Question:
So as you lose weight, what happens to your scars?

For those of you who had open RNY, do they shrink or completely go away?    — Kay S. (posted on May 21, 2002)

May 20, 2002
I am 7 months post-op from open RNY. My scar has faded quite a bit, but is still very visible. I don't know about others, but, I am very proud of mine!!!!!
   — Donna S.

May 20, 2002
I'm 7.5 mos post-op. I havent noticed it getting any smaller. It has faded to be the same color as the rest of my skin. But it is also very obvious that it is there. The scar doesnt bother me, it was never a concern for me. My mother had WLS in 1976, her scar looks just like mine. I'm sure it depends on the individual, but I dont think they will ever go away completely. They just fade to skin color.
   — RebeccaP

May 21, 2002
15 months post-op, scare is still visiable but fading nicely. I actually like it. When I am having a bad day and having trouble eating right, I can look at it and it serves to remind me what I went through to become healthy. It has served as my personal reality check!
   — Ginger J.

May 21, 2002
Donna's balloon comment made me think of something. You know when you let a balloon shrink down and the rubber is kind of loose and puckered--that's sort of what my stomach skin looks like! :) As for the scarring, I have had way too much abdominal surgery for a 23-year old. (Spleenectomy, appendectomy, Open RNY). I also keloid (raised, puffy red scars). Whereas the scars from my past surgeries stayed red and expanded as I gained weight, my RNY scar has faded very quickly (although it is keloided) and is in a thin line--probably because of the reduced tension on the skin. I think the location of the scar also makes a difference. My spleenectomy scar is 8 inches diagonally starting up by my waist and going down and the waistband of my jeans really irritated the scar, making it redder. Vitamin E oil works wonders, as do the over-the-counter products such as Mederma (I've heard, not tried).
   — PT LawMom

May 22, 2002
Mine is the same size. But at least it is'nt red/purple anymore. It is more a flesh color now. But VERY visable. But have have tons of scars on my body. So what is a few more? In fact, about a week after surgery I took a picture of my scar and emailed it to a friend of mine. (Now I not only had the 4.5 to 5.5 inch scar, but ALSO a small hole near it where the drainage tube was). He took one look at it and said I looked like a battle scarred whale with a blow hole. I laughed more over that discription.
   — Danmark