Is Scar Therapy Right for Me?
Scar therapy can be used on many different types of scars — surgical, traumatic, burns, and more — and on scars of almost any age. But like any hands-on treatment, there are some situations where it’s not quite the right moment, and others where we just need a quick conversation first.
If you’re unsure whether your scar is ready, or whether anything in your history is relevant, just get in touch. I’d always rather have a chat than have you sit and wonder.
When scar therapy isn’t suitable right now
The situations below are ones where we genuinely need to wait before we begin. They’re not permanent barriers — in most cases it’s simply a matter of giving things a little more time.
- Unhealed or open wounds — scar therapy can only begin once the skin is fully closed. For most surgical scars that’s around 6–8 weeks after the procedure, but it depends on how well healing is progressing. I’ll always check before we start.
- Active infection at the scar site — if the area is red, warm, swollen, or producing any discharge, we need to wait until it’s fully clear.
- Significant active skin flare-up directly over the scar — a major eczema or psoriasis flare in the area itself means we need to wait until things have settled.
- Untreated malignancy in or near the area — as with MLD, if there is an active, undiagnosed or untreated cancer near the scar site, we would need medical guidance before proceeding.
When we just need to talk first
In the following situations, scar therapy is often entirely possible — but I’ll want to know a little more before we begin, and may adapt my approach accordingly.
- Recent surgery (under 6–8 weeks) — the wound may be closed but the tissue underneath is still fragile and forming. A little more time usually makes a big difference to what we can do.
- Recent radiotherapy to the area — skin following radiotherapy can be delicate and needs a careful, adapted approach. I’ll take things very gently and follow your lead.
- A tendency towards keloid scarring — if you know you form keloid scars, we’ll talk through the right techniques before we start and take a cautious approach.
- Skin grafts — graft tissue can absolutely be worked with, but it requires extra care and a thoughtful, gradual approach.
- Implants or hardware beneath the treatment area — breast implants, metal plates, joint replacements or similar. I’ll adapt the techniques I use depending on what’s there.
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypermobility, or connective tissue conditions — skin fragility and altered collagen structure means I’ll work very gently and check in with you throughout.
- Pregnancy — particularly if we are working near the abdomen, pelvis, or chest. I’ll always check and adapt positions to keep you comfortable.
- Medications affecting the skin or healing — long-term steroids, blood thinners, or certain treatments that affect skin integrity. Worth mentioning so I can adapt accordingly.
- Reduced or altered sensation around the scar — numbness, hypersensitivity, or neuropathy means I’ll work differently, taking more time to understand what you can and can’t feel.
Is my scar too old?
This is one of the most common questions I get — and the answer is almost always no. Scar tissue can continue to respond to therapy for years, sometimes decades, after an injury or operation. The body’s ability to remodel scar tissue doesn’t simply switch off.
If your scar is 5, 10, or even 30 years old and it still feels tight, numb, itchy, uncomfortable, or just not quite yours — it is very much worth exploring. Older scars often respond beautifully once the right techniques are applied consistently.
Not sure if your scar is ready?
Just ask. The points above might look quite cautious written down, but most situations can be worked with — we may just need to adapt the approach or take things gradually. There are very few scars I genuinely can’t help with in some way.
