Bio-oil - is it worth using?

[1043590]

Hi, I had a CABGx4 five months ago at the Bristol Heart Institute. Wounds seem to be healing nicely. It took me about three months after surgery to pluck up the courage to look at my chest wound in the mirror as opposed to looking down on it. I feel quite anxious about other people seeing my chest and leg scars in, say, a swimming pool so I was wondering if oils like Bio-Oil help or should I just learn to love my scars!

[Smarticus]

Hi (fellow BHI), im sure lots of people will give you advice on scar tissue, I didnt use anything and pre-covid used to swim a fair bit. The way I look at it is that it a bit of my history and an achievement to have got through it. Its also an interesting talking point when people notice and ask, its nothing to hide from! be proud of who you are and what has happened. HTH

[1043590 in reply to Smarticus]

Many thanks for your reply. It may take a little while but, yes, I'm going to learn to be proud that I got through this thing! Richard

[080311]

Hi, 1043590

I used Bio Oil, found it softened the scar a little. I am nearly 4 years on and my scar is very light now. When I look in the mirror it’s all but gone, but when it was noticeable I would see it in the mirror and think wow that really did happen to me!

When you go swimming be proud those scars are a sign that you survived a heart event, and a few years on they will be barely visible.

Hoping your recovery continues and things go from strength to strength.

Best wishes Pauline

[1043590 in reply to 080311]

Thanks so much for your reply Pauline. My leg scar is much more prominent than my chest scar which is concealed more and more by chest hair as it starts to grow back. Fingers crossed, my recovery will continue to go well and I can focus on the good stuff that's to come. All the best, Richard

[Calliope153]

I am another Bristol Heart Institute graduate - twice! Two years ago STEMI heart attack and stent and twelve weeks ago valve replacement and aortic graft. I will use Bio Oil in due course as I had great results when I used it on burn scars which disappeared totally some years ago. A lot of people on here have said it doesn;t work and others say it does. You can but try - it takes months of daily application though.

I've decided if anyone is rude enough to pass a comment about my scar I will tell them I was clawed by a bear..... or it is an old dueling scar before telling them of the great work done by BHI. So people may comment so what? I am grateful to the BHI for keeping me alive and if the price of that is having to put up with ill mannered people with no sensitivity making comments so be it. Some people of course are genuinely interested and so would inquire politely -no problem.

[1043590 in reply to Calliope153]

Wow, two stays at the BHI! The staff there were lovely but after three weeks I was ready for home. That's a terrific story about the bear - I might just borrow it!

I missed out on the cardiac rehab sessions - cancelled because of the coronavirus - so it's really great to hear about fellow hearties' experiences through this forum. Thanks so much for the advice, all the best, Richard

[Calliope153 in reply to 1043590]

Forgot to say a little goes a very long way with Bio oil. I rub it in literally a drop at a time and have no problem with it staining clothes....

[Bazmack48]

I used Bio Oil after VATS surgery to remove my thymus gland together with a cancerous tumour. It was my GP that recommended it, my scars were small compared to what you have but they disappeared within a few months. I now use the Bio Oil gel to moisturise my dry skin, very good.

[1043590 in reply to Bazmack48]

I'll certainly give it a go. I hear it smells very nice too!

[Dj1962]

Hi..I'm also a B.R.I..er (Christmas Eve), I've decided to wear my scar with pride..and not be ashamed of it..had a few glances while at a sauna..I treat it as my survivor mark..😉

[1043590 in reply to Dj1962]

Thanks ever so much for your reply. I'm due to go with friends to Center Parcs in November. I love being in water so my first real challenge will be walking from one area to another in just a pair of swimming shorts. Everyone on here is so positive so I'm just going to go for it!

[Hidden]

Hi. I tried Bio Oil for a short while after my bypass as my scar was very tight, didn't get on with it though. Felt like I had an oil slick on my chest and no matter how hard I tried to rub it in it was staining my clothes.

[1043590 in reply to Hidden]

I did wonder how absorbent an oil would be. Think I'll give it a go and see how I get on with it.

[Janma123]

We used bio oil on hubby’s scars. His leg scar is very pale now as is most of his chest scar - just the bit at the lower end is still red and raised. That still gets the occasional application now and is fading. E45 is also good for keeping the scar soft.

[1043590 in reply to Janma123]

My chest scar is much more noticeable at the bottom - the reverse for my leg scar. I think they really dug deep for a vein in my inner thigh!

[Hidden]

Did try bio but to be honest found baby oil to be just as effective and it also stopped the itchiness

[gilreid1]

E45 lotion worked for me. Not greasy and easy to massage with

[Winston61]

Hello! Also BHI, valve replacement 18 months ago. I used Bio as soon as I could and my scar is barely noticeable now. Really glad I used it. It’s worth a try for sure.

[JayceeW]

E45 lotion is excellent - non greasy and easy to apply. I had my aortic valve replaced and a double bypass 2 years ago, the scar is now very faint. However I think the massaging does as much good as the lotion. It also works on older scars.

[Hidden]

I’d say, do both - oil & find pride in your strength! I used the oil, but no idea if it worked, as scars fade a bit with time anyway. In retrospect, I’d have just used baby oil or moisturiser (cheaper!).

