Scar care

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi All

I'm now just over 7 weeks post op for TLHR and have been using Bio Oil on my scar since two weeks when the dressing came off.  I'm already on my third bottle, so don't know if I am using too much - I'm using twice a day following showering.  Is using this amount normal and what other things - creams/lotions etc - do others use on their scars.  Thank you!   

2

I have got some virgin oil olive in the cupboard so I put that on, not much because oil goes a long way.

3

Hi.  I use E45 cream once the scar is completely dry and healed.  I’ve not used oil so wouldn’t know how much to use, sorry.

4

Im 7 weeks post op and have been rubbing good old vaseline in twice a day. My scar looks AMAZING. Im very pleased.

(I was advised by nursing staff at hospital to do so)

5

I can’t imagine using that much. I don’t use it often but just put a small amount on my finger and rub over scar after bath or shower. I’m three months post op. Scar looks good. Small red line.  Maybe we should show & tell. lol  I wonder how similar our different surgeons perform THR,being there are different approaches.

6

I use bio oil and have gone through 1/2 tall bottle since surgery I am 11weeks post op.  

I also use it else where so thinking your using lots 

My scar looks great.  

Show and tell would be funny.  

7

Hi jane

I use bio oil twice a day and its improving my scar. Keep it up

8

I’m 6 weeks post op and just tip the bottle upside down and rub gently along the two scars, I’ve used a fraction out of it and I do it twice a day since the staples came out. It sounds like you are using a lot tbh, I think you just need enough oil to cover the scar which isn’t much. But it’s up to you how much you use 😊

9

I was told to use Bio Oil too, and that E45 wash should not be used as it is expected to be washed off the skin and not left on, I think E45 cream is OK though. If I remember rightly the source of this info was NHS website, but I have been unable to find it again.

Seems like a lot of oil used to me - it goes a long way, but there are at least 2 sizes of bottle. I think I only used 2 small bottles during my recovery from THR and revision.

10

I'm almost a year now and haven't ever used anything.  After my op, the nurses said my surgeon was the best at stitching - old school and not clips.  The district nurse who came to take them out was a bi bemused though.  She said she'd never taken stitches out...only clips!

Only thing I wish I'd done was to massage the area once the skin had healed.  I think there is quite a lot of scar tissue underneath.  

11

Hi. Maybe you don't need quite that much oil but it's up to you. Are you massaging the area. There is the scar and scar tissue underneath. There are tips on how to massage scar tissue on you tube etc. I found doing the massage every day helped a lot

12

I used vit E oil and Hemp oil and it worked just fine, 7 mo out and you can barely see it, no redness or swelling at all.

All the best,

Jb

13

Thanks to everyone who  has responded, your advice has been really useful - particularly re alternatives to Bio Oil.  Also, yes I have been using too much - probably far too much.  When I first started to use the oil I didn't like touching my scar (what a wimp!) so applied the oil with a cotton wool pad - which probably soaked up most of the oil.  I then moved on to using the palm of my hand, and so 'oiled' not just the scar but the surrounding area, which also contributed to me using too much oil.  I am now just oiling the scar and using much less.  Thanks for the info about massaging scar tissue, I'll be looking this up  on Youtube.  Thanks again.

14

Hi Jane,

I thought I was the only one who did not want to touch the scar, thank goodness I am not alone I only used a very light touch which probably did not do a lot for it but congratulated myelf, how silly.