We have worked hard to create a space where you can come to learn more about silicone tape tummy tuck, its benefits and risks, and whether it’s right for you.
Our goal is to provide you with the most up-to-date information on this procedure. We hope that this blog will be a helpful resource for you as you consider your options for such a procedure. In this guide, we review the aspects of Silicone tape tummy tuck, when can I use silicone scar sheets after tummy tuck, silicone strips for old scars, and when can i use silicone tape after tummy tuck.
You’ve been thinking about getting a tummy tuck for a long time. You’ve researched your options, and you know that silicone tape is the best option for you.
You’re not alone in wanting to get rid of that stubborn belly fat, but you might be wondering how to go about it. With silicone tape, you can safely tighten up your midsection and lose inches in no time!
In this blog post, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about silicone tape tummy tucks, including what they are, how they work, what their benefits are, and how much they cost. We’ll also provide some tips on how to get started with your own procedure!
Silicone Tape Tummy Tuck
Do you want to get rid of that ugly tummy fat?
We have the right solution for you.
Our silicone tape tummy tuck will help you get rid of that ugly belly fat that has been ruining your confidence. Our tape is made from high quality materials and will stay on for as long as it is needed, so that you can get back to living your best life.
The tape is easy to remove and will not leave any residue behind, just like our
Did you know that the average American woman spends over $215 per year on products that claim to tighten their tummy? That’s a lot of dough for something that can be accomplished for much less with silicone tape.
Silicone tape is a type of elastic adhesive that has been used for years in other industries, but is just now becoming popular for cosmetic use. It has many benefits over other methods of tightening loose skin: it lasts longer and is more effective than surgery, and it’s much less expensive than cosmetic surgery or creams. And unlike liposuction, it doesn’t require invasive surgery or anesthesia.
We’ve created this blog post to answer some of your most common questions about silicone tape, including how to use it, how long it lasts, what side effects there are if any at all, and much more!
Many people who have lost a significant amount of weight often find that their skin is not elastic enough to return to its former shape. This can lead to the formation of excess skin, which can be unsightly and uncomfortable.
Fortunately, there are surgical procedures that can help address this problem. One of these is known as a tummy tuck. This procedure involves removing excess fat and skin from the abdomen and waist area, as well as tightening underlying muscles.
Tummy tucks typically require two separate incisions: one along each side of the bellybutton (an incision line). The length of these incisions depends on how much tissue needs to be removed. In addition, some surgeons may also make an incision in front of the navel for access to deeper abdominal tissue layers.
After making these cuts, surgeons will remove unwanted fat deposits from underneath your skin layer (a subcutaneous layer). They then re-adjust the size and shape of your waistline by removing excess skin from under your abdominal muscles (an inframammary fold). Finally, they use sutures (stitches) to close up these incisions so no more bleeding occurs inside your body cavity during recovery time at home after surgery (postoperative period).
What Causes Scarring After Plastic Surgery?
Scars usually form in response to an epidermis injury or injury to the dermis, the bottom layer of the skin. When only the top layer of the skin is injured, the resulting scar is minimal. On the other hand, damage to the dermis layer results in a more noticeable scar. Most cosmetic procedures involve an incision into the dermis, which is why most procedures result in scarring.
When the dermis is injured during a procedure, the body tries to heal the wound by producing collagen. Collagen is a protein produced by the body that gives the skin its elasticity. The collagen cells the body produces in the event of an injury wound together create a scar by shrinking the wound edges so it can close. How long the scar takes to fade depends on the extent of the procedure. Generally, even with healthy skin and the wound healing well, the scar can take up to 18 months to fade. Fresh scars are red, then turn pink, and then white. In the later stages, the scar thins and is no longer as noticeable.
Cosmetic Surgery Scars: What are Silicone Strips?
