How to Care for an Open Heart Surgery Scar

Many who undergo open heart surgery worry that the scar will last forever. The incision in the center of the chest is vertical and between 7 and 10 inches long, to allow the surgeon to open the ribcage and expose the heart.

Instructions

• 1

  Apply over-the-counter or prescription creams, ointments or topical gels to treat your open heart surgery scar. Consider treating your scar with corticosteroids or antihistamine creams if your scar is extremely sensitive or itchy.

• 2

  Rub some vitamin E oil into the scar at least twice a day to help with scar healing.

• 3

  Check with your doctor for additional alternatives for treating your open heart scar, including pressure treatments or using silicone gel sheeting.

• 4

  Think about removing or treating a deep or large scar with skin grafts, excision, dermabrasion or laser surgery. Many scars fade and look better over time, so it is best to wait for at least a year before making a decision about this type of treatment.

• 5

  Get injections to lessen protruding scars, such as keloids or hypertrophic. Your doctor may recommend steroid injections as treatment for your open heart surgery scar.

• 6

  Consider other types of injections, such as collagen or other fillers. These may help with some types of pitted scarring, but they are not usually permanent solutions.