my daughter had open heart surgery?

Question

my daughter had open heart surgery a year ago she is sixteen now her scar down her chest is still very pink and lumpy does anybody know how long it takes for it to sink into a smooth scar. i have asked her local doctor but he just said time will tell. she has stopped going swimming because she thinks people are looking at her .

Answer 1

I had similar surgery at age 13 and further heart surgery about 21 months ago so I have plenty of war wounds!

First remind your daughter how incredibly brave she was to face the op in the first place and she got through it and is healthier now than before. I'm sure you do this anyway but show her all these replies so she knows it's not only her Mum who thinks so :0) Then tell her that her scar is actually a badge of honour which testifies to her bravery. I always thought of my scars that way - even at 13.

Other people are interested in dramatic scars and why not? They are way beyond the experience of most people. Try to get her to see it as something "special" - which it IS! People will take one look and then that's it - interest over. She should absolutely continue to swim, wear any clothes she likes and pretty much ignore her scar.

She could try Bio-Oil but baby oil will do just the same things and it's cheaper :0) Treat the scar like any other piece of skin with moisturiser etc.

But more important than any lotions or potions is her attitude to it.

I hope you are reading all these answers with your Mum honey - you are a brave person. I know exactly what you are going through but I promise that it will be just fine. And maybe people are just looking at you because you are gorgeous - did you ever think of that?

Good luck - forget about the scar and enjoy your precious teenage years in the very best of health :0)

Answer 2

Wow, what a young age to have to go through that big of a surgery. That alone is trauma enough...then being 16 and all that appearance pressure she's getting. My heart goes out to her and the whole family.

The surgery now is sealed up on the surface with a liquid called DermaBond. Sort of like a super glue for the skin. It's great stuff. On the patients I see that come in subsequently months or years after open heart surgery in 90% of the cases I see a very well healed and almost undetectable scar. It does take time and I would assume that a 16 year old would heal faster than a 70 year old. The fact that she hasn't makes me feel she just operates at a different pace. You could say this is obvious because she's only 16 and had heart surgery! Does it look angry and red like an infection or just from the healing process? Has it opened up anywhere along the line?

The new thinking on scarring and the best way to reduce it it keeping it moist. "Let it scab over and heal..." was thought to be best in sealing the wound off but that is no longer the case. Keeping the area soft and scab free gives a better chance of reducing the scar. Of course it's been quite a while for your daughter so you may be beyond that point. As long as the area is clean and the cream or treatment is clean (don't leave the cap off or let other people touch it) it will help.

If you're still not satisfied, go talk to a good plastic surgeon and get his or her thoughts. They very well may tell you to wait and see too. As far as the "She shouldn't worry..." and "...don't care what others think...", that's a bit of a niave thought process to expect of a 16 year old girl. She's going to go through alot of that whether or not she has a scar anyway!

I hope this helps. All the best. Jeff the nurse in Nashville

Answer 3

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Answer 4

My grandson had open heart surgery when he was an infant and it only took about 8 mos. but babies grow sooo fast. Much slower for a 16 year old. My grandson is not 7 and he alternates between covering it up and other time he just doesn't care at all, almost shows it off.

My guess is the scar will gradually get smaller as the skin is replaced, and you daughter will probably become less sensitive about it. Just tell her at least she is still around and able to go swimming.

Answer 5

It took my husbands scar 2 maybe 3 years to turn white.It's still lumpy though.It's been six years since his double bypass.He was older, 39, and younger people heal faster and usually with less lasting scaring.
He's had 8 back surgeries too and bone taken from both hips to graft to his back!
He's covered with "zippers" Even on his legs where they took veins to use on his heart.
I have no idea what creams or lotions or vitamins help to fade scars.
He's always been sorta proud of his.

I'm sorry to hear that her scar is causing her upset.After going through something like open heart surgery so young I know you don't want her missing out on the things she's been given another chance to enjoy.
She's in my prayers and so are you mom.

God Bless

Sue C

Answer 6

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Hello :o)

First of all, I'm sending lots of good wishes to you and your daughter. I have had Acute Myloid Leukaemia three times since I was fourteen years old, (I'm 33 now) and have scars too...smaller ones but lots from Hickman lines etc but I also have great compassion for your situation. x x I've also treated other peoples scars and these are some great natural treatments you can do at home every day!

