SCAR Management

WHAT IS SCAR TISSUE?

Scar tissue forms as part of the healing process after injury, surgery and radiotherapy.  Scar tissue may involve only superficial skin, or it may involve the deeper tissues beneath the skin, including nerves and tendons.

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Scars tissue can become hard, fibrotic, and overly sensitive and can limit motion, function and become painful.

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HOW DOES MASSAGE HELP?

Massage will help to rebuild the collagen in the skin, breaking down the overly tough fibres. New tissue growth will also be stimulated. Massage will also help to increase the sensitivity in the tissue and also reduce pain and tightness in the scar. Scar massage will also increase circulation in the area, and neurological function.

HOW DOES LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY HELP?

A combination of massage and LLLT can be used to support scar healing, reducing the formation of fibrotic or hardened tissue that causes adhesions and reduced range of movement. Infrared light penetrates the skin into the epidermis to help stimulate cell activity during healing and scar remodelling.

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NEUROMUSCULAR TAPING (NMT) - HOW DOES IT HELP?

Treating scars is not a one size fits all situation — different scars require different treatment methods. Your therapist will tell you the type of scar that you have, if the scar will fade on its own, and what treatment method is best.

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Early scar treatment (immediately post operative) your surgeon may apply silicon scar tape. Silicone scar tape also transfers tension from the lateral edges of the wound bed to the sheet, which can reduce the rate of abnormal and keloid scarring.

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Additionally, silicone scar tape significantly increases the temperature of the covered area, which prevents blood flow to this region, thereby limiting excessive healing processes that are involved in scarring.

NM taping can be used as a decompression therapy when applied around the scar area in the early stages of scar formation and wound healing (7-10 days post operatively) This type of taping assists by lifting the skin to help with fluid and cell debris drainage during early inflammatory responses.

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Once a scar is considered solid or stable (4-6 weeks) it is possible to apply the tape directly over the scar to affect the superficial and deep layers of the skin and subcutaneous tissue to help prevent scar adhesions, encourage revisualisation, restore skin sensation and improve overall scar appearance.

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NM Taping applications for scars include:

• Post surgical scars

• Caesarean and lower abdominal scars (Abdominoplasty)

• Post Breast cancer surgery

• Breast reconstruction surgery