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Slouching And Scars A Post-Op Top Surgery Question....


Guest OneSmallStep

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Guest OneSmallStep

I had top surgery with Garramone on June 30th. Since waking up I've found myself slouching in fear of pulling my stitches and/or causing bad scars. The other day I noticed that my girlfriend seemed taller, today it hit me that it was due to me slouching. My questions are:

1) has anyone found themselves slouching after top surgery?

2) if so were you able to go back to standing upright and did it effect your scars?

3) how long after did it feel okay to fully stand-up straight?

So far, only a small amount of my surgical tape has come off. The bit of scar that shows my gf said looked barely there/not very stretched. I have been being super careful.

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Guest i is Sam :-)

you could buy more tape / steri strips to help, if you're worried. but I wouldn't be too concerned, you just wanna keep an eye on the scars to make sure they don't go keloid, and if they do they need to be immediately treated with steroids.

I was trying to think if there was something you could wear for support, but i can't imagine you'd like that :)

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Guest sarah f

I just want to say Congrats on your top surgery. Maybe someone else will pop in here and let you know how long before you can stretch out. Congrats again on your surgery.

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Guest AndrewK

I slouched for maybe 3 weeks after top surgery? it felt really weird to stand up straight. my scars have slightly stressed but nothing major and only in some spots

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  • 3 weeks later...
Guest StrandedOutThere

I totally slouched and continued doing so for about 3 weeks. It made me look like a turtle.

Garramone doesn't like you to pull off the tape. Mine took FOREVER to come off. I finally did help the last little piece off. It was driving me crazy.

The most important thing is to listen to your body. Do things gradually. When I started trying to stand up straight, I'd kinda test it out and stop if it felt tight or like it was pulling. I'm probably crazy, but I feel like that stretched things gradually enough. My scars are very thin, BTW. I had surgery in December 2008, so I'm pretty sure they're done stretching.

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Guest Evan_J

I had top surgery with Garramone on June 30th. Since waking up I've found myself slouching in fear of pulling my stitches and/or causing bad scars. The other day I noticed that my girlfriend seemed taller, today it hit me that it was due to me slouching. My questions are:

1) has anyone found themselves slouching after top surgery?

2) if so were you able to go back to standing upright and did it effect your scars?

3) how long after did it feel okay to fully stand-up straight?

So far, only a small amount of my surgical tape has come off. The bit of scar that shows my gf said looked barely there/not very stretched. I have been being super careful.

I think a lot of guys do that. You certainly are no "oddity" so relax. I did it. And have heard other guys say they did it as well. For me? lol Honestly I was "babysittin" those scars and didn't really "stretch all the way out" wildly for a while. At least a couple months even.

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Guest OneSmallStep

Garramone doesn't like you to pull off the tape. Mine took FOREVER to come off. I finally did help the last little piece off. It was driving me crazy.

The most important thing is to listen to your body. Do things gradually. When I started trying to stand up straight, I'd kinda test it out and stop if it felt tight or like it was pulling. I'm probably crazy, but I feel like that stretched things gradually enough. My scars are very thin, BTW. I had surgery in December 2008, so I'm pretty sure they're done stretching.

Guess he's prolly changed his thoughts on the tape, he told me if it wasn't off in a week go ahead and take it off ... When my girlfriend told me he had said that I thought it sounded odd so we double checked the video of the unveiling and yep sure enough he had said it. Been putting Scar Guard on it since I took the tape off though, I think maybe I put too much on or something, cuz I've been through two bottles in a lil over two weeks. :-/ I do it twice a day, or whenever it is peeling off I reapply (seems to peel off a lot though.) When I left I asked how long I should put it on for he said a month to two months, so I guess I have to get some more. I found some ScarGuard for sale at Wal-Mart for half of what Garramone sells it for, besides the packaging not saying "Physicians Formula" it seems to be the same stuff ingredient wise, so probably going to pick some of that up tomorrow.

Yeah I've been trying to take it easy and not stretch too much, my scars are also very thin and I'm trying to keep them that way. B)

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Guest OneSmallStep

I think a lot of guys do that. You certainly are no "oddity" so relax. I did it. And have heard other guys say they did it as well. For me? lol Honestly I was "babysittin" those scars and didn't really "stretch all the way out" wildly for a while. At least a couple months even.

Ya figured it was normal, just wasn't sure for how long lol ...

So wait, I'm confussed, they did end up stretching out wildly after a few months? Or you mean after a few months they didn't stretch anymore?

