How does it look?

RachNRich

I'm my own worst critic, and think my neck looks...well, very noticeable. The surgeon did a wonderful job in comparison to the surgeon who operated on my leg.

There's a bit of bruising going on now, but it shouldn't last long. Do you think 6 weeks will be ample time for this to calm itself down?

shellydiane820

For sure!  Its healed a lot, didn't you just have that surgery a few weeks ago?

RachNRich

21 days ago  (but who's counting?)

I cannot help but look at it, and wanna poke it with my finger until it goes away--but, it is what it is. But, I'm hoping 6 weeks = enough time to make it look great(ish).

ricksang

That does not look bad at all! I was expecting worse.

ggmae

For 21 days post-op, it looks great.

I know you have probably mentioned this 89034823 times on here, but I always seem to miss it. Why did you have surgery on your knee/neck? I've seen the pics, but always miss the explanation.

**Mutley**

Yes.  I would put vitamin E on it several times a day. 

RachNRich

Surgery was for multiple lymph node biopsies to rule out lymphoma. But the good news was no lymphoma!

I have vitamin E capsules from my last surgery---but I have to wait until the incision heals before I can put anything on it....it's still a bit scabby at the top where they took the stitches out. Umm, eww. 

MeaghanandMichael

It definitely does not look that bad. I promise.
I know you are thinking about it and worrying about it, but trust me, this is definitely one of those things you completely forget about on the day of the wedding and just live in the moment of the day. I know because I had major surgery three weeks before my wedding. It wasn't in a visible place, but I still worried about it and worried about wearing a bikini on the honeymoon. I was way too on cloud nine the entire time to even think about it

SarahnVinny

It doesnt look bad at all. Pick up some mederma scar cream, it works great.

RachNRich

Meaghan, you just made me feel a thousand times better about it!

Part of me doesn't notice it often by looking at it, I notice it because I feel it---so I think that's why I am so hyper aware of it. I bet I won't notice or feel it in 6 weeks

ggmae

Wow, that's great news!

louisvillebride21

Wanna see a disgusting scar so you'll feel better?

ETA: I PROMISE you, no one will be looking at your scar. You're going to be so beautiful on your wedding day, no one is going to even notice that little line.

RachNRich

Yes, please LVB!!

louisvillebride21

Sorry, it's taking a min to send from my phone to my email. It's so gross, I'd even up it up against your leg scar

RachNRich

Well--just in case we need to compare, here's leg scar 3 weeks after the surgery:

louisvillebride21

Yeah, this shiit aint goin away! I've been thinking about this damn thing since I got engaged (well, actually since before Junior prom when I realized how awful it would look). Check out how much better and lighter looks than yours. Also notice below the ugly purple scar, the nice white patch. Awesome.


Feel better?

louisvillebride21

I assume your leg has calmed down since then. That was 3 weeks P/O. Mine is almost 9 years P/O. After 3 surgeries on the same spot.

amalama

Rach I had surgery on my neck too (the front to remove half my thyroid). The incision was smaller, but they told me once it healed to massage it a couple times a day. Just a little and not very hard, but it was supposed to help keep the hard scar tissue from forming. I'm not sure exactly, but my scar is barely there so I assume it worked pretty well!

squirrly

LVB, I've seen your scar in person, and trust me - you are more worried about it than anybody else will be! 

louisvillebride21

Oh, I also highly recommend the vitamin E. I fell out of a truck when I was like 6 and my face was hamburger meat. I used the gell on it every single day for like two years. I now have a tiny speck on my face that people try to brush away because they think it's dirt. It was amazing.

ootmother2

1) keep your dirty mitts off it

2) no vitamin E until your surgeon okays it

3) stop being so vain]

4) wanna see the scars on my hips and legs?  They're pretty impressive.  Left side is 8 inches 

louisvillebride21

B, I know I am, but I am 'worried' about it. I'll go forever without thinking about it (unless I hit it-I seriously think it feels like gettin hit in the nuts for a guy), but then some D-bag comes up and asks me what happens. Ok, they aren't D-bags, but it still bothers me. I'm hoping my veil will kinda hide it during the ceremony at least.

louisvillebride21

I think you should cough them up OOT. Anything to make Rach feel better, right?

missy68

Rach, in another 3 weeks, you'll barely notice it. Once the edges have time to heal, the scar will only be a thin line and you'll barely be able to see it, I'd be willing to bet.

You should see my gallbladder (open surgery) scar! And, no, I won't post it - I've got a mega flab belly. My weight loss surgery scars are invisible compared to it - 5 dots.

RachNRich

LVB, what in the world happened to your arm?!?

Amalama--I'll start the massaging when I can put the vitamin E on, and pull double duty Right now, it kinda make my stomach hurt to touch it. I'm a wimp.

louisvillebride21

Heh, told you it was gross. If not 'gross', definitely noticeable!

I was frying chicken in 8th grade and it caught on fire, along with the kitchen and my arm. That white spot is what the whole area should have looked like. I had 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns on this area. The 3rd degree burn was purple and puffy, raised. It was a very weird scar. So I go to the dermatologist because I had a severe reaction to peneccilin and had a 100% body rash. So I was in there and he was like 'I can take that off for you!" 3 surgeries later, and I have this shiit. It should have looked like an appendectomy scar. But because it's on a joint, it kept stretching out. When I had my boobs done, the plastic surgeon told me that he could put an implant in there attached to a small hose and I could come in each week for it to be pumped up. That would stretch out the skin enough so that he could fix it for real. No thanks, I'll just have a freaky arm.

RachNRich

Wow--it took the knot so long to load my post, you had already answered the question!

And OOT---We want pictures!!!

Missy--<3you.

amalama

Yeah touching it when it's still scabby probably isn't going to help anything. But it really worked once it was completely healed over. I don't have any pictures but I can barely see mine now.

squirrly

LVB - we need to work on that veil of yours too, at some point. 

ootmother2

:looks around before mooning the knot:

louisvillebride21

SHAKE IT, O!!!!

Yeah, next time I come into town. I have sooo much to do and I have the beginings of a panic attack every time I think about the wedding. I hate this feeling.