Question:
Is it normal for my incision scar to raised and red still?

I'm 13 weeks post-op from open rny. My incision is only about 3 1/2" & seems to have healed nicely. There has never been any opening or leaking or anything; it's completely closed. The dr is pleased. However it's still red and I notice that it's not flat but raised. It is also kind of wide; that is, it's not a very thin line like alot of people say they have. Well the width of it doesn't matter much to me, but I thought I read somewhere that the scar is supposed to be flat. Maybe I read wrong, I don't know. I've been using vit. E oil on & off; more off than on as I've been very lazy/forgetful about applying it to the scar. Is my scar healing normally? When is the scar supposed to fade from red to skin color? IS IT NORMAL IF THE SCAR IS RAISED?I fogot to ask the dr this as I don't think this is anything serious; just wondering.    — lalasmommy (posted on August 22, 2001)

August 22, 2001
Don't worry. I think you are right on target. I'm out about 10 weeks now and mine is the same. I had the same experience with my gallbladder scar. I can't remember how long it took to flatten/fade. Not too terribly long, probably within 9 months. Now it's hardly noticeable.
   — Tracy L.

August 22, 2001
Some people are prone to what is known as Keloid Scarring. Sounds like that's what it is.....I also have that and it looks like a fat purply worm is sitting on my tummy. My surgeon told me aloe vera, but I don't notice a difference.....keloid scars don't really go away. But I'd still check with your doctor and ask.
   — Jo C.

August 22, 2001
Mine are raised and red, too. But I have six little ones with little staple holes on the sides from a lap RNY. My husband says I look like I was attacked by a velociraptor! I am 3 months out and am looking forward to them fading. I hope they do . . .
   — ctyst

August 22, 2001
I have a huge scare and some smaller ones from the Gtube and other tubes. Mederma is supposed to be helpful with the stretch marks, scars etc. I know that with time they will fade from this awful red. Give it some healing time. I will let you know how mederma works. You can try it too. Debbie
   — Debbie S.

August 22, 2001
I am a keloid former. Red, thick, feels like a rope. Putting stuff on the outside cannot control a keloid. I get mine injected at the dermatologist. Really, it is no big deal. My scar felt better the next day. Not so tight & itchy-burny. I have done a series of injections to get them to lie down flat, and use Scargo to fade. Because we had already done my scar after my TT in 1995, when I had to have revision in 2000, we were READY and started the injections at 5 weeks out to try to prevent the keloid, No such luck, but at least it never got really bad. We were on top of it. My derma is way cool. I send her "us" all the time. You can't see her unless you show "before" pix, though!
   — vitalady

August 23, 2001
i am 5 weeks p/o and mine seems to go up and down i am puting vitamin e oil and a vitamin e cream that i bought from gnc it seems to be helping i also have an appointment with my derm to have it looked at. when the scabs first fell off i thought it would heal great since in had the disolving stiches and the incision is not wery wide. accually before it started to keloid it looked like a long scratch. good luck
   — [Anonymous]

August 23, 2001
I'm 15 weeks post op and it looks as if I have a juicy nightcrawer on my stomach. It is even higher in the morning when I first get up. Plus it's getting wider. But at least I have'nt had any leaks or any health problems that many have after the bypass so I can put up with it. But it is the first scar (and I have MANY) that is raised up like this. I thought I was the only one.
   — Danmark

August 23, 2001
I, too, have a keloid scar. I am almost 4 months post op. The itching and tightness drives me crazy sometimes. I have mild to moderate discomfort somedays just on the scar itself. Even my shirt rubbing against it hurts sometimes. I have been using Palmer's stretch mark cream--didn't ever help the stretch marks from pregnancy--so I thought I would use the rest up on my scar. Doesn't seem to make a difference. I am going to mention this to my surgeon when I go in Sept. My 2 year old wants to always see my "worm".
   — Sonni W.

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