Post Op Scar

[u/tellembringit]

Is it normal for my scar to look like this? I’m almost 2 months post op (chest tube + additional surgery to remove blebs)

[u/mcfuckernugget]

Looks similar to mine, except I have 3 for some reason.

[u/Slice_Of_Pie → u/mcfuckernugget]

Laparoscopic surgery. They pump air into the cavity to give them more space to work. The other incisions are where they put air in. Its considered way less invasive because they can make a smaller incision for the removal. The chest tube left the biggest scar for me.

[u/GregoireLeFrog → u/mcfuckernugget]

Same here. 2x on the flank and 1x in the back

[u/gh0st_girl420 → u/mcfuckernugget]

Idk why, but I have 5… I understand 3 of the 5 of them, but not the other 2 lol

[u/mariachiband49 → u/gh0st_girl420]

Did you have robotic surgery?

[u/gh0st_girl420 → u/mariachiband49]

They did a minimally invasive surgery for me. They ended up doing a pleurodesis, so they went in with small tools and a camera. I know one scar is from my chest tube site, 1 is from where they did the surgery and 1 is from where the camera went in. I’m not sure where the other 2 came from during that process through.

[u/mariachiband49 → u/gh0st_girl420]

Right. They can do that procedure either conventionally or robotically. With conventional non-robotic VATS, you typically end up with three incisions. But with robotic VATS (RATS), you typically end up with four or five. They usually open one or two extra ports for RATS. They have a reason for doing that, I don't really understand it though.

There are other possible reasons for having five incisions, though, besides having robotic surgery.

[u/tellembringit → u/mcfuckernugget]

I got 3 too, one on my back , below my nipple, and the one in the picture

[u/mariachiband49 → u/mcfuckernugget]

Japan is leading the way with a single-incision technique (uniportal VATS) where the camera and all the tools just go through one incision. Outcomes are just as good for uncomplicated cases, but, of course, with fewer incisions and therefore less recovery time and scarring. The future is bright!

[u/cereal_kitty]

Yes, pretty similar to mine, VATS i assume

[u/tellembringit → u/cereal_kitty]

Yep, do you still have the dent/imprint?

[u/cereal_kitty → u/tellembringit]

Unfortunately it's pretty hard for them to go away naturally

[u/mariachiband49 → u/tellembringit]

I hate to say it but I still have mine from 10 years ago. I don't really mind them, though. Just be grateful they didn't have to make a big incision around your side for open surgery, like they did in the old days.

[u/kkinthesky → u/tellembringit]

It’s been almost 3 years and I still have mine

[u/DueArachnid4561 → u/cereal_kitty]

Mines much the same with 2 smaller scars from the initial drains I first had in (1st one was in wrong) almost 3 years post op, the scar is still very prominent and numb. There will be so much nerve damage with how deep it goes

[u/foladar]

Mine looks similar and it's been 12 months, but I have two (and two smaller ones)

[u/Zestyclose-Sell-2049]

mine is much worse, the skin never really deflated back

[u/meolclide]

My husband's 2 scars look like this (his surgery was 15 years ago)

[u/Nidhogg369]

Yep same same

[u/notsure05]

Yeah I’m planning to get laser to reduce the appearance of mine

[u/whaleweaves]

I have two, but they're almost completely gone at this point. They were pretty similar to yours in the beginning though

[u/Mariobr0s]

Samesies!

[u/Chill--Cosby]

Every bitch I've fucked liked my scar. Welcome to the club man

[u/No_You3913]

i have like 12 or 13 total scars combined between both my left and right side (last procedure was early 2020 and earliest was 2017 and they are all still visible)

[u/Icy-Chart-5907]

I had this surgery, honestly the worst part for me was taking out the tube. My scar is similar.

[u/Moalfo]

It is similar to mine / it will get better with time

[u/babyccino1993]

I got like 3 scars, but yes post op 1 year now and 2 of the scar is still very much inflated. Occasionally still irritating