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The proven method for minimizing scars is some form of silicone sheeting. The silicone comes in many different ways, (i.e. liquid, tapes, creams) and for smaller scars, products can be found in your local pharmacy.
Curad®, Neosporin® and other companies have products available that can be used for breast augmentation, and liposuction scars. For tummy tucks, and breast reduction procedures we suggest a product called Mepiform.
Mepiform is a thin, flexible, self-adherent silicone gel sheet that is discreet and comfortable and can be worn easily under you clothes and during most activities. This product helps soften and flatten old and new raised, hardened scars and making them appear smaller, lighter and less conspicuous.
After your surgery you can order the Mepiform at any time, but you will probably not use the Mepiform tape till approximately post-op week 6, 7 or 8. Your nurse or the doctor will let you know when you are ready to use the tape.
Around post-op week 3 or 4 we will have you start massaging the scars twice a day with some form of cocoa butter, we suggest the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Cream or Serum, as it also has Vitamin E in it. Your local pharmacy should carry this product.
How to use the Mepiform:
- Wash hands and scar(s), rinse, and pat dry.
- Remove the dressing from the pack and cut approximately ¼ to ½ inch in width just enough to cover the scar, and cut to whatever length the scar is.
About Mepiform
Mepiform should be worn 24 hours a day but please remove the tape during showers to inspect the skin and to wash the area. If there is any redness or excessive itching please call our office and speak to one of the nurse's. You cannot wear lotion on the scar area while wearing the tape as it will not stick. When the tape begins to lose its adherent properties it should be changed. The wear time varies and ranges from 7 to 10 days
Patients can always take a break in between cutting your next application and then use the cocoa butter for 3 or 4 days, returning to the Mepiform tape at that time.
Most patients buy one box of Mepiform at a time and at the end of that box see where their scars are and either decide to purchase another box, change to only the cocoa butter or buy some over the counter products in their pharmacy and use that.
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