Caring for the scar after shoulder surgery
Once a shoulder operation is behind you and the wound has healed, attention turns to the scar itself. Dr Cutbush has recorded practical advice on caring for a shoulder surgery incision following shoulder replacement, including the use of Strataderm.
What Strataderm is
Strataderm is a silicone-based gel that can support scar healing. Silicone gels and sheets are a long-established approach to scar management and are generally used to help a scar settle, soften and flatten as it matures. The aim is to improve the appearance of the scar over time. Individual results vary.
When to start
Timing matters. Silicone gel is applied only once the wound has fully closed, which is usually around 7 to 10 days after the operation. Applying it to a wound that is still open, weeping or scabbed is not appropriate, so it is worth confirming at your post-operative appointment that the incision has closed before starting.
How to use it and for how long
The video covers when to start using Strataderm, how to apply it, and how long to continue. In general, silicone gels are applied in a thin layer to clean, dry skin and allowed to dry before dressing, and they are continued over a period of months rather than weeks, because a scar continues to change for a long time after it has closed. Follow the directions supplied with the product and any specific instructions given to you.
A note on expectations
Scars mature slowly. A scar typically looks its most prominent in the first few months and then gradually fades over a year or more. How a scar turns out depends on a great deal besides what is applied to it, including the site, the tension across it, skin type and individual healing. Sun protection over a new scar is also generally recommended.
Watch the discussion
The full discussion is available via this link: watch the video. It is intended for patients, and for clinicians supporting patients through recovery.
Related information
Our post on your shoulder replacement and your dressings explains the dressings used and when they come off, which is the stage immediately before scar care begins. See also the rehabilitation page and the surgery FAQs.