bypass scar

[Gillw1978]

do you cover your scar or are you proud I’m 45 and nearly 4 weeks post op but find anything I wear you can see my scar do I embrace it

[Hidden]

Hello

I am about 17 months since my Bypass surgery

At the start I could not cover it up as it was to sore

I was very conscious about it maybe been female even though some males may feel the same to

I came on here and I was told to wear it with pride as it showed I was a survivor !

I struggled a little bit but then I thought they are right and I did and have ever since

Last year someone mentioned it when they saw me and I must say it hurt a little I felt conscious again for a short while but I thought no why should I stay covered up forget that person after all it is just one person out of many and you always get one dont you

So I would say wear it with pride but I would also say do whichever you feel the most comfortable doing

Over time they do fade though mine has faded an awful lot and I imagine it will fade more where you can hardly see it

I hope the rest of your recovery is going well x

[Gillw1978 in reply to Hidden]

thank you yeah I definitely can’t cover at the mo as everything irritates it but I do think I need to be proud it’s just preparing myself if someone does mention it xx

[Hidden in reply to Gillw1978]

Hello

Yes clothing will irritate it at the moment was the same for me had to wear low cut things

But if someone does say something you can proudly say

Yes I am lucky I am a survivor and we are x

[Chappychap]

I'm five years post open heart surgery. With a sun-tan my scar is a fine white line. It's not really noticeable, and it's even less noticeable when the tan fades.

I guess it's only human nature that our scars are much more obvious to us than they are to others.

My wife and I have since been on several holidays, spending most days in swim suits. We often chatted with other people, and genuinely I doubt more than a small fraction of them ever noticed. We even talked to one guy who mentioned he'd had open heart surgery, I didn't spot his scar and he didn't spot mine!

Then again...maybe our real problem was deteriorating eye sight!

Good luck!

[Gillw1978 in reply to Chappychap]

thank you xx

[Carlg]

I had a bypass just over 6 months ago. I am most conscious about the chest scar still. I think it's because it's a bit thicker and noticable when I go swimming etc.

I also have a scar on my leg (knee to ankle) and arm (elbow to wrist) from the operation. They are the ones I am not so bothered about. They are neater and healed well.

There have been a couple difficult situation particularly when I've been swimming. Having so many makes me feel like some people are staring or discussing it

Sometimes this is in my head but other it has definitely not been 🤣

[Gillw1978 in reply to Carlg]

thank you I also have one on my leg not as big but where they took the vein for the bypass xx

[Carlg in reply to Gillw1978]

Yes I had a triple bypass so ended up with stuff taken from my leg and arm!

[Gillw1978 in reply to Carlg]

mine was meant to be a double but they could actually find the artery so just single but then another stent procedure xx

[Chappychap in reply to Carlg]

Just for reference Carl, I don't think the surgeon uses a separate limb to source each individual bypass vein. The first bypass almost always uses the mammary artery, which is already present inside the chest. Because this is so robust it's normally used for the all important LAD. The mammary artery is virtually bomb proof and almost never suffers from re-stenosis, why that is is still a bit of a medical mystery.

After that the surgeon (or more usually their assistant) normally takes a vein from the patient's leg. Think about it, they'll remove nearly a yard of vein, but each bypass only needs a few inches. So that one vein should be more than adequate.

So why in your case did the surgeon remove a vein from both a leg and an arm?

Probably because they weren't happy with the quality of the leg vein. It may have shown signs of disease or it may have been damaged during the removal process. That's a more likely explanation than it not being long enough for the bypass surgery.

Good luck!

[Heather1957 in reply to Chappychap]

Apparently another plus of the mammary artery (That is what was used for my single bypass), is it is the same dimension as the other main arteries in the heart unlike the ones taken from the arm an/or leg which obviously makes bypass easier. I am no doctor but this was something I was told.

[Carlg in reply to Chappychap]

Thank you for your opinion. But I know what happened with my own body and the reason for the scars and this was discussed with me by my surgeon etc.

Please don't assume you know exactly what happens in every case.

If you must know they were only going to do a double bypass initially using the chest artery and an artery from my arm. However during the procedure they decided to conduct a triple hence needing to use the leg.

