surgery is often just the beginning: what you can do about a surgical scar

A caesarean section, knee surgery, a mole that had to come off. Every operation leaves a surgical scar behind. For some people it’s barely visible. For others it stays red, thickened or tight. Many people think they simply have to learn to live with it. According to skin therapist Adelien Hiensch of UMA Clinic in Amsterdam, that’s a misconception.

She regularly supports clients who want to improve a surgical scar. Not only because it’s visible, but also because it can affect how the skin feels and moves, and how someone sees themselves. A scar never disappears completely. But there’s often much more possible than you might think.

“A scar isn’t the end of recovery. For many people, it’s actually the start of a new journey, in which we can help the skin heal as smooth and supple as possible.”

a surgical scar at a glance

• every surgical scar heals differently
• scar therapy can often start early in the healing process
• older scars can often still improve too
• the goal isn’t perfection, but calm, supple and strong skin

why every scar heals differently

Every skin heals in its own way. How a surgical scar eventually looks depends on factors such as genetics, the location of the surgery, tension on the skin and the way the wound has healed.

That’s why one scar may be barely visible after a few months, while another stays red, becomes thickened or pulls inwards. A tight feeling, itching or less supple skin are also common. According to Adelien, you should therefore judge a scar not only by how it looks, but also by how it functions.

“A scar is new connective tissue. We don’t just look at its colour or shape, but also at how the tissue moves and feels. That determines which treatment is most suitable.”

when can you treat a surgical scar?

Many people think a scar can only be treated once it has fully healed. In reality, the period in which a scar develops plays an important role.

Depending on how the wound heals, scar therapy can start relatively early. By guiding the skin well during the healing process, the quality of a surgical scar can often be influenced positively. That doesn’t mean older scars no longer deserve attention. Scars that have been there for years can often still improve too.

which treatments can improve a surgical scar?

No two scars are the same. So there’s no standard treatment that works for everyone.

Depending on the type of scar and the condition of the skin, a treatment plan can include different techniques, such as scar massage, microneedling, laser treatments or medical skin improvement. These treatments often strengthen each other. That’s why, at UMA Clinic, we always look at which combination best suits your skin and what you’d like to achieve.

“The most beautiful result rarely comes from one treatment. By combining different techniques cleverly, we can support the skin’s recovery as well as possible.”

a scar often tells a personal story

For one person, a surgical scar is a reminder of a caesarean section. For another, it’s a reminder of an accident, cancer treatment or another life-changing event. So a scar often has not only a physical meaning, but an emotional one too.

In the treatment room, Adelien notices that clients don’t always come because a scar is visible. Sometimes they want to feel free again in certain clothes. Sometimes the tight feeling bothers them. And sometimes they simply don’t want a difficult period to be visible every single day.

“Everyone experiences a scar differently. That’s why, for me, a treatment always starts with listening. Only then do we look at the options.”

patience is an important part of scar recovery

Connective tissue keeps developing for months, and sometimes even longer than a year. So recovering from a surgical scar takes time.

According to Adelien, it’s important to have realistic expectations. The goal isn’t to make a surgical scar disappear, but to help the skin recover as calm, supple and strong as possible. A carefully built treatment plan often gives the most beautiful results.

“We don’t try to make a scar vanish. We help the skin recover as well as it can. That takes patience, but in the end it makes a big difference.”

a better surgical scar starts with the right guidance

Surgery often marks the end of a medical treatment, but for the skin, recovery is still very much in progress. By guiding scars at the right moment and aligning treatments, the skin can often develop more beautifully and comfortably. According to Adelien, that’s exactly what good scar therapy is about: not striving for perfection, but giving the skin the best chance to recover.