A common question that gets asked by patients and medical professionals alike concerns what treatment option is best for scars on exposed areas versus scars underneath clothing. This question gets brought up frequently because there are many different modes of application when it comes to topical silicone for scar management. A scar located on the face or knee might benefit more from silicone ointments and sticks. Scars on the abdomen or back might benefit more from silicone gel sheeting. Medical professionals want the best post-operative outcomes for their patients, so it’s good to know how to address patient concerns in relation to scar therapy and management.
Continue reading to learn more about the different ways medical silicone can be used for scars and how to achieve the best results after a surgery or an injury.
Silicone gel sheeting
Silicone gel sheeting is the traditional scar management solution that emerged to the clinical scene over 30 years ago. Silicone gel sheets, as the name suggests, are made of pure
silicone and have a soft, rubbery texture. Similar to bandages, silicone sheets contain an adhesive component that gently sticks to the skin to fully encapsulate the scar site. Silicone sheets can be washed and reused to extend their lifespan so the wearer can get the most out of them. Silicone sheets come in all different size variations with clear or natural fabric (skin) colors. Silicone gel sheets are best used for specific cosmetic, orthopedic, and other surgical procedures that produce large scars. A patient who has had a breast reduction would most benefit from
Areola Circles,
Areopexy and
Mastopexy silicone breast forms. Patients with scoliosis who have had an invasive procedure to realign the spine would benefit most from
Large Sheets. Silicone sheets for scars attained from major surgeries would likely be worn underneath clothing. A silicone ointment may not be the best option in these cases because the silicone would be rubbed off by the fabric of your shirt or sweater.
Silicone ointments for scar management are a newer take on scar therapy that bypasses some of the patient compliance issues seen with sheeting. If you don’t want the hassle of washing and maintaining silicone sheets, an ointment that comes in a portable, convenient tube might be more appealing. Silicone ointments are best used on exposed scars on the face, neck, elbow, hand, or knee. Silicone ointments should be applied to the scar site at least twice daily. The drawback to using ointments is that they tend to be sticky and they fail to dry well.
