Scar Management

Scarring is an integral part of all skin surgery. Every wound heals with a scar, but the extent and appearance of that scar depend on several factors:

The location of the surgery and the surgical technique used
Your general health and genetic tendencies
How the wound is cared for after surgery

Skin Cancer Clinic Mount Martha

About Skin Cancer

Understanding the Healing Process

A common misconception is that a wound is “healed” once the sutures are removed. While the skin may close over within two weeks, the scar itself continues to change and mature for many months afterwards. This longer healing period creates an opportunity to reduce the severity and visibility of scarring.

How to Minimise a Scar

Support the wound with tape

After sutures are removed, applying surgical tape across the scar can help take tension off the wound edges. Our nurses can demonstrate the correct technique.

Commonly used tapes include Fixomull, AsGuard, Hypafix, and Micropore.
We recommend changing the tape every 3 days, continuing this for around 3 months.

Use of silicone gels

A silicone product (such as Strataderm) can be applied directly to the scar, with tape then placed over the top. This combination may further reduce tension and improve scar quality.

Massage

Occasionally scars can feel firm or lumpy as they heal. Gentle massage over the scar can help soften it. Our team can guide you on when and how to do this.

Do I Need to Do All of This?

Not everyone is concerned about scarring, and in many cases simple taping alone is sufficient. The more comprehensive regimen with silicone and taping is recommended for people particularly worried about their scar, or when the scar is in a cosmetically sensitive area.

When to Seek Review