When we have surgery and are left with a scar, the effect can be far more than physical. It can have a deep and lasting emotional impact as well. Many studies have been done on the emotional impacts of scars, and surgery scars in particular.
Indeed, scar tissue can affect people in many ways, including:
- Scars can act as physical triggers that remind us of the uncomfortable events that caused them. For example, an injury, accident or unwanted surgery.
- Highly visible scars may have emotional consequences that develop as a result of being left to cope with their unsightly appearance.
It may be obvious to state that a traumatic event that leaves a scar, such as a car accident or attack can be a source of insecurity, fear, anger depression and lack of self-confidence. But what about scars from surgery? Many surgeries are elective, meaning you likely know the outcome beforehand.
But maybe the need for surgery was out of your control, such as an appendix removal, open heart surgery or emergency c-section. In such cases, you may be emotionally unprepared to deal with the resulting scar and emotions that come with it.
If the surgery was done to save your life or the life of your child, you may have conflicting emotions about it. On one hand, you wouldn’t be here if not for the surgery. On the other hand, you never asked for such a disfiguring scar and lasting reminder of your ordeal. You may feel joy (your baby was delivered healthy) yet insecure about your new post-baby body.
Common emotional effects of surgical scarring include:
- Anger
- Sadness
- Insecurity
- Worry
- Fear
- Pain
- Guilt
- Disgust
The physical appearance of some surgical scars often causes ongoing problems even after initial formation. They may become red and raised, perhaps growing past the wound boundaries or may take multiple years to fade.
While scarring from surgery and the emotions that come with it can be life-changing, it’s important to not let the experience consume you. There are ways you can cope with the scar to lessen its effects over time. Therapy can help, of course, but there are practical things you can do to lessen the appearance of scars. According to WebMD, treatments include scar removal surgery, steroid injections, skin grafts, excision, dermabrasion, collagen, fillers, or silicone sheets that can help flatten scars.
Cryotherapy can help with smaller keloid scars, or you might try pressure treatment or silicone gel pads. Over-the-counter or prescription creams, ointments or gels work well for scar fading. Scarfade is a clinically proven Scar Treatment Gel. It creates a silicone micro-membrane on the skin that protects and moisturizes but doesn’t cause maceration. It is quick and easy to apply and leaves no sticky residue. And best of all … it is available without a prescription.
Don’t be a victim to your surgery scars any longer. Fade them the safe, easy and effective way: with clinically proven Scarfade.