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Guest AndrewK

Been putting Scar Guard on it since I took the tape off though, I think maybe I put too much on or something, cuz I've been through two bottles in a lil over two weeks. :-/ I do it twice a day, or whenever it is peeling off I reapply (seems to peel off a lot though.) When I left I asked how long I should put it on for he said a month to two months, so I guess I have to get some more. I found some ScarGuard for sale at Wal-Mart for half of what Garramone sells it for, besides the packaging not saying "Physicians Formula" it seems to be the same stuff ingredient wise, so probably going to pick some of that up tomorrow.

Scarguard kept peeling for me too...I think I finished the bottle he gave me in 2.5 weeks or so. I found another scar treatment called ScarAway which works a lot better...I got it from amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/ScarAway-Long-Silicone-Healing-Sheets/dp/B001KY3IOU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1280430043&sr=8-2

I just cut them in half length-wise and use it over each incision. It has done a LOT more for me than scarguard...my scar is starting to fade to white already in some spots.

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Guest OneSmallStep

Scarguard kept peeling for me too...I think I finished the bottle he gave me in 2.5 weeks or so. I found another scar treatment called ScarAway which works a lot better...I got it from amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/ScarAway-Long-Silicone-Healing-Sheets/dp/B001KY3IOU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1280430043&sr=8-2

I just cut them in half length-wise and use it over each incision. It has done a LOT more for me than scarguard...my scar is starting to fade to white already in some spots.

Wow really?! That does sound good! How long have you been using them for? I saw in the reviews one person stated that even though it's a 12-week supply, they needed more, how's that compare for you? Do you shower with them on? Do they stay on? How about against clothes? Do they stay pretty well?

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Guest AndrewK

Wow really?! That does sound good! How long have you been using them for? I saw in the reviews one person stated that even though it's a 12-week supply, they needed more, how's that compare for you? Do you shower with them on? Do they stay on? How about against clothes? Do they stay pretty well?

Scar treatment ultimately depends on the size of the scar and how long it's been there...so depending on those factors for that person, I can definitely see why someone would get a second supply.

I just started week 3 with these (am 7 weeks post-op btw). They made my scar start to turn white within the first week and extremely reduced the amount of keloiding that was starting to occur. I'd probably get a second batch just because it doesn't cover my entire incision line so I'd use it on the parts of the scar I haven't been....there is definitely a noticeable difference in color where I haven't used the scaraway. but I'm also overweight + my incision is connected in the center, so there is more to cover lol

I take them off to shower. They stay on really well for me. You should wash them once/day at least (I sometimes wash it twice if it seems like it's peeling off - but if it's perfectly sticking then I wouldn't bothering washing it) with a very light amount of soap (make sure it doesn't have any moisturizers or lotions in it) and water to get fuzz, etc off...let it dry, then reapply. To be honest you can even just use water and rub the fuzz off with your fingers..that's what I've been doing. Each strip lasts 6-10 days from my experience.

The only issue I've had with them is when I sleep...I guess I move around too much since I sleep on my stomach, so in the morning it's usually half peeled off my chest. When I get up I wash the strip, shower, then reapply when it's dry.

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Guest OneSmallStep

Have you taken any pics of the differences by chance? And if so can I see them? LOL... Luckily I don't seem to have any keloding, or at least not a way I notice. I'm also a bit overweight and have the incision connected in the middle, so I was thinking I'd possibly end up with another box, but even if so if it works hey that's worth it, right :) ... I ordered mine and picked up a free subscription for the month of free shipping from Amazon, so I was able to only pay $3.99 for overnight shipping! So I'll have it tomorrow (well today, saturday) ... one question, you say reapply, do I need anything extra to reapply it with? Or does it come with what I need?

Thanks for all your help, I appreciate it B)

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Guest AndrewK

Have you taken any pics of the differences by chance? And if so can I see them? LOL... Luckily I don't seem to have any keloding, or at least not a way I notice. I'm also a bit overweight and have the incision connected in the middle, so I was thinking I'd possibly end up with another box, but even if so if it works hey that's worth it, right :) ... I ordered mine and picked up a free subscription for the month of free shipping from Amazon, so I was able to only pay $3.99 for overnight shipping! So I'll have it tomorrow (well today, saturday) ... one question, you say reapply, do I need anything extra to reapply it with? Or does it come with what I need?

Thanks for all your help, I appreciate it B)

Sure, I'll send them to you in a PM.

All you do to reapply is press it back onto your skin - nothing fancy. Even though you wash it nearly every day, once it dries, it's still sticky for about a week.

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Guest OneSmallStep

Thanks, ya I put 'em on saturday and they feel way better than the Scar stuff I got at Garramone's... and judging by your pics I think I'll like the results a bit better too lol

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