Reverse shoulder replacement can restore an immense amount of movement in your shoulder region and make it easier for you to get back to doing all the physical activities you love, but in order to perform the operation, your surgeon is going to have to make a six-inch incision on the front of your shoulder. While you won’t be able to completely hide the appearance of this surgical scar, some post-op actions can serve to minimize the appearance of the scar, while others can make it more prominent. In today’s blog, we share some tips for minimizing the appearance of your surgical scar after reverse shoulder replacement.
Scar Management After Reverse Shoulder Surgery
Even if you’re not overly concerned about the appearance of your surgical scar after reverse shoulder replacement, you’ll still want to pay attention to the area to help the healing process along. The best advice that we can give is to follow the advice of your treating surgeon, but don’t be surprised if they recommend some of the following techniques for reducing the visibility of your surgical scar:
- Silicone Strips – Silicone scar strips help to create an ideal environment for healing. They go over a closed incision and help keep the area moist and hydrated, which promotes faster healing and reduces the production of excess collagen, which ultimately leads to flatter, softer and less visible scars.
- Maintain Moisture – Light use of antibacterial ointments or petroleum jelly can help to maintain wound moisture once the incision has closed. This can help to reduce visible redness.
- Proper Cleaning Techniques – Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions in regards to getting the incision area wet and keeping the area clean. Getting the area wet before it has fully closed can make a scar more prominent, as can the presence and subsequent treatment of an infection. Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions in regards to keeping the area clean.
- Avoid The Sun – Excessive exposure to direct sunlight can lead to hyper-pigmentation of the scar, causing it to take on a more noticeable appearance. Keep it out of direct sunlight throughout the course of your recovery.
- Scar Massage/Physical Therapy – Gentle scar massaging and physical therapy exercises can also promote ideal scar healing. These techniques can increase blood circulation to the area, decrease swelling and encourage healthy tissue remodeling, all of which can decrease the visibility of your scar.
- Limit Smoking And Alcohol Intake – Finally, smoking and alcohol consumption can be counterproductive to scar healing, so make it a point to avoid these activities throughout the course of your wound healing if you want to have the best results.
We’ll do everything in our power to help you manage scarring and discomfort after your reverse shoulder procedure so that you can make the best recovery possible. For more information on the recovery process after reverse shoulder surgery, or for help with a different shoulder issue, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
