Post-op scar healing / closing surgical incisions

My mom had laparoscopic gallbladder surgery... she ended up with three small incisions. They looked pretty bruised and messy at first :P But she didn't just sit around either; after about a week, she was back at work—she works in a hospital, so she was up and moving quite a bit. She just avoided heavy housework to be careful with the stitches, you know? Anyway, everything healed up fast. I don't know how it looked for her after a year, but nearly three years later, she can't even find where the scars used to be... 😉

Jonathan Perez88 said:No problem at all... glad to hear you're seeing some improvement 🙂

Right now I’m using my second tube of Contrakel. I started out with something from Aven, then tried Contractubex—but that stuff made my scar itch like crazy... so the pharmacist recommended what I'm using now.

So, how much did that Contrakel run you? And does it actually work?

It’s about $90—not that I can say if it actually works, since I don't have any other products to compare it against 😁. That’s exactly why I was asking how long the application needs to last. I don't want to deal with someone telling me five years from now, "Well, if you had just kept applying it for six months, you would've seen results," or some other nonsense.

Jonathan Perez88 said:It’s about $90—not that I can say if it actually works, since I don't have any other products to compare it against 😁. That’s exactly why I was asking how long the application needs to last. I don't want to deal with someone telling me five years from now, "Well, if you had just kept applying it for six months, you would've seen results," or some other nonsense.

Man, I'd love to know that too—how long we're talking here? 😕😕

Hey everyone—like I already mentioned, I’ve got this scar from getting a tattoo removed about 6 months ago, and now I'm wondering: can I actually hit the sun, go tanning, or whatever without making things weird?

Thomas Rodriguez14 said:Hey everyone—like I already mentioned, I’ve got this scar from getting a tattoo removed about 6 months ago, and now I'm wondering: can I actually hit the sun, go tanning, or whatever without making things weird?

anyone 🙂 🙂

Jonathan Perez88 said:It’s about $90—not that I can say if it actually works, since I don't have any other products to compare it against 😁. That’s exactly why I was asking how long the application needs to last. I don't want to deal with someone telling me five years from now, "Well, if you had just kept applying it for six months, you would've seen results," or some other nonsense.

Jonathan Perez88, clear out your inbox already

I’m still dealing with a 5-inch scar on my abdomen from surgery. Lately, it’s been itching and stinging incessantly, and frankly, it’s getting on my nerves. It’ll leave me alone for a while, then out of nowhere, the irritation returns without warning. I don't feel like calling my surgeon just to complain about this, so I’m curious: what are others' experiences with scarring roughly 9 or 10 months post-op? This vertical mark serves as a constant reminder of the procedure, and when the itching starts, the frustration is palpable.
I’ve been avoiding direct sun exposure since I prefer wearing bikini bottoms that sit right above the hips.
Also, if anyone knows, is it safe to try freediving down to about 15 or 20 feet after a procedure like this? I’m also considering diving in a wetsuit, though I have a feeling that might backfire on me.

Please share your experiences regarding surgical scars, whether from gynecological procedures or otherwise. Right now, I’m dealing with an itch at the base of my scar that is becoming incredibly irritating. It’s likely due to the rain. How much longer will this discomfort persist? It has already been several months.

Here’s my experience. I have a vertical scar running across my abdomen—it's about 7 inches long. After the surgery, I used some Contractubex—probably a few months after the procedure once the scabs had finally cleared up (I can't recall the exact timing since it was quite a while ago). It really would be helpful to know exactly how long one should apply it to get the best possible results. As it stands, the incision is now a light pinkish-white color—though the suture marks are just a bit paler—and it isn't overly raised; when you run your hand horizontally across it, you just feel that specific area of skin is a bit softer. It wouldn't be super noticeable if it weren't for the fact that it's vertical—so the transitions are somewhat more obvious, almost like little bumps or divots compared to the surrounding skin. So, that's about it...🙂

And yeah—I don't actually recall dealing with any kind of itching myself...🤷

So, my scar starts just below my chest and stretches way down past my belly button. I haven't actually measured it, but it basically runs right across the middle of my stomach. It’s about 6 months old now, and honestly, it's still pretty raised and this deep, dark pink color. The doctors used skin glue to close it up instead of traditional stitches, so I was really expecting it to fade way faster than this. It also gets itchy sometimes, and occasionally it even stings a little bit. Not sure what else to say, but I've been using Contractubex ever since the scabs fell off—though there wasn't much scabbing, and they dropped off pretty quickly after the surgery. Anyway, because of this, I’m skipping the beach this summer. I’m definitely not buying a new swimsuit, and the two-piece ones I already own show the scar off way too clearly. As for diving, I don't think that has anything to do with the scar itself.

Mine starts just above my pelvic area and runs all the way up to my navel. Right now, it’s a deep dark red, occasionally turning purple. The whole thing looks like some dried-up rope or an earthworm stretched out, and if I run my fingers over it, it feels like a thick, tough piece of nautical rope.
Most days I don't give it a second thought, but then comes those few days where it starts bothering me—especially if I happen to scratch at it.
It makes me feel less than whole. It’s constant, getting under my skin, serving as a relentless reminder.

ruggedscout91, you using anything? My scar (vertical, about 8 inches) was itching like crazy from the Contractubex—it was driving me insane. Then I switched over to Contrakal cream, and honestly, that worked wonders.

As for the beach—there's no way I'm hiding under a cover-up. I'm definitely going in a two-piece. No chance I'm letting a scar dictate what I wear.

