Post operation scars - BIO OIL/ CICA CARE

[joepubli]

A fried of mine has long scars from a recent operation and is desperate to fade/lose them. There are lots of magical sounding things on the web.

Two that seem popular are BIO OIL and CICA-CARE (made by Smith & Nephew the well known drugs company)

Neither of these is exactly cheap.

I wanted to check if any moneysavers have had any positive or negative experience from these or other products.

Many thanks
Joe

[Puddingpie]

There is a copy of Bio Oil for sale in Morrisons but I don't know what its called. Its next to it on the shelf though and for sale for not much more than a pound.
HTH

[elljay20]

boots do scar reduction pads, google them for reviews. also, lavender oil is supposed to be very good too

[Mojisola]

It surprises me that Bio-Oil is so expensive when its main ingredient is liquid paraffin.

[sillyvixen]

A fried of mine has long scars from a recent operation and is desperate to fade/lose them. There are lots of magical sounding things on the web Joe

if it is a recent surgical scar it needs to be left for about 18 - 24 months to heal fully before using scar reduction products - that is what i have been advised.

[3onitsway]

I've tried bio-oil on a small scar on my face, and an old c-section scar - to be honest i cant see any improvement but it does make your skin look/feel nice.

[Softstuff]

My mother in law use bio-oil on her scars after a double mastectomy. No reduction in the appearance (but given how bad that is, it would have been miraculous), but she says the scars don't pull so much or feel as stiff. Not sure if normal oil would do the same, but even the surgeon said bio-oil was great.

[DrFluffy]

I love bio-oil. I have psoriasis, and the stuff is a godsend, especially in koebnerised scars.

[Alexandria]

I used Cica-care sheets on numerous scarring when I was younger. Expensive but for me totally worth it, my hypertrophic, red, raised scars became softened, flatter and white.

[rinroo]

I had an ankle operation in January and have been using Bio Oil since the cast came off in April, I have used it twice a day and although the scars are much softer and don't pull anymore there hasn't been a massive change appearance wise, they are still very red but they are still 'new' so to speak. My physio recommended using bio oil so i did but a friend of mine told me to use aloe Vera gel, which if I'm honest I haven't tried yet

I paid £8 for my bio oil from boots, but boots do do their own brand scar reduction.

[alileonard]

Bio oil is quite often in TJ Hughes a few pounds under RRP if you happen to have one nearby.

[DrFluffy]

It's on special in Superdrug ATM too...

[harryharp]

I think the bio oil copy that the earlier poster mentioned is called Rescue Oil. I've seen it in Wilkinsons and Home Bargains for about £1.99.

[Strapped]

Boots do a copy, I think it's called scar reduction serum. My skin forms awful keloid scars, and I've had some success with it on three sets of operative scars - it doesn't really "flatten" the scar, but makes it softer and less red and angry looking. I've given up on the stretch marks, nothing works on those!

[dickoa]

Use aloe vera gel- its 10 x better! and miles cheaper- about 3 pounds from holland and barratt. i speak from experience!!

[shays_mum]

I hated the cica care, they are meant to be reusuable, i don't know how, they curl up at the slightest touch!, well expensive unless you can get it on prescription! HTH :)

[Lychee]

if anyone's interested, Bio Oil 60ml is on offer at Morrisons £7.29 until 21st Sep

[owtfornowt]

I had surgery last year & I have a foot long scar on leg.
Holland & Barret do a cheaper version of Bio Oil which is what I have been using twice daily. I have also been putting moisturiser on it throughout the dayto keep the scar soft.
Don't know which has helped the best but my scar is hardly noticable. I'm really pleased at how it's healed.
Think the main thing about healing scars is to keep them soft with oil/creams but also to massage the area around it to keep the blood moving.

[chocolate.orange]

I think the bio oil copy that the earlier poster mentioned is called Rescue Oil. I've seen it in Wilkinsons and Home Bargains for about £1.99.


This rescue oil is fantastic. I also have a large scar after 2 ops on my leg and it has helped so much. I have a scar on my arm also( a different op) that i only used bio oil on and both look fairly similar.
My leg is the newer scar so is still redder than my arm

I paid £1.99 for rescue oil in Wilkinsons

[Paparika]

when i had nose surgery 2 years ago, a friend recommended Arnica (http://www.arnicare.co.uk/What-can-Arnica-help-treat_pg4.aspx) very good for bruises.

I don't usually believe half of what i am told, but this stuff is fantastic, my bruising lasted half the time than if i didn't take anything.

i got mine in boots and it comes in a lil tube.

10/10 for this

Bio oil is fantastic too

[blowfelt]

I have just found this post and if you are still interested,take a look on acne.org and go to scar treatment option in the message forum.

[hethmar]

When I had an op the surgeon told me to take arnica tabs before the op to minimise the bruising (I hardly had any) and to use pure Vit E creme after the op on the scars - taking zinc tabs may also help.

[lessonlearned]

Bio oil worked for me, but it did take a long time, a good 18 months. Scar went from red, raised and angry looking to a smooth tiny white line which is easily covered by concealer. All this time later still using the same bottle, you only need a small amount but you do need to spend a few minutes to massage it in. It could be that it is more the massage bit that works so perhaps any copy bio type oil works just as well.

[vwor]

I've found one called Nuage Treatment Oil that is just as good especially as it's only £2.30. You can get it online at http://www.travelbagsize.com/shop/nuage-treatment-oil-75ml-p-190.html

[Sophie Rabbit]

I had a cyst removed from my neck which left a noticable scar my GP prescribed Dermatix Gel, this has worked very well.

[littlereddevil]

Boots do a copy, I think it's called scar reduction serum. My skin forms awful keloid scars, and I've had some success with it on three sets of operative scars - it doesn't really "flatten" the scar, but makes it softer and less red and angry looking. I've given up on the stretch marks, nothing works on those!
You can get prescription cream for keloid scars dermatix it's called