Open heart surgery can be a lifesaver, but it also leaves you with a lifetime reminder in the form of a scar. Any heart surgery that requires the chest to be opened so that the heart is exposed falls under the category of open heart surgery. In order for it to be performed, the sternum, or breastbone, has to be opened to expose the heart, which requires a lengthy vertical incision on the chest. Many heart procedures are starting to use more minimally invasive techniques, which are safer and leave minimal scarring. You have options for reducing the scarring regardless of the type of heart surgery you undergo.
What type of Procedures Require Open Heart Surgery
The most common reason for heart surgery is coronary artery bypass grafting, which grafts a healthy artery or vein as a replacement for a blocked artery. Other common reasons for heart surgery include coronary heart disease, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, pacemakers and other medical devices, and heart transplants. Angioplasty, another common heart procedure, typically does not require opening up the chest cavity. A traditional open heart surgery will have a long incision, which can be up to 10 inches. The newer, less invasive procedures still require an incision, but it will be much smaller. There are two types of minimally invasive surgeries, including endoscopic surgery and robot-assisted valve surgery.
How to Take Care of Your Surgery Incision
One of the best ways to reduce the scarring from your procedure is to properly care for your incision. Most patients will remain in hospital while the incision on the skin heals, so it will be treated by healthcare professionals. However, once you are discharged, you will still need to take care of the wound by yourself. You should avoid putting any type of lotion or ointments on the area until the area has completely healed, including any scabs. If you notice any signs of infections, visit your doctor right away. You will most likely feel itching around the newly formed scar, which is a normal part of the healing process. Do not succumb to the temptation to itch, as it can damage the newly formed skin and lead to a more pronounced scarring.
How to Reduce the Appearance of your Scar
Any further trauma will add to the damage of the skin, which will interrupt the healing process and increase the amount of scar tissue in the area. Therefore, you should wear clothing that will not exacerbate the incision area, including choosing a softer bra if you are female. Additionally, you want to protect the area from the sun for at least the first two years of healing. This reduces any further damage caused by UV rays. The easiest way to protect it is to wear UPV clothing, which will lend more sun protection than just a typical shirt alone. If you do wear something outside that exposes the area, wear sunscreen with a high SPF. Once your incision has healed completely, you can treat it with a scar treatment cream to expedite the body’s natural healing process, which will help the scar to fade faster.
Have a question about your scar or dark spot? Leave a comment and we’ll be happy to answer!
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The information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please speak to your doctor to treat any medical condition. Information on this site is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.
Just want to know what cream would help with the scar my scar is something like keloid skin now help please ! Thank you
Hi Kathy, keloids typically require surgery but there is no guarantee that the scar from that surgery also won’t become a keloid. It’s something to discuss with your dr.
Hi i have been using kelo kota for a while, having no joy as the scar is still there, the tube is finished. The scars are red and irritrating at times it itches. Please let me know what to do.
Hi Goolam, what type of scar is it? Flat, raised, keloid, hypertrophic, etc.?