“What treatment should I have to remove my stitch marks?”
I have stitch marks from my last surgery, and it looks almost like a scar. What treatment would you recommend to get rid of these surgery marks?
14 Answers
They may fade with time. But if the stitch marks are still there after a year they may always be somewhat visible. The scar and stitch marks can be excised and the wound closed with a technique that sutures the skin from Underneath without leaving stitch marks. This can be done if there is enough laxity of the skin
Microneedling can help remove stitch marks.
Professional microneedling can help to stimulate new, native collagen and elastic fiber synthesis to improve scar appearance by diminishing "railroad track"-like stitch marks.. When coupled with the topical application of prescription pigment enhancers, such as tyrosine and bimatoprost, microneedling can also help to blend the off-white or ivory color and irregular texture better with the surrounding normal skin.
Resurfacing techniques (laser, peel) or scar revision.
Excise the railroad tracks if there is enough skin to close the wound without tension. Best is to avoid cross hatching by removing sutures in time.
Stretch marks are difficult and cannot be removed without surgery. Even with surgery, you are left with a scar often times. You can reduce their appearance with microneedling and lasers.
There are some lasers that can help with stretch marks.
Silicone-based ointments are good for minimizing scars.
Big sutures marks or cross hatching, stippling, etc., can look like a permanent stepladder scar. The treatment could be a trial with Co2 laser to hopefully blend in the scars or marks. If not successful or sufficiently satisfactory, a complete removal (full scar revision) of the entire marked areas and resuturing with buried sutures (intradermal sutures) might be the preferred option.
Silicone sheets and massage are helpful and petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or Aquaphor if the area is still sensitive. Most other products such as Mederma are not helpful. Ask your surgeon if dermabrasion or laser would be helpful. Many board certified dermatologists are able to offer such procedures to improve the appearance of scars. If the scar is thickened we sometimes do injections of a cortisone called triamcinolone (Kenalog) to help soften or thin down the scar. Marks from suture are sometimes hard to avoid in areas of high tension such as the back but can be avoided by not tightening the knots in the skin.
I assume what you are referring to is the cross marks from the stitch. To treat this depends on when your last surgery was. If it was less than a year then you should wait as it can continue to fade. If more than a year it can be treated with either topical medication, laser resurfacing or excision and re closure.
Maderma cream is a good solution to stitch marks.
Re-excision under local Anesthetic would be the best advice
Thank you for your question. I don’t exactly understand what is referred by "stitch mark." However, in many cases, a scar massage and time will cause the incision to fade. In other cases, a scar revision may be required. This is the excision of the current area and a different closure. I would encourage you to discuss this with your surgeon.
I hope this helps.
Luis A. Laurentin-Perez, MD PhD
I hope this helps.
Luis A. Laurentin-Perez, MD PhD