Pure Vitamin E oil, even from a split vitamin oil capsule, rubbed onto the scar, is brilliant. This greatly helps to regenerate the new skin cells and reduce the scar tissue.

100% pure Lavender essential oil , add this to the Vitamin E oil and gently rub into the scarred area everyday. This has a plethora of healing properties but will also strengthen the new skin and help to diminish the reddish colour of the scar tissue and the sensitivity of it too.

Red Palm oil! This is FANTASTIC! It really is a wonderful oil, packed full of beta carotenes and vitamins and is used medicinally all over the world...new medical research is being found on it's many beneficial properties all the time, and in the past five years a great deal has been discovered. One of it's many benefits is that it helps to reduce scarring and can be rubbed gently straight onto the scar tissue and of course be joined by lavender etc. You can find Red Palm Oil in the UK in the form of an oil called 'Carotino Oil' which you can find at Morrisons supermarkets and soon hopefully more supermarkets as they've just finished a huge redesign of the packaging (the bottle and label etc) and now it's in a tall corked bottle with a lovely black and reddish orange label. It is one of THE VERY healthiest oils to cook with that you can buy and it is delicious too...and great for the skin and packed to bursting with vitamin E and other rare nutrients.

Calendula (marigold) cream and Kamomilla (Chamomile) cream too. Calendula will help to soothe the skin and assist with the healing and knitting together of the wound itself and reduce scarring in the way it works.

You can also try 'Palmers' cocoa butter and other products in their range as they even have a lotion or oil for scar reduction and their products are of a very high quality, I have used them for years. They are very kind to the skin.

'Bio Oil' is a new one that is out too.. you could give that a try... I have not use this myself yet..but it looks interesting.. I hope it is all natural.

Even the action of massaging the scar will keep the blood circulation good in the area and that will help it too. Gently rubbing in circular motions is best.

I hope this help a little bit. I send lots of good thoughts to you both. Strength and courage! (Which I'm sure you've got lots of!!) :o) Keep swimming... try to find a lovely swimsuit that covers morte of the scar for now if you can... but don't let anyone looking stop you swimming..just smile at them, perhaps they are looking because you are a pretty girl too!! :o)

with love, take great care x x

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Answer 7

It fades but never becomes invisible. The amount of scarring really depends on the individual. some people develop scars more easily than others.
I agree with the answerer that suggested a speedo swimsuit. They make one that comes up a bit higher in the front and the straps are connected a bit higher in the back. I had OHS and my old speedo suit covered it 100%. Because she may be like my daughter and thinks one pieces are for old ladies - they also make tankini's with higher chest pieces. They do this to help reduce drag in the water so the swimmer can get better glide for swim team competition. So get her a good pair of goggles and a speedo and she'll look like a serious swimmer! Swimming is such good exercise too.

Answer 8

I think it will take a couple of years for the scar to be less noticeable and it's a shame that she's giving up something that she loves to do because of other people. While it may not be the most fashionable, some of the 1 piece "speedo" type suits may offer her the feeling of being more covered. Tell her to enjoy the new lease on life and enjoy doing the activities she likes. Good luck

Answer 9

Had my op in 2003, the scar is almost not noticeable. Wish I had the words to make her ignore all the feelings of being stared at.
Swiming is the best thing to keep the heart exercised and to recover fully so I hope that she will overcome and not let these people impede her recovery.
It is a hard operation to "get over" but eventually the thoughts can be overcome.
I have no idea as to creams or potions so I hope she can take a deep breath and ignore the stares, I am sure no intent is meant by them but humans are curious and thoughtless at times.
Best wishes

Answer 10

16 is such a fragile age, unfortunately your doc is right. Everyone is different and heals at different times. She is young and will heal up faster than older people, but the scar will always be there. Use cocoa butter to keep it moisturized, and find a different swim suit, with all the new styles, there has to be something that will cover that scar, (try a speedo one piece) My niece went through the same thing at 14, she is now to the point she doesn't care what people think, but that takes time. (She says its a good conversation starter with the boys lol) Good luck