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Silicone
Gels/Ointments
What
Are Silicone Gels/Ointments And How Can They Benefit Scar Healing?
Some
women have used silicone gels and ointments to help heal their
scars and minimize their appearance. Silicone gels such as Kelo-cote,
Scar Guard and Scar Fade benefit scar healing by creating a
barrier between the environment and the skin surface. The silicone
gel provides a waterproof, gas permeable membrane that acts
like an extra layer of skin. This can be beneficial to the scar
healing process because oftentimes the scar takes longer to
heal because bacteria in the environment attack the scars and
by affecting the immune system at work, they slow down the process
of healing. The extra protection that silicone gels and ointments
provide from these environmental impurities can speed up the
scar healing process. The faster the scar heals, the lower the
chance that it will leave a noticeable mark. In general, the
longer the scar takes to heal, the more apparent of a mark it
leaves. Further, the protective barrier formed by silicone gels
maintains the skin’s moisture balance and elasticity of
adjacent skin, and helps soften and smoothen the scar and reduce
its thickness. The maintenance of moisture balance can be especially
important in helping avoid itching
and irritation that often accompanies scar healing. Finally,
some silicone gels can also be beneficial in reducing redness
surrounding the wound.
When
comparing silicone gels with silicone sheets (discussed shortly),
we have found that journeywomen prefer using silicone gels because
applying a gel is easier and its appearance is less conspicuous
than a silicone sheet. Silicone gels have the advantage of being
easier to apply in harder-to-reach scar areas such as around
the ears, which is a region that is harder to target with a
sheet. The application of a silicone gel is also advantageous
in that it is not as noticeable when applied to scar healing
regions that are more visible to the eye like in front of the
ears and the temple area where the mid hairline runs. Further,
silicone gels have antibacterial and moisturizing benefits,
whereas silicone sheets do not. Finally, when selecting a silicone
gel you should be sure to see if it has vitamin E in it. If
this is the case, then you should not use this product for the
first two weeks after surgery.
We
provide detailed product descriptions for various silicone
gels and ointment brands shortly.
How
Should I Apply Silicone Gels?
You
should make sure that the wound has closed completely before
starting to use silicone gels and ointments. You do not want
silicone to react with an open wound. Begin by washing your
hands and then wash the affected scar area. Thereafter, pat
the scar area dry with a cotton ball or clean towel and then
gently spread a very thin coat of the ointment over the scar
site. Allow the silicone film to dry for 8-10 minutes and that
is all there is to it. Please be aware that ointments can stain
clothing if they are not completely dry.
When
Does One Typically Start & Stop Applying Silicone Gels?
You
should not start using these silicone ointments until the wound
has closed completely. You can generally use these gels for
as long as benefits are noticeable, up to about 4- 6 months.
However, you should make sure to read the specific product instructions
for each specific gel because the suggested duration for use
may vary. If your product contains vitamin E, then you should
not use it during the first two weeks of post-op.
How
Often Should I Apply Silicone Gels?
You
can usually apply the gel every few hours during the early phase
of scar healing and then make the usage less frequent as your
scar matures. You should read the specific directions on the
product packaging. Something to remember is to stock up on the
ointments that seem to be working for you before you go out
of the town and run out because regular use is key to achieve
the maximum benefits.
Are
There Any Special Precautions To Consider?
As
much as silicone gels have been known to be effective post-op,
you should consult your doctor before using any products that
contain silicone because you could possibly be allergic to silicone.
If your silicon gel has vitamin E in it, do not use it on your
scars during the first 2 weeks of post-op. Please be aware that
silicone gels and ointments can stain clothing if they are not
completely dry.
Where
Can I Get Silicone Gels?
Silicone
gels may be available from the following sources:
-
Drugstores
-
Specialized pharmacies and stores
-
Internet
The
following are some silicone gel and ointment brands that have
either been tried, tested and recommended by fellow facelifters,
or found through our research and thus may be good additions
to your healing journey. If you have any products to recommend,
tips, ideas, or any feedback that you would like to share,
please email us at products@makemeheal.com.
Be sure to consult with your doctor about any products that
you are considering using during your healing journey.
