Silicone Strips????

I lotion twice a day with Vaseline moisture rescue lotion with added vitamin e oil.

I also tape/compress my scars for at least 12 hrs a day. I use plain old paper tape. My doc said that there is no difference in silicone and paper. The tape stays on well, is cheap, and my scars are super flat.

I'm going to start using mederma at 8 weeks out.

My dr. said the same thing - unless you tend to go keloid.  He basically said that if you have normal scaring, nothing you do will make it heal/go white faster...it just does.

BUT - if you tend to go keloid, compression and silicone can make a real difference.  MOSTLY if used before there is an issue.  I used both after my keloid started last time, and it didn't get worse.  But it also didn't get better.  This time, it seems to be keeping things relatively flat.  They are about 2mm wide at one spot, but the other is just a thin line.  

I'll hold judgement until 8 weeks.  Last time at 8 weeks I went back to the surgeon and my scar was wide and raised.  If it stays like this until then - I'll count it a success.

I have read that Mederma and the like don't do anything more than using petroleum jelly, there were some studies done evidently. I am using scaraway silicone strips, I buy them on Amazon. I haven't been using them religiously but plan on getting serious about them soon. I will wear them after work til I leave the next morning. I tried wearing them at work but with all the jumping in and out of trucks and bending and lifting , they just wouldn't stay on even with tape applied. They stick really well when not being overly active and are good for 1 week of use, you wash them once a day and let them dry. The toughest thing to know is how well anything works - it's not like I'm going to use one thing on one side of my body and something else on the other. Also the scars seem to be healing well and I haven't used anything other than vaseline for the last 2 weeks. Probably all in our heads....LOL

I was looking at those Scar Away sheets...on sale at Wegmans this week ;0)

How thick are they?  The Cicacare ones I use don't have a backing...and look like this:

Are these a similar thing, just with a backing?  I don't want to buy a box and then open them to find out they aren't the same quality...although I've read good reviews online...

I'm not sure Russ, Dr. Sauceda recxommended Mederma for me after both surgeries. It has helped significantly as my scars are barely  visible. I have used the strips in the past, but for me they were a pain ! I also had a revision on my arms in July and  the entire upper half was re-done.  My upper scars look identical to the lower scars that remain from last December. It is amazing. I have been using the Mederma faithfully for the past 3 weeks. I think it makes a huge difference in the scar's appearance. Just my two cents.....

Marianne

After you put it on do you have to cover it up? I'd be willing to try it , it's pretty inexpensive.

Erica they are probably twice the thickness of a normal bandaid. The backing is like a fabric style bandaid and then the other side is the silicone which feels jelly like. They stick pretty well, especially if you wear a garment for support.