In collaboration with
Dr. Rola Al Dhaybi – Clemenceau Medical Center (Beirut)
One of the main concerns patients undergoing surgery mention is wound healing: How long will it take for my wounds to heal? What is the best way to avoid scarring? Question no more! The Dermo Lab brings you all the answers to help your wounds heal faster and prevent scarring. Keep reading!
Wound Healing Process
As Dr. Rola Al Dhaybi explains, after the stitches are put, the body cells surrounding the scar begin to rebuild the new tissue. Collagen, the major structural component of tissues, gets replaced and the remaining cells start to migrate around it .
The wound turns red and becomes slightly raised above the surface of the skin. The scars slowly fade in color and become flatter.
How Long Does The Wound Need to Fully Heal?
Dr. Rola Al Dhaybi indicates that the wound healing process varies depending on the wound location, the patient’s age, and the diseases he/she is suffering from. Usually, facial wounds heal faster than body wounds. This is why stitches on the face are removed in 5 to 7 days, while those on the body are removed in 10 to 14 days.
Age and health issues can also delay wound healing. For instance, wounds in young and healthy people heal faster than people suffering from nutritional deficiencies, diseases that reduce oxygen in the blood – such as thalassemia – diabetes or vascular conditions which affect the elderly. But in general, most surgical wounds heal within three months.
How to Speed Up the Wound Healing Process?
As per Dr. Rola Al Dhaybi’s recommendation, do not stretch the wound to avoid wound breakdown. In other words, do not exercise before removing the stitches. Be careful, the wound should also be kept clean and covered, especially in the first stage of wound healing. It’s also important to apply healing creams which reduce inflammation and promote wound healing
When to See a Doctor?
When the wound doesn’t seem to heal or takes too long to heal, you should go to your doctor to find out the causes and treatments, says Dr. Rola Al Dhaybi. The wound could be infected, which can slow down the healing process. In such cases, healing creams may be prescribed to accelerate wound healing.
Dr. Rola Al Dhaybi adds that it’s super important that you inform your doctor if you’re still experiencing some swelling three months after the surgery.
Now that you wrapped your mind around surgical wounds, time to get an idea about the products that will help your wounds heal faster. In this regard, we recommend you rely on the following products from Eau Thermale Avène, the revolutionary brand in the field:
– Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray: Use this thermal water from Eau Thermale Avène following a surgical procedure to help with the healing process. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory formula, it soothes your skin and reduces redness.
– Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream: Apply this repairing cream to speed up the healing process. This cream from Eau Thermale Avène is specifically formulated to soothe and restore damaged skin. P.S: It is recommended for the most sensitive skin!
Last Updated on February 16, 2024
