Advice please - anyone with good knowledge of preventing scarring

[EvangelicalAboutButteredToast]

My child has received a head wound that was deep and required stitches by a maxillofacial surgeon. He’s done a beautiful job, but the wound runs top to bottom of the forehead and will leave a linear scar.

The surgeons advice was massaging the wound as it heals and sunscreen every day for at least a year. I’m looking at various scar gels and sheets and trying to work out the best way to approach it for optimum results.

If anyone has any experience of something similar I’d be grateful for recommendations. Thank you.

I would follow the surgeon's advice and not waste money on anything unproven. Scarring is not easily prevented really and the most important things are keeping the wound clean, getting stitches promptly, keeping it moisturised and wearing suncream. Scars are more susceptible to skin cancer apparently.

It can be really hard to accept a scar as a parent because we wish they never got hurt, but it might be helpful for you to focus on how to minimise how much they think/worry about any scar that does result. When older they would be able to cover any scar with makeup if they wanted to but I wouldn't introduce or even suggest that unless they mention it themselves.

The best approach with scars is acceptance if possible, I do understand that is easier said than done.

Yes follow the surgeons advice.
There is some research to suggest that calendula for scarring can reduce granulation. I used a weleda cream , worked well.

Mine had facial surgery at the age of 1, performed by a plastic surgeon. I was also concerned about scarring but honestly children's skin heals SO well and scarring really does fade. 5 years on from my DD's surgery the scar is barely visible - just slightly whiter than the rest of her skin.

But yes - suncream.

Oh I am completely traumatised. Four hours sleep, rerunning the incident over and over and over and over. Feel responsible even thought it was done through a sport they love, but I feel I should never have taken them, should have seen the safeguarding issue etc etc. Dk yes, I’m also trying to minimise scarring as a way to try and repair my own head.

vitamin e oil and silicon, you can get it in various forms; silicon serums and also silicon patches which are more to help raised scars I think.

I completely understand

I think you will feel better in time and also if you try to keep telling yourself that life itself is a risk. Your child was doing an activity that is healthy and gives them enjoyment. It is not like you let them play in a building site.

The scar will not ruin their life. It is just a scar.

It is not your fault - the scary thing is we can't control everything and our children can get hurt doing normal things.

It’s the pressure of the massage that makes the difference ( small firm circular movements) .
Re what you use ( in my clinics we always said not hugely important but VIt E and silicon are good ingredients)
I suggest taping the wound with micropore tape over the summer months cut into an oval shape so there are no corners to lift up. You can get skin coloured tape. Blocks UV over the summer and flattened the wound while it is maturing . ( plastic surg experience)

OP my daughter had a deep facial cut when she was tiny, the advice I had from a dermatologist was to use Dermatix gel on it religiously, and sunblock. The scar is very smooth and flat. As it runs through a brow it is slightly visible due to the gap in hairs there, but otherwise it is as good a result as a scar could have I think. You can also gently massage the scar.

And I also felt like this. It took me a long time to look at pictures of her before the injury or when she was bandaged. She was under one and it was an accident , DH fell outside while carrying her in a sling, and by a complete fluke there was glass on the ground. She was covered in blood and it was very traumatic, so I sympathise. It takes time and will always give you the horrors when you think about it.
My dd doesn’t ever think about her scar though, and I hardly ever notice it now as it is so flat.

La Roche Cicaplast Baume with SPF is always recommend by dermatologists in France for any kinds of scars and healing, it's amazing stuff.
You'll find it easily in the UK if that's where you are,

Thank you SO much xxxx

Thank you. I’m so sorry that happened to you 😭

Thank you so much xx

Hi, this isn’t a licensed treatment so you would need to tell a porkie pie at the pharmacy, but chloramphenicol eye OINTMENT not drops is amazing at preventing scarring. My mom had surgery on her face and this was the bees knees at preventing scarring. It was recommended to her by max facial nurses

So the steri strips are starting to peel leaving behind a 4cm linear wound that’s looking pretty good. Normal life will be starting again soon and I’m mindful of the need for it to be covered from the sun whilst it heals. It’s still in the early stages so what do we think of https://zelador.com/products/hydraseal-hydrocolloid-extra-thin-dressing this kind of thing. Keeps a moist environment whilst also offering protection?