Reduction of postoperative scar formation with silicone sheeting: 2 case studies

Elective surgeries account for millions of acquired scars annually. Many of these scars can be problematic, being aesthetically unpleasant and causing discomfort. Silicone gel sheeting has been shown to be efficacious for the prevention and treatment of problematic scars. By wound hydration, along with other factors, silicone dressings are thought to decrease scarring. However, we found the usual treatment was commonly started after epithelialization of the incision site. The current standard of care in wound healing is to promote a moist wound environment to ensure quick epithelialization and decrease excessive scar formation. With that standard in mind, after foot surgery was performed on 2 patients, silicone sheeting was applied immediately in order to compare its effects with those of standard moist wound healing (XEROFORM Petrolatum Gauze).