For me, the big deal was actually touching my scar area, for ages I was scared to cause myself pain or injury & didn’t even like a shirt sitting on the scar. So the oil was mostly good for encouraging me to touch my sternum & help the fear fade. Then pride arrived unexpectedly!

I’ve only ever had a few polite enquiries, all from people who know someone or had their own zipper - they were nice conversations. And I too find the zipper less noticeable - my 3x chest drain scars are smaller but more obvious. Ah well, no different than hair going grey (comes in parallel to the experience we’ve gained?!)

[1043590 in reply to Hidden]

I know what you mean about touching the scar area. I find I have to wear pyjama bottoms at night (I used to sleep naked before the op) as it feels very uncomfortable to have my right leg touching the scar on the left leg. I've never touched my chest scar. I just let the water from the shower run over it. Even that feels a little tender five months after the surgery. Fortunately the three chest drain scars are more or less hidden by hair!

[Hidden]

Hiya. I didn't use anything, just factor 50 when in the sun. Learn to luv em. My wife had a kidney removed and has a lovely scar under her rib, she says it was a great white attack 😂👍

[1043590 in reply to Hidden]

I love the fact that folk on here are putting their scars down to bring savaged by wild beasts! Think I might put mine down to a fight with an aardvark I ran into one day!

[Ansteynomad]

Pro-SIL was recommenced to me by a friend who has had a heart and lung transplant. It worked very well on my facial scarring after an accident and also on DH’s scar following spinal surgery. I bought it from Amazon.

[1043590 in reply to Ansteynomad]

I've never heard of Pro-SIL but I'll certainly look it up. What a particularly courageous person your friend is! I can't imagine what he/she went through. All the best, Richard

[spinningjenny]

One of the cardiac nurses told me that just rubbing the scar helps healing. It is supposed to increase blood flow. Having said that I did use bio oil after surgery for breast cancer and was pleased with the result. Didn’t bother after OHS. I don’t think I’d bother with it in future, it does stain a bit, smells quite nice though.

[1043590 in reply to spinningjenny]

I'd heard it smelt nice. I might just give it a go just for that!

[Qualipop]

Oh my word yes, it works. I don't know if it's the massaging it in or the actual stuff but it worked amazingly for me. I had a horrible 5 inch long very raised hard scar from a breast biopsy some 20 years earlier. When Bio Oil first came out I decided to try it. It took several months but eventually all the raised scar tissue vanished leaving me with a completely flat, soft length of skin. The scar was still visible and a different colour but no longer standingu p proud of the skin or hard. Some years later I tried it again on stretch marks and discovered I was now allergic to it. Don't know if they had changed the ingredients or I'd changed.

[1043590 in reply to Qualipop]

I've ordered some today so hopefully it will do the trick!

[Qualipop in reply to 1043590]

You won't get immediate results. It takes time.

[Lilypocket]

Hi,

I don't know if this might help as it is not in the same league but I recently had a nasty gash on my leg and it became infected with a red area spreading slowly and surely out from the wound. My GP advised vaseline and a special padded plaster 24/24 until the redness disappeared and the skin healed itself and the scar disappeared. It worked. But it is greasy if it is not covered so I agree that E45 is great too for healing scars.

Wishing you all the best.

[1043590 in reply to Lilypocket]

Many thanks! It's certainly something I can consider. All the best.

[Aylmer]

I had a carcinoma removed from my leg 2 years ago. As it was in a place that would be seen I was concerned about the 1. 5 inch scar. After recommendation I used Bio Oil and am very pleased with the result. Of course I don't know what the outcome would have been without Bio Oil, but at the moment, with a bit of summer colour it is almost invisible.

[Supernanu]

My ohs scar just looks like increased cleavage. But I have two small scars on my neck from various tubes - I tell people they’re vampire bites 🧛‍♂️

[1043590]

I love that - vampire bites!

[Trog1]

Hi there, I had a triple CABG 14 months ago and, as it was something totally unexpected until just over two weeks before the op I must admit I was worried by the look of my scars. I did put a little boots scar cream so it wouldn’t look too unsightly and also to moisturise the area. I also avoided wearing clothing which showed the scar on my chest and tried to hide my leg where the veins were removed for a while but a year on, even though they have healed quite well, after talking with family and friends who feel I have nothing to be ashamed of I’ve decided they are a part of me, my history and life and that although I won’t make an obvious focal point of my scars, I shouldn’t have to cover up all the while. Therefore I do still use a little bio oil to keep things supple but just carry on as before. In the circumstances I’m lucky they found my problem and repaired me so my scars are something rather special which I should embrace.

All the best

Bev H

[1043590 in reply to Trog1]

Thanks for your reply Bev. The Bio-oil arrived today - smells nice - and I tentatively rubbed some on the lower part of my leg scar. I didn't rub any into the chest scar or inner thigh part of my leg scar as they're both quite sensitive even after five months. I keep both scars covered up - maybe next year I'll venture into shorts! I think in time I'll get used to the scars and see them as battle scars and something to be proud of! All the best, Richard

[Trog1]

It takes a little time to feel up to be confident to show the scars. I still am a little careful with v neck tops some days but now don’t worry about the scars on my leg and wear my skirts happily. I can understand you being a little careful with sensitive areas but give yourself some time and I think you’ll feel much better about being able to use a little bio oil on these areas. All the very best with the future but remember they are your battle scars and have enabled you to overcome and win the battle. Take care and stay safe. Bev