Scar Aftercare

Taking good care of wounded areas is very important after scarring. Taking proper care and disinfecting the area will reduce the chance of infection, and it will also help preserve the scars.

Here are some guidelines for post-operative aftercare:

Do:

• The area should be washed gently with antibacterial soap four to five times each day.
• Afterward, you can rinse with peroxide on the skin to kill germs and further irritate it, so good visible scars will form.
• Disposable paper towels should be used to dry the area.
• To treat the scars, apply petroleum jelly along the grooves rather than across their surface.
• Protect the area by bandaging and covering it.

Don’t:

• Rub your scars or scrub them. There will be less distinction in the pattern as a result of this blurring.
• The bandage should be left on throughout the day. You should instead use fresh bandages or cellophane after each washing.

About three weeks will pass before the area fully scabs over, and complete healing takes about five to six weeks.

Use Only Licensed Practitioners

The scarring process should only be undertaken by licensed professional body artists, who are generally found through your local tattoo parlor. Tattoos should be handled with the same level of sanitary care as hepatitis and HIV vaccinations to prevent the spread of blood-borne illnesses. It is important that all surfaces and all tools are freshly disinfected, as well as removed from their sealed autoclave bags. In addition to wearing gloves and a surgical mask during the procedure, the practitioner/artist should wash their hands thoroughly before starting.

Choosing to Scar

Scarring, regardless of the person’s reasons, is an intense experience that is not for the faint-hearted. If you can watch someone else being scarred first, you will be better prepared to cope with the experience yourself.