Topic: silicone tape on scars?

Hi All,

I've just been reading the posts in this thread with great interest, as my mastectomy scars seem to keloiding.  They looked good at my three month post-surgical check-up.  Today, at my six month check-up, my breast surgeon said that they had thickened and widened since my last visit.  I also noticed this happening, but was hoping that it might just be part of the healing process, and might correct itself as time went on. My doctor did say that this could happen, and she said that the scars are definitely lightening, which is a plus.  I really feel like I want to do something before the situation gets worse.  My breast surgeon suggested seeing a plastic surgeon, but I really don't want to have additional surgery.  Plus, I know that keloid scars can come back after they're removed, and can be even worse than they were prior to removal.  I'd like to try the silicone scar sheets, and I wondered how you all were doing with them, since the last post on this thread was a couple of weeks ago.  Any updates?  Also, has anyone tried the silicone gel that you rub into the scar?

Audrey

Hi Audrey,

My Lumpectomy scar is Keloid.  It  was bad fairly early.  Like maybe 3-4 wks after surgery.  My PS never said anything.  At the time I did not know what a Keloid scar was.  I did not start the tapes until 9 months after my Lumpectomy ( I am using the Generic CVS brand)

I have been using the Tapes for 4 months.  I have seen great improvement on 1/2 of my scar & good improvement on the worst half.  I will continue to use the tapes- although I have heard most of the improvement is in the beginning.  Plus I have alot of my Tapes left.  Mine are lasting 3-4 weeks.  I bought a box of 28 that I cut to strips.

I do think If I had started the tapes much sooner- (Like right after I healed & The Keloid made its first appearance)    I would have been able to reduce my Keloid to a Normal looking scar.

Pam

Hi Audrey,

Good Luck- I hope they help you too.

Interesting.  I got the only box when I bought at CVS too.  1 was missing.  Glad he discounted them for you.  I think next time it would be ok to cut them in half.  My Tape scraps are about 3 times the width of my scar at the most.  I cut the strips into 3rds.

They say to take them off when showering.  But I dont.  I dont take them off until Im done with them 

They dont stink :o

Oh I forgot to say that at the ends- I use the White 3m Tape to help keep the ends down.  Just with a little going onto my skin. It helps keep the end of the Sheet from Rolling & not sticking as good.

Pam

I've had great luck with the silicone sheets. I use ScarFX and leave them on all the time through workouts and showers. And yes, it does help alot with redness. I don't have trouble with the keloid thing but I do notice that my scars flatten and whiten into thin barely noticeable lines if I use the sheets for a few months. Good luck,

noelle                                                                                                                                                                    

Hi Audrey - They last a long time, I would say at least 3-4 weeks. They are quite thick compared to the disposable ones I have used from the drugstore. I believe I used mine almost 2 months, before I had to cut a new one from the sheet. I just finished my exchange and just put them on a week ago for this time around. They do lose some of their stickiness over time and then you wash them with soap and water and they seem to stick pretty well again. I think if you are using them some place where you don't get alot of rubbing they work well. I had really good luck on my areola mast scar. It didn't stick as well on my node scar under my arm.

 I think I remember reading that some people didn't have as much luck with them - I know that combo product for a lift that includes the areola circle with the anchor underneath doesn't fit everyone very well. I am just using a sheet that I have cut strips from for the new cuts under my breast and because they are underneath they seem to stay on really well even through workouts and showers. I bought mine at makemeheal.com. I know amazon carries them too.

Good luck,

Noelle

Hi Ladies,

I haven't taken off the silicone strips since I put them on on Thursday.  By Thursday night I noticed some rolling in the corners of the strips, so I put some paper tape on, and it's staying put (for the moment!).  I guess that in addition to silicone sheets, I'll be investing in lots of paper tape!

There's been some interesting discussion on the Alternative Board about rose hip seed oil.  According to the information I came across on the internet, it helps fade scars, and can actually prevent keloiding.  It's too late for that for those of us who've already developed keloids, but maybe it can help prevent the keloid from worsening or maybe it can actually help flatten out the area?  I don't know, but I'm going to give it a try.  I figured I'd use the scar sheets and take them off once or twice a day to rub the rose hip oil on the scar.  (For those who are ER/PR+, as I am--I tried to see if the oil has estrogenic properties, but couldn't find any websites that indicated that it was.)  If you're interested in buying this oil, it looks like it's widely available on the internet.

Audrey 

  I had my mastectomy 15 years ago, my scar was also red and bulky, then one got the silicone patches with prescription, it helped some, also I had shots in the site of the scar, very painful, and later I used the cream that is made of onions, it was a German brand.

I have seen the patches, any kind would do, mine are still very red, I am quite fair, but the scar is not bulky anymore, my doctor told me it was because I produce too much collagen.

Sorry - should have said - if you look under the breast reconstruction topic you'll see a number of threads about silicone tape, etc.

I'll pipe in again about the Oleeva strips.  Excellent, last a couple of months and wear well.  I had no red areas.  Maybe the Wally ones have adhesive on them;  that would give me red areas as I am sensitive to adhesives.  The Oleeva strips have no adhesives.

So glad I came across this thread.  Especially the posting last spring from BrandonMom who spoke of cleaning silicone pads with sticky tape rather than soap and water.  I tried it right away and couldn't believe the results.  It worked great on both sides of the tape.  In no time at all the silicone strips were practically as good as new!  You have added much time back to my life.  Thank you, thank you, thank you !!!

Claude

Glad the paper tape worked for you.

Paper tape does work on normal scars.  I am very sensitive to paper tape & get red.

Paper tape will not help a Keloid scar though.

Pam

I wrote early on this post and I used the silicone strips - 'kind' of the shape of a bandaide but larger.  They were not sticky on both sides.  They were soft cloth on back (a sort of tan color) and silicone on the front.  I too am allergic to adhesive and could never have worn anything sticky.  I purchased mine at CVS and I would be happy to send the info to anyone - pics of the box, etc.

Good to see there are a variety of products that can work in all situations!

Amy

Hi Linda! 

Happy to help anyway I can.  They are CVS Scar Treatment Silicone Scar Sheets.  28 sheets 1.5" by 2.75"   Latex free.

I am not saavy enough to post pictures here but I would love to send them to you if you'll send me a personal message with your email.  I have pics of the box, the directions and one of the actual size of the strip.  They were located a bit away from the regular bandaides.  My PS rec'md those because CVS was the only store here in town that carried them.

I found them to be easy to use and had no problems.  I tried to explain it as like those vinyl window clings - they stick...but not sticky like adhesive!  They do take some commitment - I used them at least 12 hours a day for more than 3 months.  My PS was very pleased with how things turned out with the scar.  You can rinse and resuse them too. 

Anyway - if anyone wants the photos of what I used please send me a message with your email.  Happy to pass along anything that might be helpful ~

Amy