Honestly, I just don't feel right going out when I know people are staring at my scar. To be fair, I grew up by the coast, so being near the water was always just part of life—I’m not "addicted" to it or anything. But lately, I actually find skipping a swim more comfortable than having to deal with everyone's eyes on my scar.
And I’m struggling with the same thing ruggedscout91 mentioned; it’s this constant, nagging reminder of everything that went down, and frankly, I can't even stand looking at it myself.

I I have my own little mental reminder, and honestly, I hate remembering it. For those first few weeks, I’d burst into tears every single time I caught a glimpse of it—mostly because I was desperately trying not to look down at my own body. But that’s just who I am now. That scar is part of me, whether I like it or not, and I have zero shame about it. Though, I will say—when I’m watching something on TV, like one of those medical dramas... you know, when someone goes under the knife and they show that first scalpel incision or a torso covered in bandages... I start shaking from pure horror.
But I’m not letting that ruin my time at the beach 😁. Look, I don't live by the coast, and that one or two-week window where I can finally get some sun once a year is too precious to miss. I even went to the pool with my boyfriend in a two-piece... I didn't let it stop me. If a couple of people stared for a second and then quickly looked away, that's on them—they were clearly more uncomfortable than I was.

Brenda Ramos2 said:Honestly, I just don't feel right going out when I know people are staring at my scar. To be fair, I grew up by the coast, so being near the water was always just part of life—I’m not "addicted" to it or anything. But lately, I actually find skipping a swim more comfortable than having to deal with everyone's eyes on my scar.
And I’m struggling with the same thing ruggedscout91 mentioned; it’s this constant, nagging reminder of everything that went down, and frankly, I can't even stand looking at it myself.

That's my girl, Brenda Ramos2. As if we are somehow less worthy because we hide it. I live by the coast too. I don't know what you went through, but I can tell you haven't truly made peace with the whole ordeal either. Just when we start to relax and think about something else, the scar returns to remind us.
I had to pull together every ounce of my dignity and learn how to live life afterward, especially since I had no idea what my surgery actually entailed at the start (fibroids, uterine issues, intestinal stuff, etc.). Physically, I am fully recovered. Mentally? I am completely dissatisfied with things that didn't bother me nearly as much before.

Let's try both approaches. For once, let's stop obsessing over what people will think when they see the scar. Let's accept it as a legitimate part of our bodies. And as for those who stare? They can go worry about their own flaws—their stomachs, their veins, their weight. What do you think?😂

So, I dealt with a bowel obstruction. Honestly, it was this massive psychological and physical shock because there was zero time to prep for surgery. One minute I’m in total agony in the middle of the night and rushing to the ER, and the next thing I know, I’m being wheeled into surgery the very next morning. It was wild—like, one day I'm totally fine, and the next I'm post-op. Even though it's been six months now, I still have these frequent dreams about being on that operating table, and I haven't fully processed the trauma of it all. The scar just feels like this constant, nagging reminder.
To be honest, it's not even about what other people think when they see the scar. It's more about how I feel myself; whenever I feel eyes on it, I get this exposed sensation, almost like I'm walking around naked, and it just feels uncomfortable. Since I'm not exactly the most "outgoing" type of person anyway, finding the nerve to go skinny dipping or even just hit the pool is a huge struggle. But who knows, maybe by the end of summer I'll finally find the courage to take that step. 🙂

Man, about four years ago, I had to go under the knife to remove a mole on my left shoulder. It was this dark, almost grayish spot that sat completely flat against my skin, but I just couldn't ignore it anymore, so I went through with the surgery. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and I ended up with a massive keloid scar. To make matters worse, there were some complications later on, and I actually had to have surgery on that same spot again. Now, I’m stuck with an even larger keloid right on my shoulder—it’s raised, pinkish, and honestly, it's pretty embarrassing. I find myself constantly wearing bandages just to hide it because I feel so self-conscious about it. I even spent a significant amount of money seeing private specialists for laser treatments, but absolutely nothing worked. On top of that, I had surgery to remove a tumor on my knee last year, and now I have this long scar on my leg that looks just like the one on my shoulder.

It is truly incredible how much these two scars weigh on me mentally.😢

Aaron Walker10 said:Man, about four years ago, I had to go under the knife to remove a mole on my left shoulder. It was this dark, almost grayish spot that sat completely flat against my skin, but I just couldn't ignore it anymore, so I went through with the surgery. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and I ended up with a massive keloid scar. To make matters worse, there were some complications later on, and I actually had to have surgery on that same spot again. Now, I’m stuck with an even larger keloid right on my shoulder—it’s raised, pinkish, and honestly, it's pretty embarrassing. I find myself constantly wearing bandages just to hide it because I feel so self-conscious about it. I even spent a significant amount of money seeing private specialists for laser treatments, but absolutely nothing worked. On top of that, I had surgery to remove a tumor on my knee last year, and now I have this long scar on my leg that looks just like the one on my shoulder.

It is truly incredible how much these two scars weigh on me mentally.😢

@Brenda Ramos2 and @Aaron Walker10—don't let those scars get to you. I've got two myself, and at some point, you just gotta accept it. I mean, obviously, life would be better if they weren't there, but hey, if we actually had a choice in the matter, we wouldn't have picked them, right? 😢 And @Aaron Walker10, I'm so sorry you've been going through all that health stuff—really hoping everything is okay now. 😘