Let’s start by talking about scars. Procedures such as a full tummy tuck and lower body lift require extensive incisions, resulting in scarring. Practically every surgery will result in a scar. Scars start off looking red, raised, and sometimes quite angry looking. Although everyone heals differently, the majority of scars fade over time. Typically, scars take up to 12 or 18 months to heal. So, what can you do to help speed up healing? That’s where silicone tape comes in.
Silicone tape or silicone strips are made from medical grade silicone. It’s a self-adhesive type of plaster with silicone that’s used to promote the healing of scars and hypertrophic scars. A hypertrophic scar is an abnormal response to the healing process that results in a thickened, wide scar around the wound site. Silicone tape is an internationally recognised way to treat and improve scars. It’s used amongst healthcare professionals as a form of scar management. You can also get silicone gel and sheets, depending on your needs.
Silicone Tape for Scars: How Does it Work?
Silicone helps with scars by creating a good balance of skin hydration and collagen regulation. Scars need the right combination of oxygen and moisture to heal properly. When the silicone is applied, the moisture of the wound site is maintained, and the skin’s collagen production is regulated. This process helps to flatten the scar tissue, decrease discolouration, and allow the scar to blend in with the surrounding skin. The silicone also helps protect the scar from bacteria.
Keeping the surgical site hydrated is crucial for producing good scars. But silicone strips offer several benefits to the healing process. The strips ease the tension around the wound. So, instead of the edge of the surgical site having all the tension, it’s transferred to the outer parts of the silicone sheet. This helps to provide a good environment for scar healing.
Silicone strips have also been found to reduce the blood flow to the surgical site, which can be beneficial for scar formation. Finally, silicone tape can help in preventing the formation of raised scars.
Silicone tape can help to heal scars, but other factors also affect the appearance of your scars like:
Scar Reduction: When Can You Use Silicone Strips?
Silicone strips can be a good choice for scar management to help reduce large post-surgery scarring. It can be especially useful for breast lift scarring and other breast surgeries like breast enhancement and breast reconstruction.
You can get silicone strips in lots of different shapes and sizes. For breast augmentation, you can find specific strips to suit your scarring. You can cut silicone strips to size to fit a particular body part for other areas.
Generally, most surgeons recommend that you start using silicone tape about 3 weeks after everything is healed. In reality, your plastic surgeon would monitor your wound healing and tell you when you can start using silicone tape. This is because one person may heal slower or faster than someone else. So, it’s difficult to give a blanket statement.
Applying silicone tape will form part of your plastic surgery recovery toolkit. Where necessary, your plastic surgeon will give you instructions to follow so you know how to apply and change the tape.
The Benefits of Using Silicone Strips for Scars
There’s a reason why doctors often recommend using silicone strips for scars, including:
On the other hand, the main disadvantages of using silicone strips are:
Tips for Reducing Cosmetic Surgery Scars
When talking about scar reduction and optimising healing after cosmetic surgery, there are several factors that come into play. While silicone strips are beneficial, it’s important that you follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions. Dr Riaz Agha at the Harley Clinic talks about how to optimise and reduce scars after an operation in the video below.
Scar healing can vary massively, so it’s crucial that you stop smoking, follow a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water during your recovery to promote healing. With any incision, there will be a scar; it’s unavoidable. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be obvious and angry. With the right steps, a great plastic surgeon, and proper aftercare, any scarring should heal nicely. Apart from using silicone gel, follow these tips to support the healthy formation of your cosmetic surgery scars.
Properly Care for the Wound
Any cosmetic surgery will require your doctor making an incision; it’s unavoidable. When you go home, your doctor will give you a few post-surgical instructions, like how to care for your wound properly. As you recover, ensure you change the dressing as instructed by your doctor. At the same time, avoid pulling at the skin around the incisions by keeping your activity to a minimum. The more strain you put on the incision site, the higher the risk of ending up with enlarged scars that are more noticeable. It’s vital that you keep the wound clean and minimise any infection risk that would cause the wound or the scar to worsen.
