Question:
??Surgical Glue & Keloid Scars??

Hello EVERYONE!! I "form keloid scars" and Im having a TT next month. My PS has already told me he was going to use "surgical glue" and explained how it works. My question to everyone reading this is....HAS ANYONE OUT THERE THAT FORMS KELOID SCARS HAD A TT DONE WITH THE SURGICAL GLUE?? HOW WHERE YOUR RESULTS? ~~Thanks a bunch ; )    — Jackie T. (posted on February 6, 2005)

February 7, 2005
I have not had my TT yet, I am scheduled for A belt lipectomy on 02/18/05. HOWEVER, my surgeon used the surgical glue with my LapRNY and I formed keloids and I have had back surgery and a c-section and NEVER formed keloids so I told my PS I did not want her to use the glue!! Anyway that is my experience, so GOOD LUCK!!
   — Keishia R.

February 7, 2005
I am a keloid former. I had glue with a hystie or something else, but it was a horizontal incisions and they don't keloid for me. Only verticals.However, my understanding is that it's US who keloid, not the incision syle. Have you done the shot series? That helped mine immensely. With my keloid history, I schedule the series to start 6 weeks after surgery. Why wait was my attitude, and my derma agreed.
   — vitalady

February 7, 2005
First let me say I have never had a keloided scar and I'm not sure if it's the luck of the draw or the fact that with the exception of my open WLS scar all other scars of any size have been closed on the surface with glue and then after the glue gets picked off at 2 weeks or so, he has me put strips of Mepiform scar tape over them for another 1-2 months. I have had 3 major PS's and have approx. 140" of scars (cut all the way around down low and at the bra line, up the middle and down the inside of each leg) and not a one is keloided. They are typically quite thin and lay very flat. The vertical ones are especially thin. I think it's because they don't have gravity constantly pulling against them. According to the manufacturer's info the Mepiform can be used on old keloided scars to help improve them. Don't know if it works or not. The stuff is expensive but I would not have another surgery with a scar longer than 1-2 inches without using it. I get it from my PS and it's $17 a sheet (4x6). I cut it into strips and apply it. It's amazing stuff it sticks like unbelieveable, through showers etc. I do end up replacing pieces along the way and with that last surgery (legs and major redo of the upper torso) I went through about 8 sheets. Fortunately my insuance covered it even though they did not cover the surgery. They probably figured it was related to one of the previous surgeries that they did cover. But even if they had not paid for it, I gladly would have. It's worth it for the results I get. <p>One last comment about glue. For me it is 100% the answer. I tend to always show the stitch or staple marks for years to come. I had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands by two different surgeons. You can see every last stitch hole even 9 years later. They are extremely light but they are there. So I was very pleased when my surgeon said he would be using glue. It is very expensive and that is why many do not use it. I also have a tendency to "spit" stitches as I call it. The dang things just don't like to dissolve and then cause sore areas etc. and the surgoen has to go digging for the stitiches. However, I have not had any problems with my plastic surgeries. I made my surgeon aware of this and he used a different suture material and he also does much more of a running stitch which eliminates many many knots. He said his experience has been that it's the knots that cause the most problems. So there are many things that can be done to deal with the various problems our skin throws at the docs.
   — zoedogcbr

February 8, 2005
I think keloids must just be luck or something. I had never had one until recently. My LBL incision all the way around my body is nice & flat and fading fast. My open RNY scar is barely visible and then only from up real close. I had a brachioplasty at the same time as the LBL and I have keloids there. GO FIGURE, the one scar that is on display to the world keloids and the ones no one is ever going to see are nice thin flat ones. I was sure my arms would heal nicely and the scars would be like my others. I may never wear short sleeves again. I had decided that I would leave off my jacket at work and just wear my scrubs and what happens? I hear "HOLY CRAP WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR ARM!!!????" and OH mY God how did you get that scar! While I am thrilled with the LBL, I am beginning to feel like I should have skipped the brachioplasty because I am much more self concious of those scars than The skin. I am hoping when I see doc next week that he will have something in mind to diminish the scars on my arms.
   — **willow**

February 8, 2005
I keloid most the time. Out of 3 c-sections the first 2 were Keloid, at the time of my 3rd one the surgeon took extra time and cleaned up the old ones and there were none from that c-section. I have a 5 inch scar from my WLs that is complete keloid. I just had my tubes tied by the surgeon that delivered my babies and she stated that most keloids happen on the adomen so it made sense that I would keloid there. She went in through my belly button and on my C-section scar, she is worried the one on my belly button is going to keloid because it is already thick. I go for my PS consult 3/3, one of the first things I will ask about is keloids. My GYM/surgeon told me that plastic surgeons know much more about them and she bets he will not have a problem with them. I have saved your profile and will be looking for updates from you. Good luck!
   — TheresaC

February 12, 2005
Hi. The term used by many is "keloid skin" and it's not medical but it is accurate. You are a case in point. Keloid scarring (and some other forms of thickened scarring) is mainly a property of genetics: race and heredity. Other important factros that contribute to problem scarring are location/placement of the incision, tension on the wound, and infection or wound separation. They type of stitch or closure is not a big contributor to good or bad scarring. I do like to glue in some cases, though!
   — DrL