On reducing the look of a scar from thyroid surgery...

I'm due to undergo surgery on the base of my neck on my thyroid. Apart from fears of surgery, I'm sad to know I will have a visible scar. I already have my Bio Oil and Gel Prolagene ready and have upped my regime to get my skin into tip top condition. Do you have any tips on aftercare to minimise the effects of the scar? I'm seriously considering backing out of the op so as not to have the scar.

Alison: You must definitely go ahead with the surgery - it's a medical necessity and very important!

The good news though is that the scar created from this type of surgery is very common and can often heal up so you can't even see it. Nowadays, surgeons are very considerate to the effects of an open scar and they will try to put it into a natural crease line. The scar is cut horizontally so you won't notice it as much as you get older and more lines and creases start to develop here. It will also just be a single line which doesn't have any cross stitching as it's internally stitched and is about a quarter of the size of a single stretch mark.

You're right to get your skin into its best condition before you go into surgery and the products you're using are superb. The more hydrated the skin is, the better - so load it with moisture now!

Keep it out of the sun

Another very important precaution is not to get a suntan on it before and up to a year after the operation. So, next summer keep it covered up. This is because scar tissue can thicken and coarsen in the sun so keeping it out of the sun will help to lessen its appearance in years to come.

The main thing with a thyroid scar is that to begin with, as it's healing, it can appear white against the colour of the skin. If you have pale skin, then that doesn't matter. But if you are slightly darker, you may want to use self tan to disguise its whiteness slightly. 

More suggestions

So, you needn't worry about not being able to wear V-necks, scoop necklines or bikinis - it won't be obvious. If you're worried to being with, you could wear higher necklaces that cover that area and distract attention from it.

Also just keep applying your Prolagene Gel and your moisturisers as many times as you can. As soon as you're allowed to apply a cosmetic product on this area after the operation, then you can - simple as that.

Comments

[Hazel Card]

Hi Alison

This is in response to the posting about a thyroid scar. I had my thyroid removed 3 years ago - as I'm sat here looking at my throat I have to look really hard to see the scar. Most surgeons cut along one of the natural neck lines. I was 46 when I had surgery - so beginning to see the start of some ageing - and I have very pale and fine sensitive skin. I just made sure I kept the scar and surrounding tissue hydrated - and smothered in a sunblock. Perhaps if I'd have known about Prolegene the scar would have been less visible even quicker - who knows. The worse bit of the op was eating (but there is always ice cream!) and the bruise.

[Rachel Key]

I bought Prolagene to help repair a thyroid op scar that had been infected and so was more visible than the usual almost invisible line described by Alison. Even two years after the operation it made a massive difference and I now use Bio-oil for maintenance. You really can believe the hype about this product - it is fab and worth every penny.