Scars and Scar Massage
This leaflet offers more information about scar management, especially after an
operation. If you have any further questions or concerns, please speak to the staff
member in charge of your care.
What are scars?
Scars develop as a result of injury to the skin. This is a normal process and may be due to cuts,
burns or crush injuries. Scars develop both on and below the skin. Your body makes fibres out
of something called collagen to strengthen the scar.
The longer a wound takes to heal or the more damaged the skin, the more chance the scar will
be thicker and less flexible. Scar tissue is never as good as the skin or tissue it replaces.
Your age and skin type can also affect how a scar forms and behaves.
Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that anchor and support the wound. These bind together all
the tissue with which they come into contact. You can think of adhesions as internal scar tissue.
Scar tissue
Skin
Tendon
Adhesions
Deeper
structures
Is there anything I can do to help manage my scar?
Scar massage is a way of softening and flattening scars. It can stop scar tissue build up and
help make scars less noticeable. Your scar or scars will continue to grow and change for about
twelve to eighteen months, so the earlier and more regularly you massage your scar, the less
the chance of long-term problems.
Scar massage can help:
reduce itchiness or over-sensitivity of scars
moisturise your scar if you use cream
improve the flexibility, mobility and softness of scars
make collagen form more evenly by applying pressure.
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You should start massaging your scars when your wounds are healed or after your stitches are
removed. Your therapist may advise you to start earlier or later depending on the surgery you
have had and the condition of your skin.
How do I massage my scars?
Apply a water based cream, such as aqueous cream or E45 hand cream to the scar. Use the
pads of your fingers to massage the scar and tissue around the scar. Massage in all directions.
All directions
Side to Side
Up and down
Circles
Apply as much pressure as you can without it hurting, beginning with light pressure and moving
to deeper and firmer pressure.
Massage your scar every day, ______ times a day for at least ______ minutes at a time.
You should carry on massaging your scars for at least three to six months after your surgery or
injury.
What happens if I do not do anything?
Your scar could become hard and inflexible or adhesions may form.
Scars that cross a joint could stop you being able to bend or straighten the joint (a contracture).
This may cause a deformity or may mean you have more limited movement which may affect
the way you can use your hand.
Contact us
If you have any questions or concerns about the information provided in this leaflet, please feel
free to discuss them with your therapist at your next appointment. For more urgent queries the
team can be contact on the treatment enquiries phone number listed below.
Your therapist’s name is: _____________________________________
Treatment enquiries: 020 8725 1038 (answer phone only)
Appointments: 020 8725 0007
For more information leaflets on conditions, procedures, treatments and services offered
at our hospitals, please visit www.stgeorges.nhs.uk
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Additional services
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS can offer you on-the-spot advice and information when you have comments or concerns
about our services or the care you have received. You can visit the PALS office between
9.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday in the main corridor between Grosvenor and
Lanesborough wings (near the lift foyer).
Tel: 020 8725 2453 Email: pals@stgeorges.nhs.uk
NHS Choices
NHS Choices provides online information and guidance on all aspects of health and healthcare,
to help you make decisions about your health.
Web: www.nhs.uk
NHS 111
You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is
available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.
Tel: 111
AccessAble
You can download accessibility guides for all of our services by searching
‘St George’s Hospital’ on the AccessAble website (www.accessable.co.uk). The guides are
designed to ensure everyone – including those with accessibility needs – can access our
hospital and community sites with confidence.
Reference: THE_SMA_03 Published: March 2020 Review date: March 2022
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