Avoid UV Light
Exposure to UV light can worsen the appearance of fresh scars. A good rule of thumb is to stay out of the sun and off any tanning beds for at least 18-24 months. This doesn’t mean you can’t go outside. Be sure to wear sun protection and cover up fresh scars with clothing. While it’s tempting to show off your new body or nose, keep in mind the effect that UV light can have on scars.
Avoid Pulling and Tension
Avoid or at least reduce stress on the incision site. So, try to avoid doing anything that puts tension on the area. This could include bending, lifting, or even driving. If you put too much pressure on the site, it could pull the incision apart, so you would end up with a bigger scar than necessary.
Apply Topical Creams
Certain creams may help to reduce the appearance of a scar after cosmetic surgery. Initially, your doctor may prescribe a cream after your procedure to reduce the risk of infections that could strain the incision site. You can buy most topical scar treatments over the counter, which your doctor will be able to recommend.
Wear a Compression Garment
Not all plastic surgery procedures involve wearing a compression garment. However, if you have a procedure that requires you to wear special clothing, make sure you do. Procedures like breast surgery involve wearing a compression garment and a support bra. These aid in healing by minimising the movement of your breasts, which can strain the incision site resulting in more scarring.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels help reduce the uneven texture of a scar. Chemical peels are made of acids like glycolic acid, which removes any uneven skin when it is peeled off. You would need to be fully healed before considering a chemical peel.
Scar reduction surgery
Most patients don’t mind the minimal scarring caused by cosmetic procedures. However, some people are often self-conscious about the appearance of their scars. Once the wound has healed, and the scar has formed, you can try scar reduction surgery to minimise its look. Also referred to as scar revision surgery, the procedure is done in one of many ways. A surgeon may also cut the scar from the body and replace it with a skin graft from another area of the body. Most surgeons take great measures to ensure that you end up with minimal scarring that will never require surgical correction.
when can i use silicone scar sheets after tummy tuck
Scars are part of almost any surgery, yet cosmetic patients tell us the fear of scars is one factor that leaves them postponing their surgical procedures. Over time, scars tend to become a minimal concern. Emotionally they end up being less important, than the discomfort and distress of having something patients want to change. Plus, silicone strips and laser treatments can help with scar minimisation.
Recovery Guide – Download Dr Briggs FREE Guide
Are your Scars a concern? Not for long!
In other words, when surgery scars heal and fade over time, the residual arm scar is less of a worry than constantly feeling self-conscious about ‘bingo wings’ or sagging arm skin or folds of skin around the belly, thighs, breast, hips or upper back.
Using Silicone Strips for Scar Minimisation
Scars are part of almost any surgery, yet cosmetic patients tell us the fear of scars is one factor that leaves them postponing their surgical procedures. Over time, scars tend to become a minimal concern. Emotionally they end up being less important, than the discomfort and distress of having something patients want to change. Plus, silicone strips and laser treatments can help with scar minimisation
Are your Scars a concern? Not for long!
In other words, when surgery scars heal and fade over time, the residual arm scar is less of a worry than constantly feeling self-conscious about ‘bingo wings’ or sagging arm skin or folds of skin around the belly, thighs, breast, hips or upper back.
Coco Ruby Dermal Clinicians
To arrange an appointment with our Dermal Team for Laser scar reduction treatments in Melbourne, please send an Email or Phone 1300 599 990.
Silicone Strips and Scars: Investing in your scar result
Do Silicone Strips really work to help heal scars?
What can be done to help scars become less visible over time?
First, what causes scars?
Nearly every surgery will result in some form of a visible scar. Early incision lines often appear red or even angry looking (Proper wound care is important to help prevent infections, which worsen scars).
Second, how long before a scar matures and can you help it along?
