Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of ScarsNormal vs. Infected HealingScar Tissue BuildupScar Visibility
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Scars
Normal vs. Infected Healing
Scar Tissue Buildup
Scar Visibility
This article discusses scar care after appendectomy—the usual location of the scar(s), routine scar healing, signs of infection, what scar tissue feels like, and how to treat scar tissue as it forms.
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Types of Appendectomy Scars
Appendectomy scars vary based on the procedure used to remove this organ. A laparoscopic appendectomy is a less invasive surgery than an open appendectomy. One 2016 study found that people with a laparoscopic appendectomy experienced shorter hospital stays, required lesspain medication, and had a faster return to regular activities.
Location
During an open appendectomy, your surgeon makes an incision in the lower right abdomen (the appendix location).Once they remove your appendix, your surgeon closes the incision with stitches or staples. During the healing process, scar tissue forms in each incision.
Size
Laparoscopic incisions are very small—usually less than one-half of an inch. Open appendectomy incisions are typically between 2 and 4 inches.
How to Care For a Surgical Incision
Normal Healing vs. Infected Incision
After surgery, your incisions go through thehealing process. Initially, they will be swollen and tender to the touch and appear darker than your natural skin color. Small amounts of fluid will drain from the incision. This fluid should be clear or have a small amount of blood.
Once the wound closes, the scarred area will remain darker than your natural skin and shiny for several weeks as new tissue grows. It is normal for the scar to itch during this time. Eventually, your scar will fade, which can take up to two years.
After an appendectomy, monitoring your incision(s) for signs of infection is essential.Surgical site infectionsare relatively rare, occurring around 1% to 3% of the time.However, the effects of surgical site infection can be severe, especially if the infection spreads deeper than the skin. Signs of surgical site infection can include the following:
An infection can also cause pain in the general area of your surgery. However, this might not be immediately obvious because pain is expected during the first couple weeks after appendectomy.
How to Prevent or Minimize Surgery Scars
Scar Tissue Buildup After Appendectomy
Sometimes, excess scar tissue can develop after appendectomy. Abnormal scars can behypertrophicorkeloid.
Excess scar tissue is treatable, but there’s no guarantee it will go away. Treatments can include:
On rare occasions, hypertrophic or keloid scars aresurgically removed. However, they frequently grow back—and often end up more prominent than the original scar.
Appendectomy Scar EndometriosisEndometriosisoccurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. In one study, 37% of people with endometriosis had endometrial lesion growth affecting the gastrointestinal system. However, of that 37%, only 3% had lesions affecting the appendix. Endometriosis can also impact scar tissue after appendectomy or other pelvic procedures, but it is rare.
Appendectomy Scar Endometriosis
Endometriosisoccurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. In one study, 37% of people with endometriosis had endometrial lesion growth affecting the gastrointestinal system. However, of that 37%, only 3% had lesions affecting the appendix. Endometriosis can also impact scar tissue after appendectomy or other pelvic procedures, but it is rare.
Pain Inside the Scar
Painis a normal part of the body’s reaction to injury, trauma, or other causes, known as the inflammatory response. While it is uncomfortable, pain inside the scar is a normal part of the healing process. However, pain lasting longer than three months that does not improve is considered chronic and signals that you should follow up with your healthcare provider.
Itching
Similar to pain,itchingis expected during the healing process. It can last up to six months and typically signals that you are experiencing the remodeling phase of wound healing when your body builds scar tissue and a new outer layer of skin.
Moisturizing Your Scar
When to Start Scar Massage
Once the incision has closed, you can beginscar massage.Using cocoa butter, vitamin E, or a similar product, massage your scar for 10 minutes twice daily. Use firm pressure—but not so much that it causes pain.
Scar tissue forms long after your incision has healed, so keep up the scar massage. Scar tissue will become softer and lighten in color around two to three months after surgery.
