Scar

After taking off the dressing my wound has healed well but I hate the look of the scar. I'm not a very vain person but will the scar be less ugly and show less when wearing a swimsuit


7 Comments

scars

by Tracey_E - 2018-04-04 08:35:44

What it looks like now is NOTHING like how it will be once you've healed! The scar will flatten and blend in, the pacer will settle in and be less conspicuous. You'll see a lot of improvement over the next few weeks but it takes up to a full year.

I asked a plastic surgeon once about some of the products out there for scars. She said she could sell me something expensive, but really, just keep it hydrated, doesn't matter much what we use as long as we use something daily. Choose something natural with no added chemicals. My favorite is  vitamin e, aloe or coconut oil work great too.

And keep it out of the sun for a year.  I wasn't good about that with my newest scar, got sunburned once or twice, and that one is still red two years later where my other scars are barely noticeable or completely gone. 

edited to add, don't put anything on it until it's well closed, at least a few weeks. 

I did NOTHING...

by donr - 2018-04-04 08:51:29


...to protect my scar, except keep the Sun off of it..  That was only because I hate sunburns & don't care if I look tan.  I am in the eprimary zone for getting a Melanoma due to many severe sunburns as a young teen in southern FLA (Miami) back in the late 40's & early 50's.  I wear long sleeves all summer long no matter where I am.

Not too may years after I had my third scar, I was in a PT pool with a strange woman & we got to talking about surgery scars.  Without being told, she could not see my scar, & then I had to show her where it was.  It started out just as red & ugly as they all do.

Don't worry, it will disappear with time.

Donr

Scar appearance

by LondonAndy - 2018-04-04 11:09:00

I agree with TraceyE - once my would had healed (about 6 weeks) I applied Bio Oil almost daily, and after the best part of a year the scar is practically invisible. Staying out of the sun is important too.

Will disappear

by RachaelDuffy - 2018-04-04 11:45:51

Your scar won’t be there for long. Here is some proof. My last op a year ago, my doc wanted to enter through my old scar. One thing said my doc is a amazing. He is a prof in pm surgery and people come all around the world to see him. He had to make a new scar because nobody could see where my old scar was as it had vanished!  Don’t be ashamed of it either, embrace your pm! 

scar

by The real Patch - 2018-04-04 15:34:20

Well I must disagree. I've had devices for 11 + years and recently received a letter of rejection from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. I can only assume it was my scar(s) and not my physic that drove their decision.

Seriously, whether a scar "disappears" or remains visible is determined by numerous factors. The skill of your surgeon, the method they used to seal the incision, your complexion, how much your device protrudes (pushes against the scar) and your natural healing ability. I agree with Tracey that lubricants can be helpful however, nobody can guarantee no visible scar. But, and it's a big but, I say this in all sincerity nobody really pays much attention, stop worrying about it.

scar

by Dexter - 2018-04-08 14:18:53

My scar is practically invisible, but my pacemaker is a clearly visible bump under the skin. At first I was self-conscious about going shirtless, but now I'm liberated. It was either a bump or a coffin. I'll take the bump.

Scar

by ZeldaMSW - 2018-05-02 23:21:51

My scar is ugly.  I have had several surgeries in 11 years - the most recent device is 3 years old- but was placed 5 weeks after the previous device was inserted and failed - the current device has "dropped" into the bottom of the pocket. The whole thing is very noticeable and highly unattractive.  The skin is very thin over it - the cables stick out hugely and the whole thing looks awful - oh well. I've gotten used to it - I wear what I want to - most things don't show the scars  - though the lump is visible under anything short of a thick sweater or winter coat. When you no longer worry about how others might react you will find that no matter how it looks, you're okay with it because the device becomes part of who you are and your scars are part of that.

You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for gaining an extra ounce or two.

Member Quotes

A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.