United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello everyone!
Well it's been two weeks since Shane had his surgery and the stitches were taken off today. It was the first time since the surgery that my eyes teared up. That is a pretty hefty incision. I know I shouldn't, but I felt a little angry! You just can't help it. So we will start to massage the scare twice a week . I was told that coco butter works real good. I'm sure it will fade some. Can someone tell me how their childs scare has turned out?

Thanks.........Dave (Shane's Dad)

Hey Dave and Sue!

I am right there with you, although I Have not seen Peyton's scar yet. His steri strips have not come off yet. Did you take them off or did you go to the Dr? I know it must be hard to look at, I am not looking forward to seeing Peyton's either. You all take care.

Marnie

Dave,
We were insturcted to do scar massage daily after the incision was closed. We have used a variety of things: vitamin e worked good for a while, then we switched to Maderma, then the one on his ankle area where some sural nerve was taken, we used curad scar pads and those worked wonders. Sometimes I think it's good to switch what you use (as long as there are no reactions) so the body doesn't become immune to it.
Matthew's scar has healed wonderfully, the only spot where it's really noticible is the part where the cut curves. But we continue to massage and it seems to get better overnight, then no change for a while, then it gets better overnight again.
From what I remeber reading a while back is a lot of the scars get much better just keep watching for infection.
Matthew's has gotten much better I was just looking at old pictures the other day.
Cindy

Hi Marnie!

We took Shane to his Dr. and he took them off. It is hard at first, when he turns his head you look at the scare right away. The three on his leg look good, well one looks a little rough.

You and your family take care too.............Dave

shane's dad....

I'm a massage therapist and in my class on post surgical scar massage we were taught NOT to do scar massage until 6 weeks post op.

Scars turn out differently with each child- I read (and posted about this a while back) that how a child heals is pretty much in the genes. Some scars don't show at all and others get really ugly. Maia has a combination of beautiful to majorly ugly. We actually had a scar revision on one of them already and it does look a bit better now.

Be careful with what you use to massage the scar. First of all it has to be COMPLETELY closed before you touch it. And secondly, watch for allergic reactions. I've heard of allergies to vitamin E (it's suspended in wheat germ oil often), and to other oils - can be allergic to cocoa butter, too. So if I were you- I'd rub some of whatever you are going to use, on another part of the body and see if there's any reaction before trying it on the scar itself. We are currently using a product called Mederma - it's a scar massage lotion made from onion juice to break it down. (But quite frankly - i don't see that it's doing anything at all.)

Scar will be red for about a year - that's normal. It will fade on its own.

There are other things that can be used - silicone patches, etc. that may be helpful.

If you are worried about the scar I suggest you work with a scar specialist. If you have a burn center in your area, they may have pt's or ot's that work specifically with scar management and they can help you monitor shane's scaring and help you decide on how to deal with it. The primary scar is a serious scar and you have to keep on top of this one because if it tightens up too much it can cause decreased neck mobility.

By the way - Maia's scars always did get infected - but it didn't happen until about two months post op. If you see swelling or redness (more than the scar itself), you need to go to a pediatrician to get it checked right away. A course of antibiotics will probably be prescribed.

hope this is helpful,
francine