The Secret of A Good Scar
How to Minimise Scarring After Surgery: A Plastic Surgeon’s Guide
Published 21 November 2014 | Last updated 11 November 2026.
All surgery leaves a mark. Whether you have a mole cut out or shaved, a lesion scraped away or tissue removed by laser, the skin is damaged and some scarring is inevitable. At first, a scar is usually red and obvious. How it is managed, both during surgery and afterwards, often makes the difference between a good scar and a poor one.
What Makes a Good Scar?
Good scars start with good surgery. Plastic surgeons focus on three things:
- Careful planning. We spend a great deal of time studying where a scar will lie. By placing incisions along natural lines, skin creases and shadows, we hide scars as much as possible.
- Gentle technique. We are trained to handle tissue as little as possible and to use fine instruments, so the surrounding healthy skin is damaged as little as possible.
- Skilled suturing. Closing a wound is an art that takes years to learn. Bringing the edges together precisely gives the best contact, and so the best-quality scar.
Just as important, a wound should never be closed under tension. We use deep sutures to support the wound and, occasionally, move tissue around to shift the tension elsewhere. This gives the wound the best chance of healing well.
Caring for Your Scar After Surgery
In the early stages, a scar needs support and protection.
- Deep sutures reinforce the wound from beneath.
- Light tapes and dressings help, and the wound must be kept clean.
- Facial scars are often left exposed and dressed simply with antibiotic ointment.
- Waterproof dressings are used wherever possible, so you can wash and shower straight away.
Avoid too much activity around the scar while it heals, as this can stretch it.
When Should Stitches Be Removed?
You may have seen the classic “railway track” look of a straight scar with a row of dots on either side, as in cartoons such as Popeye. The dots appear when stitches are left in long enough to leave scars of their own, so we avoid leaving them in too long.
- On the trunk, we often use dissolvable sutures that are buried beneath the skin and can’t be seen.
- On the face, we usually remove stitches early, at around five to seven days.
Occasionally, keeping the wound closed matters more than the final appearance of the scar. In those cases it can be reasonable to leave stitches in for longer.
Long-Term Scar Care: Massage, Moisturiser and Sun Protection
Every scar is red and noticeable at first, and it can take months to begin fading. Most scars settle within a year, although some take longer.
Moisturise and massage. Once the wound has fully healed, regular moisturising and massage help scars fade. Popular products include Bio Oil, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera.
Protect your scar from the sun. For the first three to six months, while the scar is still red and active, keep it out of the sun. If a red scar tans, the pigment stays in the scar after your tan fades, leaving a permanent brown mark.
You can still travel to sunny places. Just keep the scar covered with:
- High-factor sun block
- Tape
- A wide-brimmed hat or clothing over the area
Questions About Scarring?
If you’d like advice about scars or scar treatment, we’re happy to help. Call us on 0121-454 3680 or get in touch through our website. I also host a live Q&A on Facebook every Tuesday at 7pm, and I’d be glad to answer your questions there.