Silicone
Sheets
What
Are Silicone Sheets And How Can They Benefit Scar Healing?
Also
known as silastic sheets, silicone sheets come in the form of
a soft, slightly adherent, semi-transparent covering that is
made from medical grade silicone polymers. Silicone sheets operate
by creating a static electricity and heat between the scar and
the sheet that helps decrease the overproduction of collagen
that occurs during the initial scar formation. This is beneficial,
as it helps limit the growth and size of the scar, makes it
appear less noticeable, and smoothes the skin. Best results
are obtained when the silicone is placed in contact with the
scar 24 hours a day, many months at a time. New and long-standing
scars, hypertrophic scars and keloids can be treated with silicone
gel sheets. Silicone sheets can be customized by cutting them
to the size and shape of the scar. Because silicone sheets are
generally thin and flexible, they are usually well tolerated
while being worn for many hours and local skin irritation rarely
occurs. Some of the well-known brands of silicone sheets include
Rejuveness and Syprex. Often silicone sheeting products contain
vitamin E, which can be effective in reducing the appearance
of the scar and smoothing the skin. If the brand you choose
contains vitamin E, then you should not use this product during
the first two weeks of post-op.
Silicone
sheets can be more noticeable in plain view when compared to
silicone ointments, yet they can be very effective in scar reduction.
Some brands enable you to apply makeup over them. When applying
silicone sheets to areas of the face, you may want to choose
a brand that comes in a transparent, clear form so that it is
not visible to the eye. Moreover, you should choose a brand
that either comes in various shapes and sizes in the same product
or a brand that will enable you to customize the shape of the
sheet so that you can apply it to more tricky scar areas such
as those around the ears.
We
provide detailed product descriptions for various silicone gels
and ointment brands shortly.
How
Should I Apply Silicone Sheets?
You
should make sure that the wound has closed completely before
starting to use this silicone gels and ointments. You do not
want silicone to react with an open wound. If your particular
brand enables you to use various shapes and sizes of a sheet,
or better yet enables you to cut the sheet then you should make
sure that the sheet overlaps the scar area by at least one-quarter
inch. Begin by washing your hands and then wash the affected
scar area. Thereafter, pat the scar area dry with a cotton ball
or clean towel and then gently stick the sheets on the scars.
A good number of silicone sheet products will provide you with
surgical adhesive tape that is placed on top of the silicone
sheet to seal it in place under pressure. Furthermore, a good
number of brands enable you to wash and reuse the silicone sheet
over and over again, provided that you wash the silicone sheet
after use with antibacterial soap and let it dry completely
until the next use.
When
Does One Typically Start & Stop Applying Silicone Sheets?
You
should not start using these silicone gel sheets until the wound
has closed completely. You can generally use these gels for
as long as benefits are noticeable, up to about 4- 6 months.
However, you should make sure to read the specific product instructions
for each specific gel because the suggested duration for use
may vary. If your product contains vitamin E, then you should
not use it during the first two weeks of post-op.
How
Often Should I Apply Silicone Sheets?
You
may want to apply the silicone sheets for 24 hours a day (or
as much of your day as possible) during the early phase of scar
healing and then reduce the time you wear the sheet as your
scar matures. Something to remember is to stock up the sheets
that seem to be working for you before you go out of the town
and run out because regular use is key to achieve the maximum
benefits.
Are
There Any Special Precautions To Consider?
You
should consult your doctor before using any products that contain
silicone because you could possibly be allergic to silicone.
If your silicon sheet contains vitamin E, do not use it on your
scars during the first 2 weeks of post-op.
Where
Can I Get Silicone Sheets?
Silicone
sheets may be available from the following sources:
-
Drugstores
-
Specialized pharmacies and stores
-
Internet
The
following are some silicone sheet brands that have either been
tried, tested and recommended by fellow facelifters, or found
through our research and thus may be good additions to your
healing journey. If you have any products to recommend, tips,
ideas, or any feedback that you would like to share, please
email us at producttips@makemeheal.com.
Be sure to consult with your doctor about any products that
you are considering using during your healing journey.
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