Silicone Strips and Scar Reduction
Silicone has been shown to help reduce scars for some patients when used properly along with following all post-surgery instructions. However, other factors impacting your scar include:
Having healthy skin and a good immune system can help a lot when it comes to healing well from a scar.
Genetics and Skin Health
Your genetics and skin health plays a big role in how your scars will form.
Below is an example of an Abdominoplasty scar (less than 3.5 months after surgery) being strategically placed below the clothing line.
Scar Revisions
Scar revisions might also be an option. Your surgeon may recommend various treatments, including topical treatments of high-grade Vitamin E oils and balms to encourage healing.
How do I Minimise My Scars?
What should I know about my scar?
Remember that everyone is different and scar formation isn’t fully predictable or controllable, even though there’s a lot you can do to help minimise their appearance.
Again, what you do matters. It’s critical that you do not smoke. Otherwise, you may compromise your surgery result, your healing and your overall health. So what you do post-op is just as important as what your surgeon does to help you get a great scar result
It’s a collaborative effort to help keep scars as minimal as possible.
Silicone Strips and Scar Prevention
Scars after surgery are one of the things that leave many people putting off a surgical procedure. But often the scar is a minimal concern in relation to the discomfort or distress of having ‘batwing’ arms or saggy skin folds around the belly, thighs or upper back. Or if you have lost a lot of weight, either unassisted or through Bariatric Surgery (Gastric Sleeve or Gastric Banding), you may be sick and tired of the chaffing of the redundant skin. Body contouring surgery can help you regain more natural contours, but you will have some sort of scarring.
What can be done about scars?
Please remember, everyone heals differently and scars differently. Scar formation is never predictable nor can be controlled, but there is a lot you can do to minimise their dark and or raised appearance.
Post-op is very important. You should not be smoking (your doctors can advise on way to give up for good); otherwise your surgery result, healing and overall health will be compromised. Listen to your surgeon so you get the most minimal scarring result as possible.
Your Overall Skin Health Will have an Impact on Your Scars
Scarring is the process by which wounds are repaired. Scars vary greatly in quality, depth, size, texture and shape. Damage to the deeper layer of the skin, the dermis, is required to produce a scar. Scars produce a structural change in the deeper layers of the skin. It is not just a change in skin colour. Fetal tissues and mucosal tissues have the ability to heal without producing a scar.
Understanding how and why this is possible could lead to better surgical scar outcomes. A scar formation will somewhat depend on the nature of the injury or trauma, the location, depth and length of a surgical incision, but the scar will be impacted by s number of internal and external factors of wound healing. Some of these conditions are controllable and some are not. Genetics can also have an effect (some high-melanin skin types are prone to keloid scarring).
Scars facts
Reducing scars after your surgical procedures are of utmost importance to Dr Briggs. Hiding them below visible clothing lines and making incisions as small as possible.
Can Silicone Strips Help Reduce Scars?
Silicone strips are a topical treatment, but they have the ability to reach deeper layers of the skin to help reduce the presence of visible scars over time. They are not inexpensive and they require extra care during your healing period, but for some patients, they may help reduce scars over time.
What Silicone Scar Treatments Involve
It is important to note that they might not work effectively for every patient, and not every patient’s surgery might be suitable for Silicone Strips. That noted some Silicone Strip product providers have reported these strips can produce up to:
Dr Patrick Briggs Specialist Plastic Surgeons and Dermal Clinicians are keen to see more evidence-based, non-sponsored research being done to assess just how effective these treatments are and what patients might benefit most. But from what is known currently, it is likely that silicone strips might be an effective method for treating various scars after surgery for some patients.
Best Silicone Tape for Scars
Everyone suffers from wounds due to injuries or surgical procedures at some point in their lives. Once your wound has fully healed, especially if it was deep or large, you may be left with a scar. Scar therapy bandage sheets made from silicone can be used to improve the appearance of scars. Though this mechanism is not fully understood, these sheets, if used appropriately, have been shown to have positive effects on many, but not all scars. Below, Dr. Stephen L. Comite, dermatologist at SkinProvement Dermatology New York, answers common questions about silicone sheets for scar treatment.
