Question:
My open RNY scar is wide and raised.

I wonder if any of it will be removed when/if I have a panni. I also wonder if my RNY scar is bad, will my panni scar be bad too? How do you know if it is Keloid or not and can that be prevented? I am 7 months postop and have lost 100 pounds but my scar is just huge! Thanks for the help!    — Missy H. (posted on April 29, 2001)

April 29, 2001
Missy, my scar is pretty bad too at 5 mos postop. I asked my pcp about it and he said "scars are constantly remodeling themselves. You can count on it changing for about a year to 15 mos and then it will probably stay the way it is at that point." I thought it was keloid and he said it was just a little bit and he had seen some that were raised inches off the body. I was surprised that mine raised as I am fair complexioned. I had always heard most keloids were on dark skinned complexions. I don't know the answer on whether it will keloid on your upcoming panni. Good luck!
   — Marilyn C.

April 29, 2001
Some of us keloid, some don't. I do. Every time. You can get injections in the scar (no, not bad at all) to make it lie flat and take the pull out of it. I had gotten my TT one all flat (still wide, but flat) and faded it with Scargo. Then I had to be revised. Sigh. I called my derma and said we had to start all over again. She sighed and we scheduled the first injection for 5 weeks post-op to try to prevent it from thickening up. Mine are painful, along with ugly. Anyway, we were RIGHT ON TOP OF IT, and wouldn't you know, my internal stitches didn't dissolve, so had to go back in at 9 weeks (office procedure) and fix it. Not a big deal, but started the clock over AGAIN on 2 tiny segments. Between the shots & Scargo, the bottom one vanished, but the top part is a slight pucker. BUT it is flat and the Scargo helps fade it. I used Mederma, but it kinda burned & made it redder, in my case. So, in getting to do this over & over again, I have my method down pat. I use Vite E oil on the scar for the first 4 weeks, then start the Scargo, then start the shots at 5 weeks. Parts of the scar vanished as good scars do, so the method works very well for some. Hopefully you have a good dermatologist who will work with you. Mine takes it as her personal aassingment to beat them down flat. Besides, she LOVES watching our progress!
   — vitalady

April 29, 2001
Hi Missy: I also was told to try mederma by a well known plastic surgeon, but had the same experience as Michelle. If I remember right it also cost quite a bit of money. Around 30 dollars for a tube? I hadn't heard of Scargo but I might give that a try if I have trouble with scarring again. Best of luck with whatever you end up doing. S
   — sherry hedgecock