The old scars are the most difficult to remove but all can be more discreet, flat and with good movement and here we indicate everything that can be done to improve its appearance leaving it more discreet or almost imperceptible.
Scars older than 60 days are usually completely healed, they do not hurt, they do not itch, but they may be darker than the skin and embossed or attached to the muscle. Learn about some treatment options:
1. Therapeutic massage
The first step is to apply a little almond oil or moisturizing cream, those that are very thick, which are harder to apply because the skin does not absorb as much. Pass exactly over your scar and:
- Press the scar with the tip of your fingers, with circular movements, up and down and from side to side along the entire scar. This massage will release the scar and the more glued it is on the skin, the more time you need to invest in this massage.
You can also try pulling the skin that lies 2 inches above the scar up and making a peeling of the skin can also top the skin and another 2 inches below the scar.
Check out the steps and more tips in this video:
2. Use the vacuum to release the scar
There are small silicone 'cups' that can be bought in cosmetic stores or on the internet that promote a small vacuum, sucking the skin, releasing all the adhesion. To use you must:
- Apply oil or moisturizing cream, press the 'copinho' the bottom of the cup and place on top of the scar, releasing it. The vacuum will lift the scar and what you need to do is to run the cup over the full length of the scar for about 3 to 5 minutes.
There is also an aesthetic vacuum therapy device that uses this same method to promote better lymphatic drainage and eliminate cellulite and can also be used to remove the scar. One can find this type of treatment in cosmetic clinics.
3. Pour whitening cream
Pro times the older scars get stained due to sun exposure without sunscreen, and the skin turns darker. In this case what you can do is apply a daily whitening cream that can be bought in pharmacies, drugstores or even the internet. But be careful to only pass over the scar to be able to even the tone of the skin.
4. Use corticoid cream to decrease the volume.
The dermatologist may indicate the use of a corticoid cream so that the scar does not look so high and ugly, but it is also indicated when the scar is already too high. These high scars can be of two types, the scar with keloid or hypertrophic and although they are caused by different situations, the treatment is similar and can be done with corticosteroids being that for the keloid can be used as an injection directly into the scar and in the hypertrophic scar just apply the cream daily.
The main difference of the hypertrophic scar only becomes high and does not exceed the size of the base of the scar, while the keloid the scar is high and appears sturdy, and its edges are outside the base of the scar.
5. Make aesthetic treatment
The aesthetic physiotherapy clinics have several treatment protocols to improve the appearance, leaving the scar smaller, with good mobility and thinner. Some options are chemical peeling, microdermabrasion, laser use, radiofrequency, ultrasound or carboxitherapy. The physical dermatologist should evaluate personally and indicate the best treatment for each case, achieving optimal results.
When to go to surgery
Surgery is a type of plastic surgery indicated for scar correction. In this case the surgeon cuts the skin just above or below the scar, removes the adhesions below it and creates a new scar with more modern techniques that leave the scar as discreet as possible.