Plastic Surgeon İlker Altundağ Advises on Managing Post‑Surgery Scars in Turkey

Plastic and reconstructive surgery specialist Op. Dr. İlker Altundağ explains that every surgical incision inevitably leaves a scar, and the aim of plastic surgery is not to eliminate scars but to make them as fine and inconspicuous as possible. He describes techniques such as placing incisions along natural skin folds, handling tissues gently, and using fine sutures to improve the aesthetic outcome.

Altundağ notes that scar healing is affected by many individual factors, including genetics, skin type, age, smoking, diabetes, sun exposure and postoperative wound care. Even identical procedures can produce different scars on different patients. In the first weeks after surgery the scar is typically red, firm and prominent, but it continues to remodel for six to twelve months, gradually softening, lightening and blending with surrounding skin.

He recommends postoperative measures such as silicone‑based gels or sheets, regular massage, diligent sun protection and appropriate skin care to support healthy scar maturation. For raised or rigid scars, steroid injections, laser therapy or, when necessary, revision surgery may be considered. Altundağ urges patients to maintain realistic expectations and discuss scar‑management strategies in detail with their surgeon.