[Dj1962]

Hi...I look at mine as a badge of honor...😊🙏

[Larneybuds]

Good morning.....I am 6 months post surgery and have had ongoing problems since but come the summer, if I wear anything where my scar is in view, I really won't be bothered. I think any decent person would assume it's from open heart surgery and would think you to be brave for going through it and that it most probably saved your life. Xx

[CyclingTime]

Use the oil for the first 12 weeks it really makes a difference to the scar healing up. I am 12 months past and my scars have mostly disappeared or faded a lot so I just go for it

[Gillw1978 in reply to CyclingTime]

what oil do you use thank you xx

[CyclingTime in reply to Gillw1978]

Bio oil, it was recommended by the cardiac rehab people, pricey but seemed to work over toy

[CyclingTime in reply to CyclingTime]

Over time not toy lol

[MountainGoat52]

Definitely embrace your scars... they are evidence of your battle through life. I've had children stand and stare at mine; some questions posed, answers given, situation accepted by all. 😀

[Cat04]

I'm 4 weeks post OHS and my scar is nearly invisible already (superglued). Apply Vaseline to aid healing and diminish appearance of the scar (as recommended by a dermatologist) . And then wear it with pride- you're a survivor ❤

[Bishop1]

Hi. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Had my double bypass 2years and 2 months ago. Should have been a triple, couldn't get enough veins. I feel very well. I moisture my scat every morning and it's faded, not very noticeable.

[Avdi]

Hi, I had my double bypass May 2022 in the UK but I am currently living in Cyprus. The weather here is beach, pool, shorts and T-shirts in the summer. I don’t hide my chest, drain/pacer or leg scars, I treat them as a badge of honour of sorts! Most people don’t even notice the scars and if they do and ask I just tell them what happened. I do put sun screen, after sun and Bio Oil on them and haven’t had any problems so far.

They are part of you now just embrace them and enjoy life. Take care x

[JohnyG007]

Scars and stretch marks are angel kisses and show you have lived. I am a man with stretch marks through weight loss and now a pace maker.

Just think of them as lifes Tattoos

[Leonardo1]

I have the zipper scar from ohs - initially in the mirror I was completely shocked !! Wtf !!!! But that lasted 2 minutes max !!

I am so proud of it ! I love it - the alternative to not having it ????? Unthinkable !! It’s faded and now a year on it’s as much of me as my feet ! But prettier !!!

Love your scar wear it with pride it is a badge of honour for the years of training and expertise the incredible heart surgeons and medical staff who created it - did to put you back together !!!

Good luck x

[goldenbay]

Hi,

Definitely wear it with pride. You’re a survivor and are alive and well. You’re also a member of an exclusive club which can be recognised by others.

I had a double bypass 22 years ago at the age of 45 and have my sternal scar and one on my left arm where the artery was harvested. Both are still visible but I no longer think about them. They are part of me such as any other scar.

Continue having a healthy recovery. x

[Coper10]

Initially I was conscious of my scar after OHS. However, it has faded considerably and is just a part of me and shows I have survived. I call it my 'scar of life'.

[Anon2023]

I have to say that I really don’t like my ohs scar, it reminds me of the trauma related to my emergency surgery. I hope in time that I learn to love it but at the moment I cover it up. There’s a charity called Changing Faces who offer a free session in how to use camouflage make up and colour match for you. The make up is then available on prescription. My scar is very wide and red as I had two ohs within 4 months. It is fading slowly and I used silicone scar gel (dermatix and nourisil md) to keep it soft and help with the itching. The gel does help with the discomfort and is meant to reduce the appearance of scarring. Good luck. X

[Swalecliffe88]

Everything we experience in life leaves its marks and scars on us most are unseen, but when they are on the outside. Wear them with pride. Shout to the world I’ve been there, got the T shirt 😅 here I am still whole and better. 8 years on for me from by pass and I’m female 68 years young, still proud of my old scar and now of my new one of defib implant. You don’t have to advertise it, but you don’t need to hide it either. It is you 👏👏👏

[Thanksnhs]