There are several brands on the market targeted to reduce the appearance of scars, but we recommend the use of CVS Scar Treatment Silicone Sheets. Rejuveness or Mepiform can be used as well but the CVS product is reasonably priced at this time.
CVS Scar Treatment Silicone Sheets are thin, self-adhesive, fabric-backed sheets that improve the appearance of existing scars and help prevent the formation of new scars. The sheets can minimize the appearance of discolored or raised scars, and even occasionally scars that are years old.
Silicone scar sheets work on discolored or raised scars, such as hypertrophic scars and keloids. The sheets can also be used for scars from minor burns, surgeries, or minor skin injuries.
Dermatologists are not certain why, but perhaps as the silicone in the scar sheet softens, it may aid in the reduction of scar appearance.
While there is adhesive on one side of the CVS Silicone Sheets, it does not stick well. We recommend you place Brown Micropore Tape from 3M, either the half-inch or the one-inch size, over the CVS Silicone Sheets. The Micropore tape sticks well and dries easily after bathing.
Silicone Scar Sheets should be used for at least eight weeks and perhaps longer. Each sheet should be worn on the scar for at least 12 hours per day, and for ease of use, they can even be worn for up to three to four days at a time and overnight. Scar sheets should not be used on wounds that are still open, have sutures or stitches or on fragile or unhealed skin. Some patients may experience a rash or allergic reaction. If this occurs, you should stop using the product and call our office.
The average scar reduction time may be seen in as little as four to eight weeks, but individual results will vary with each patient and results cannot be guaranteed.
There are several other effective anti-scar therapies available. Dr. Stephen L. Comite can help you determine which treatment is best, depending on what type of scar you have, how old it is, and other factors. To schedule a consultation at SkinProvement Dermatology New York, call us at (212) 933-9490.
I wish all doctors were as skilled and kind as Dr. Stephen Comite. He is an expert in his field of dermatology and is genuinely compassionate and concerned about all of his patients and their well being. I have gone to him for many years and have recommended him to family and friends alike. He is the best in NY.
when can i use silicone tape after tummy tuck
One of the most common questions we receive from our patients before surgery is, “Will this leave a scar?” Anytime skin is cut, surgically or otherwise, there will be a scar. There are various things we can do to minimize scarring, one of which is silicone sheeting.
What are silicone gel strips/silicone sheeting?
These strips are thin, pliable, and made of 100% silicone to occlude the scar, which helps the body to maintain moisture during the healing process and regulate collagen production, therefore, minimizing scarring. Whenever our skin integrity is altered, whether by incision or injury, the body uses its natural defenses by producing collagen to heal the wound. Without proper care, these areas can overproduce collagen, leading to hypertrophy (raised or bumpy) or keloid formation.
Why use silicone gel strips after surgery?
Studies have shown a reduction in keloid (thick, raised scars) with silicone sheets. Anecdotally, many surgeons feel sheeting helps normal scars heal better.
How do the silicone strips get used?
You will receive a pack of sheeting specific for your scar pattern that contains two to four 1mm thick strips. Each strip can cover any scar from 1-6 inches in length but can be cut for you specifically. Each strip has an easy-peel backing and is flexible, durable, and reusable for up to 3 months. Directions for application:
How long do you wear the sheets?
We recommend wearing the sheets for 12 to 22 hours, making sure you remove them daily to allow the area to be washed and cleaned. Most people wear them for about 3 months.
When should you stop wearing the sheeting?
We recommend wearing the sheets for about 3 months or when advised by one of our team members that it is ok to stop. If you encounter any redness or irritation after starting the silicone or have a known allergy, please contact us immediately. Furthermore, if you feel any areas along your incision that may contain a suture, please stop using the silicone sheeting and contact us.
