Knee injuries and chronic conditions often result in surgery. Many patients have knee scars afterward. This results in limited mobility and range of motion, embarrassment over the skin's appearance and even pain in the scarred area. There are many ways to reduce knee scars. Patients may use several scar treatment techniques at once to get a better result in both appearance and range of motion.
Formation
During knee surgery, an incision is made in the skin which penetrates the outer and inner layers, including the dermis. After surgery, the body will try to heal itself by forming collagen at the incision site. This tissue is tougher and less elastic than regular skin. A scar is formed. If nothing is done during this formation process to limit the amount of scar tissue or its thickness, the size and prominence of the scar will be greater. Taking steps to fade scars will reduce their appearance and physical effects.
Physical Effects
Range of motion in the knee joint can effect someone's ability to kneel, bend down, run, dance or sit comfortably. After surgery, doctors usually recommend that their patients begin therapy right away. A careful balance is struck to enhance mobility and range of motion while preventing sutures from pulling open the wound. If the wound is reopened, it will take longer for it to heal and the scarring will likely be bigger.
Personal Effects
Scars also make people self-conscious, which effects their self-esteem and interpersonal relationships. Insensitive questions from strangers, for example, often prompt people to cover up their knee scars by wearing long pants, even in hot weather. This also prevents people from participating in social activities, such as taking trips to the neighborhood swimming pool, going to the beach or attending a pool party.
Treatment
After surgery, the patient should follows the doctor's recommendations, drink plenty of fluids, rest and participate in therapy. Knee therapy consists of working the muscles to promote strength and range of motion. Also common with post-surgical therapy is the massage of the area where the incision was made. This breaks up the rigid scar tissue beneath the skin's surface which, in turn, allows the joint to function more normally. Without this step, some patients have pain not from the scar itself, but from scar tissue attaching itself to the layers of skin or muscles below the incision. This is also an appropriate time to use silicone scar gel. Once the therapy starts, silicone gel can be used to limit the scar's formation, making it less noticeable in appearance. The scar gel reduces the amount of collagen developed in the scarring process. The new skin is tougher and less elastic. With less rigidity, the skin allows greater range of motion, it's color is less noticeable, and less skin forms, which helps it to reduce in size.
Formation
During knee surgery, an incision is made in the skin which penetrates the outer and inner layers, including the dermis. After surgery, the body will try to heal itself by forming collagen at the incision site. This tissue is tougher and less elastic than regular skin. A scar is formed. If nothing is done during this formation process to limit the amount of scar tissue or its thickness, the size and prominence of the scar will be greater. Taking steps to fade scars will reduce their appearance and physical effects.
Physical Effects
Range of motion in the knee joint can effect someone's ability to kneel, bend down, run, dance or sit comfortably. After surgery, doctors usually recommend that their patients begin therapy right away. A careful balance is struck to enhance mobility and range of motion while preventing sutures from pulling open the wound. If the wound is reopened, it will take longer for it to heal and the scarring will likely be bigger.
Personal Effects
Scars also make people self-conscious, which effects their self-esteem and interpersonal relationships. Insensitive questions from strangers, for example, often prompt people to cover up their knee scars by wearing long pants, even in hot weather. This also prevents people from participating in social activities, such as taking trips to the neighborhood swimming pool, going to the beach or attending a pool party.
Treatment
After surgery, the patient should follows the doctor's recommendations, drink plenty of fluids, rest and participate in therapy. Knee therapy consists of working the muscles to promote strength and range of motion. Also common with post-surgical therapy is the massage of the area where the incision was made. This breaks up the rigid scar tissue beneath the skin's surface which, in turn, allows the joint to function more normally. Without this step, some patients have pain not from the scar itself, but from scar tissue attaching itself to the layers of skin or muscles below the incision. This is also an appropriate time to use silicone scar gel. Once the therapy starts, silicone gel can be used to limit the scar's formation, making it less noticeable in appearance. The scar gel reduces the amount of collagen developed in the scarring process. The new skin is tougher and less elastic. With less rigidity, the skin allows greater range of motion, it's color is less noticeable, and less skin forms, which helps it to reduce in size.
Source...