Morning, I asked the same question two years ago and received some lovely helpful answers, My surgery was in July 2020 I also have two scars where my ICD went in and came back out! I hardly think about them anymore they have obviously faded a lot over the years. I just wear what I want now although at 64 I wouldn't wear anything low, on holiday is a different matter sun dresses, vest tops beachwear anything goes I did think I might have been a bit self conscious at first but I never gave it a thought I just enjoyed feeling a lot better and having some fun in the sun again. I don't recall anyone ever mentioning it or staring. I use epimax cream it keeps the skin moist. Wishing you a speedy recovery take care char

[Cornishbeach]

It's amazing how hard it is to find clothes that you actually like wearing that will cover it but soft cotton round neck T shirts work well in the early days. I was a bit reticent about showing my scar and I found myself choosing clothes that covered it. Also in the summer I had been advised not to expose it to too much sun. Nearly one year on and part of my scar is nearly invisible, the top of it is slightly raised (I had a rogue stitch that didn't dissolve and had to be taken out when I got home which didn't help). The lower part is still quite raised but not really visible as it's hidden in my cleavage! This year I am embracing it. I still use bio oil every night and moisturiser as it's still a bit itchy when dry.You just have to go with how you feel. Everyone can say 'don't worry about it' but you will until one day you won't 😁

[momander]

Hi Gillw1978I'm 3 weeks post op today and I am.so proud of my scar. Its like a badge of honour!! When it's properly healed I intend to show it off!!

[Digger0]

I have not had a bypass but have had breast cancer. At first I covered my scar but now I wear it with pride to show I'm a survivor

[spinningjenny]

My scar is just over four years old and barely shows. Nevertheless I am quite proud of it, it is part of who I am and I buy and wear whatever clothes I like.

[Heather1957]

I always think this is an interesting question and it usually gets a variety of answers.

I had my bypass in 2017 and have never hidden my scar, the only time I was careful was when sunbathing as I protected it for the first year.

I used bio oil for some time after the op, but didn't feel comfortable touching my scar for nearly a year so used to just to gently pour the oil over the scar.

Being a female I find the scar just naturally folds into my cleavage so it does seem to be less conspicuous

I have taken to cruising solo and have a few evening dresses that are a bit deeper than I was used to wearing but I felt comfortable wearing those.

I am 65 so a bit older than you and have suffered with psoriasis (a skin complaint) since I was 11 years old so people looking is something I have grown up with, I just tell myself they are staring because I look so nice LOL!!

On my cruise in November there was another lady cruising solo sat at my meal table and I could see she had 'the scar', and without actually pointing it out to anyone else we got around to the health problem.

Some people have scars on the inside and some have scars on the outside, that is just life.

You haven't changed, so personally I wouldn't say 'embrace it' although I know what you mean, I would just live as you did before.

It is, of course, what you are comfortable doing, if you are not comfortable at the moment it will eventually fade, so maybe then?

[Letsallhope1]

my body is a map of scars as I was born with a congenital heart condition and had 4 open heart surgeries starting when I was just 6 months old.

I have never seen my body without any marks so maybe I cannot relate but I went through some tough times when I was a child and a teen and incredibly enough it was most of the times adults asking what happened to me. The defence mechanism I’ve developed consisted in teasing the people asking stupid questions by answering that I was a survivor from some crazy psycho trying to cut me open, you should have seen peoples faces 🤣🤣

In any case, I am now 49 and wear my scars with pride, that means that I’m strong and a survivor!

I understand that acquire a scar when you’re an adult is different as you’ve known your body without any marks but even though the scar is now probably red and a bit protuberant, it will get flat and will discolour.

All the best for your recovery

[Gillw1978 in reply to Letsallhope1]

thank you xx

[Jako999]

The scar is part of you now. Do you worry about other visible things? People tend to notice other things especially cloths before anything else but it doesn’t stop us wearing what we want. I’m now 7 months post so it’s faded a bit I have said to my wife I’m going to get it redone I’m not going through 2 heart attacks and a quad bypass and have nothing to show for it😁.

Just be your self no two people will view thing in the same way wear it with pride.

[Gillw1978 in reply to Jako999]

thank you xx