Preventing Scar Tissue after Spine Surgery

Although scar tissue is perfectly healthy skin, many patients don’t like the way it looks and want to avoid it as much as possible. Scar tissue is an inevitable consequence of almost any surgical procedure, but there are ways to minimize its impact after a spinal procedure. This article will discuss the causes of scar tissue and specifically address scar tissue formation after spine surgery.

Causes of Scar Tissue

At the most basic level, scar tissue is rough tissue that forms as the body heals itself after trauma. Even minor cuts lead to the development of scar tissue – though the smaller the cut, the harder it is to see scar tissue. With larger cuts, scar tissue can be big and unseemly. Surgical procedures that require incisions can also lead to the formation of scar tissue. The formation of scar tissue after surgery is completely natural. However, many patients find scarring to be unattractive and want to do everything they can to lower the level of scarring after a procedure.

Decreasing Scar Tissue after Surgery

In some respects, scar tissue is an inevitable after-effect of surgery. However, there are ways in which you can decrease the severity or likelihood of scar tissue after your surgical procedure. Here are some tips for avoiding scar tissue after a procedure:

• Minimally invasive techniques. This is the most important way to decrease scar tissue. The smaller the required incision for a procedure, the less scar tissue will form.
• Cut back on smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Eat a balanced and healthy post-op diet.
• Massage therapy. Certain massage techniques can help decrease scar tissue over time.

One of the many benefits of an Inspired Spine surgery is a decrease in post-op scar tissue. Inspired Spine’s minimally invasive keyhole spinal procedures require smaller surgical incisions, which leads to less overall scar tissue. Learn more about how our minimally invasive keyhole spine surgeries are revolutionizing the world of spine surgery and helping patients recover with less pain.