hypertrophic or keloid scars - thoughts?

Anybody out there have issues with hypertrophic scars?

I had a scar revision one month ago due to scaring.  Before the revision, we tried silicon sheets and compression sleeves (custom) - but didn't start until the scar was already raised and wide.  This time I started the compression sleeves as soon as the surgery ones came off, and the scar sheets as soon as there was no "weeping" from the incisions (all scabbed/healed).

My hypertrophic stuff didn't start last time until around 4 weeks or so.  And was full fledged by 8 weeks - about 1/4" wide and raised as well on one arm, about 1/8" wide and slightly raised on the other.  Not all the way - just near my elbow joint - for about 4-5" up my arm.

This time it seemed to be going well.  Then yesterday I took the compression garment off for about 3 hours (my surgeon said I could start leaving it off for a bit during the day), and as the marks from the compression sleeve went away, the scar popped up.  I was SO depressed, because it looked as bad as the last time.

I put the sleeves back on for the evening/night, and took them off for a few hours this morning.  I just looked at the scar - and it seems so much better!  only slightly raised and much thinner - and not as red.

Now I"m kind of wondering if leaving the compression sleeves off for a bit is BETTER??  I'm so confused.

One thing the physiotherapist told me was to stretch the scars to get rid of scar tissue.  With the sleeves on, I don't stretch much - they kind of hold my arms in a partially bent shape.  With them off, I stretch a lot more...I can reach further and bend my arm.  Maybe that's it?

Anyone have any advice/experience??

 My surgeon said the best treatment for the scar was massaging. I took my ace wraps off at least twice a day, sometimes three times and I rubbed my ointment and oils for several minutes into the scar. I got them all greased up and reapplied the compression. The scars were always moist. I have very thin and very faded scars. I also really think it just sometimes comes down to genetics. My husband scars the same way you have described yours. With all of the procedures I've had I've never had a raised scar. I'm hope yours will flatten out. I know that was the whole purpose with the revision.

I keep mine moisturized also.

I've noticed that they are a bit raised. However, I am not really concerned. It was a risk I took and I wasn't seeking perfection. I'm just so grateful there is no hanging skin! I don't care who see the scars, either.

I hope you find some peace with your scars and their appearance. I think it's important to realize nothing is perfect and it won't be.

Yup - you're right there.  My husband gave me a talking to this weekend.  Before I got the revision - I had decided I was just fine with the scars and wore short sleeves, a bikini, whatever.  Honestly, if I wasn't doing the breast lift - I wouldn't have had the scars revised...I would have just left them alone.

Just bugs me that my scars are now 9 months behind in healing, and maybe don't look any different that before. 

The thing I have noticed is that, when they are red (which they are usually as I am only 5 weeks post-op), they look almost as bad as pre-revision to me, although not quite as raised.  But, when I massage them and they go white, they don't look nearly as bad.  So maybe the reddness is distorting the overall appearance.

My Doc says that if you can push on a scar and it turns white then it will most likely turn white on it's own...eventually.  That's the catch, who the hell knows when that'll be!  My belly button and LBL is very red/purple on the front side ( back side not as bad ) and a little raised.  I wonder if lasers would work for the color?  I don't mind the raised as much as the redness.  I just would love to have them white.  All other old scars on my body are white...but again eventually.  It's frustrating I know.  I'm scared to get my arms done but am so sick of the flapping wrinkly batwings.  I'm sure I'll do it but like you will be aggressive with scar treatment...for all the good it'll do. 

Laura

Absolutely - if they were white, they'd hardly show at all.  Mine go white when I push on them ...but after 9 months were still quite red before revision surgery.  I hate to think that I'll have to wait an extra 9 months now for that whiteness...

But - it is 1000 times better than the crepe paper wings....

Well I can still see my largest VSG scar but it is now very light pink  So It's on it's way out and I'm 2 years and 8 months out!  I went to a dermatologist last week and showed her the LBL scar and she literally said "just zap it with a laser".  Like it would be that easy so I don't know.  I'm going to Dr. Lo in 2 weeks for my 1 year check up and am going to ask about the laser thing.  I really don't care about the LBL part, but I do care about the belly button.  Now arms will be a whole other thing...

I hope yours get better ASAP Erica : )

I walked all over Hawaii in a bikini with that bulls-eye around my bellybutton (mine stretched out a lot) and didn't care!  lol

But - if a laser could make them instantly white - well I might be interested...Let me know what he says!