While any surgery is difficult to deal with, breast removal can be especially upsetting both before and after the surgery. It leaves a scar over one side of the chest. Often referred to as a mastectomy, breast removal surgery is usually a result of a breast cancer. Although breast cancer is most common in women, it does occur in men, as well. There are several choices in how to physically address the loss of the shape of the breast when it is removed. Some women choose to have reconstructive surgery or breast implants as part of the breast removal surgery. Other options are to wear an exterior prosthesis, to have the surgery at a later time or to make no changes in the appearance after the mastectomy. The shape of the body is not the only thing that changes with surgery; it also leaves a lengthy scar. With the improvements in surgical techniques and the latest in technology, scars are thinner and shorter now than they used to be, but are still visible.
The patient usually has surgical drains in place for one to two weeks after the surgery. The skin begins to heal after the drains, dressings and sutures have been removed. The body begins to generate collagen tissue to fill in the skin areas to heal itself, creating a scar. This new layer of skin is coarser and thicker than normal skin and does not blend in well in appearance. Some women may prefer to minimize or fade scars as much as possible.
Scarfade scar treatment products can be used to minimize the redness and thickness of mastectomy scars once the surgical incisions have healed. For patients wearing any type of clothing on top of the scarred area, the Scarfade silicone sheeting is a great option, as it will not affect clothing, but reduces the appearance of the scar significantly, depending on the skin type and age of the scar. Either the Scarfade silicone sheets or the scar gel tube is a practical option for those who wear a prosthetic breast directly on top of this area. The Scarfade gel can be massaged into the scarred area at least twice per day. Because the product is thick and sticky, the excess should be wiped off before dressing. Research suggest that pressure directly against the scar may actually be beneficial to faster healing and less noticeable scars.