Scar Visibility Fades With Time
Incision management tips include:
Summary
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Biondi A, Di Stefano C, Ferrara F, Bellia A, Vacante M, Piazza L.Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy: a retrospective cohort study assessing outcomes and cost-effectiveness.World J Emerg Surg. 2016;11(1):44. doi:10.1186/s13017-016-0102-5Johns Hopkins Medicine.Appendectomy.American College of Surgeons.Appendectomy.National Library of Medicine.How wounds heal.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Surgical site infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Surgical site infection basics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Scars.Amini M, Moghbeli M.Appendectomy scar endometriosis: a case report.Middle East J Dig Dis. 2018;10(2):114-116. doi:10.15171/mejdd.2018.100Farrukh O, Goutos I.Scar symptoms: pruritus and pain. In: Téot L, Mustoe TA, Middelkoop E, Gauglitz GG, eds.Textbook on Scar Management: State of the Art Management and Emerging Technologies. Springer International Publishing;2020:87-101. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44766-3_10Tran B, Wu JJ, Ratner D, Han G.Topical scar treatment products for wounds: a systematic review.Dermatologic Surgery. 2020;46(12):1564. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000002712Puri N, Talwar A.The efficacy of silicone gel for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2009;2(2):104-106. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.58527Frasson DN, Valange M, Almeras I, Izquierdo M, Ster G.Treatment of immature scars: manual massages. In: Téot L, Mustoe TA, Middelkoop E, Gauglitz GG, eds.Textbook on Scar Management: State of the Art Management and Emerging Technologies. Springer International Publishing; 2020:215-218. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44766-3_25American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Scar treatment.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Biondi A, Di Stefano C, Ferrara F, Bellia A, Vacante M, Piazza L.Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy: a retrospective cohort study assessing outcomes and cost-effectiveness.World J Emerg Surg. 2016;11(1):44. doi:10.1186/s13017-016-0102-5Johns Hopkins Medicine.Appendectomy.American College of Surgeons.Appendectomy.National Library of Medicine.How wounds heal.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Surgical site infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Surgical site infection basics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Scars.Amini M, Moghbeli M.Appendectomy scar endometriosis: a case report.Middle East J Dig Dis. 2018;10(2):114-116. doi:10.15171/mejdd.2018.100Farrukh O, Goutos I.Scar symptoms: pruritus and pain. In: Téot L, Mustoe TA, Middelkoop E, Gauglitz GG, eds.Textbook on Scar Management: State of the Art Management and Emerging Technologies. Springer International Publishing;2020:87-101. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44766-3_10Tran B, Wu JJ, Ratner D, Han G.Topical scar treatment products for wounds: a systematic review.Dermatologic Surgery. 2020;46(12):1564. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000002712Puri N, Talwar A.The efficacy of silicone gel for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2009;2(2):104-106. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.58527Frasson DN, Valange M, Almeras I, Izquierdo M, Ster G.Treatment of immature scars: manual massages. In: Téot L, Mustoe TA, Middelkoop E, Gauglitz GG, eds.Textbook on Scar Management: State of the Art Management and Emerging Technologies. Springer International Publishing; 2020:215-218. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44766-3_25American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Scar treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Biondi A, Di Stefano C, Ferrara F, Bellia A, Vacante M, Piazza L.Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy: a retrospective cohort study assessing outcomes and cost-effectiveness.World J Emerg Surg. 2016;11(1):44. doi:10.1186/s13017-016-0102-5Johns Hopkins Medicine.Appendectomy.American College of Surgeons.Appendectomy.National Library of Medicine.How wounds heal.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Surgical site infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Surgical site infection basics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Scars.Amini M, Moghbeli M.Appendectomy scar endometriosis: a case report.Middle East J Dig Dis. 2018;10(2):114-116. doi:10.15171/mejdd.2018.100Farrukh O, Goutos I.Scar symptoms: pruritus and pain. In: Téot L, Mustoe TA, Middelkoop E, Gauglitz GG, eds.Textbook on Scar Management: State of the Art Management and Emerging Technologies. Springer International Publishing;2020:87-101. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44766-3_10Tran B, Wu JJ, Ratner D, Han G.Topical scar treatment products for wounds: a systematic review.Dermatologic Surgery. 2020;46(12):1564. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000002712Puri N, Talwar A.The efficacy of silicone gel for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2009;2(2):104-106. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.58527Frasson DN, Valange M, Almeras I, Izquierdo M, Ster G.Treatment of immature scars: manual massages. In: Téot L, Mustoe TA, Middelkoop E, Gauglitz GG, eds.Textbook on Scar Management: State of the Art Management and Emerging Technologies. Springer International Publishing; 2020:215-218. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44766-3_25American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Scar treatment.
Biondi A, Di Stefano C, Ferrara F, Bellia A, Vacante M, Piazza L.Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy: a retrospective cohort study assessing outcomes and cost-effectiveness.World J Emerg Surg. 2016;11(1):44. doi:10.1186/s13017-016-0102-5
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Appendectomy.
American College of Surgeons.Appendectomy.
National Library of Medicine.How wounds heal.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Surgical site infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Surgical site infection basics.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Scars.
Amini M, Moghbeli M.Appendectomy scar endometriosis: a case report.Middle East J Dig Dis. 2018;10(2):114-116. doi:10.15171/mejdd.2018.100
Farrukh O, Goutos I.Scar symptoms: pruritus and pain. In: Téot L, Mustoe TA, Middelkoop E, Gauglitz GG, eds.Textbook on Scar Management: State of the Art Management and Emerging Technologies. Springer International Publishing;2020:87-101. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44766-3_10
Tran B, Wu JJ, Ratner D, Han G.Topical scar treatment products for wounds: a systematic review.Dermatologic Surgery. 2020;46(12):1564. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000002712
Puri N, Talwar A.The efficacy of silicone gel for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2009;2(2):104-106. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.58527
Frasson DN, Valange M, Almeras I, Izquierdo M, Ster G.Treatment of immature scars: manual massages. In: Téot L, Mustoe TA, Middelkoop E, Gauglitz GG, eds.Textbook on Scar Management: State of the Art Management and Emerging Technologies. Springer International Publishing; 2020:215-218. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44766-3_25
American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Scar treatment.
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