dissolve in days. Glad to know otherwise as this probably explains a bit.

I will try to be more patient! Not one of my strengths.

[Frosty's mum]

You can try silicone gel called Dermatix, or a silicone dressing called cicca care. They're all very expensive and needed to be used for months. Generally taping the wound down post-op for about 2-4 weeks with any old tape will discourage the raised scar. But sometimes it just happens regardless of what you do.

If it is still the same after a year, and you hate it, you might have to persuade the doctor to redo the scar (cut the keloid out under local anaesthetic) and hope that the keloid won't form the second time round.

[Possums]

My scars have progressively gotten better...and less itchy, prone to irritation etc

Hope you are going OK Julie

[Lionfish]

Hi I had 3 incisions from my Lap and they are all still raised and that was nearly one year ago. They are still red also. I had a stitch sticking out of mine that was exposed to the air so it would not dissolve so I had to pull it out in the end! Yuck.