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The old scars are the most difficult to remove but they can all be more discreet, flat and with good movement and we indicate here everything that can be done to improve their appearance leaving it more discreet or almost imperceptible.
The scars older than 60 days are usually completely healed, they do not hurt, they do not itch but they may be darker than the skin and with relief or glued to the muscle. Know some treatment options:
1. Therapeutic massage
The first step is to apply a little almond oil or moisturizing cream, those that are very thick, which are more difficult to apply because the skin does not absorb as much.
Then, the scar must be pressed and with the fingertips perform circular movements, up and down and from side to side along the entire scar. This massage will loosen the scar and the more it is glued to the skin, the more time you need to invest in this massage.
In addition, during the massage you can also try to pull the skin that is 2 cm above the scar upwards and make a skin detachment also above the skin and another 2 cm below the scar.
Check out the steps and more tips in this video:
2. Use the vacuum to loosen the scar
There are small 'cups' of silicone that can be bought in cosmetic stores or on the internet that promote a small vacuum, sucking the skin, releasing all the adhesion.
To use the vacuum in order to remove the scar, it is necessary to apply oil or moisturizing cream on the spot, press the 'cup' and place on top of the scar and then loosen it. The vacuum will lift the scar and in order to have the desired effect, it is recommended that the vacuum be made over the entire length of the scar for 3 to 5 minutes.
There is also an aesthetic device for vacuum therapy that uses this same method to promote better lymphatic drainage and eliminate cellulite, which can also be used to remove the scar. This type of treatment can be found in beauty clinics.
3. Whitening cream
Sometimes the older scars are stained due to sun exposure without sunscreen, and the skin ends up getting darker. In this case, what you can do is apply daily a whitening cream that can be purchased at pharmacies, drugstores or even over the internet. However, it is important to take care to pass only over the scar to be able to even out the skin tone.
4. Cream with corticoid to decrease the volume
The dermatologist can indicate the use of a corticoid cream so that the scar is not so high and ugly, but it is also indicated when the scar is already very high. These high scars can be of two types, the keloid or hypertrophic scar and although they are caused by different situations, the treatment is similar and can be done with corticosteroids and for the keloid they can be used in the form of an injection directly into the scar and in the hypertrophic scar, just apply the cream daily.
The main difference of the hypertrophic scar is only high and does not exceed the size of the scar base, while the keloid scar is high and appears bulged, and its edges are outside the scar base.
5. Aesthetic treatment
Aesthetic physiotherapy clinics have several treatment protocols to improve the appearance of the scar, making it smaller, with good mobility and thinner. Some options are chemical peeling, microdermabrasion, use of laser, radiofrequency, ultrasound or carboxitherapy. The dermato-functional physiotherapist must personally evaluate and indicate the best treatment for each case, achieving optimal results.
When to resort to surgery
Subcision surgery is indicated when none of the aesthetic procedures to eliminate or lighten the scar have the desired effect. Thus, it may be indicated to perform plastic surgery that aims to remove the scar or treat irregularities in texture or size, leaving the skin more uniform.
In this type of plastic surgery, the surgeon cuts the skin just above or below the scar, removes the adhesions that are under it and, using more modern techniques, creates a new scar that is much more discreet than the previous one. Know the types of surgery to remove scar and how it is done.