Caring For Your Scar After Knee Replacement

Once your incision has sealed itself and you can get it wet and wash it regularly, you can start trying to eliminate or reduce the appearance of your post-surgical scar. There are many ways to support your body in the healing process. 

Using Massage and Topical Treatments 

One of the best ways to help eliminate or reduce your post-surgical scarring is to gently massage the incision site multiple times per day. In the beginning, this will be tender and slightly uncomfortable. The more you do it, the uncomfortable it will feel and the faster it will heal. 

Massaging your scar is so effective because it helps to break down the scar tissue and promotes blood flow to the area, helping return to its natural state. It’s also recommended that you use some form of topical cream or ointment in conjunction with massage. 

Using a topical treatment in combination with massage turbo-charges the healing process. Massage your scar with your fingers or use alternatives, such as a firm ball or marble, to help break up the scar tissue. Do what feels comfortable to you. 

If you experience extreme sensitivity while massaging, you can desensitize the scar by gently rubbing it with different materials daily. Start with soft, smooth fabrics and work your way up to more texture as you heal. 

Other Tips for Expediting the Healing Process

The real key to healing well is having overall good health.  If you’ve been slacking and are not exactly where you want to be that’s okay. It’s never too late to get into shape and live a healthy life. 

Proper Nutrition

Eating the proper foods boosts your immune system and promotes healing.

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants combined with proteins and healthy fats for all-around balanced nutrition. 
• Avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar. 

Maintaining a healthy weight is good for your overall health and reduces the stress on your joints and surgery sites. 

Keep Your Scar out of Direct Sunlight

Use sunscreen or lotion with an SPF to keep from getting burned. Mederma also offers a scar removal gel that includes an SPF for sun protection. 

No Smoking

Quit smoking before surgery and during recovery because smoking reduces blood flow and circulation by restricting oxygen to the organs and tissues.

Manage Other Health Issues 

If you suffer from a chronic illness, such as diabetes, it’s important to stay on top of it. If your numbers are out of whack, your body won’t be working at its optimum level and will not heal as well. 

Get Some Sleep 

Don’t underestimate the power of sleep. Getting enough rest is essential to the healing process. Sleep is the time when your body heals the most. So do what you need to do to get those Z’s.

Look out for Keloid Scars

Some people are more prone to getting what is called keloid scars resulting in lumpy raised scar sites. If you are one of the many people affected by this condition there is the option of having your doctor perform steroid injections into the scar site. 

Injections will help to keep the tissue supple and promote healing. There are also manual and electronic massagers that help to break up the scar tissue and speed up the recovery process.  

Other Factors that Affect Healing Times

When you have surgery, take into consideration that everyone heals differently and at a different pace. Don’t be discouraged because your neighbor had a double knee replacement and is back to her old shenanigans in a shorter time than you are from your single knee operation. 

Be patient when going through the healing process. Sometimes it can take up to a full year for your scar to fully go away and heal. The following factors can affect the way you heal: 

• Age 
• Genetics
• Overall Health
• Race