Scar care after surgery in Türkiye: sun, silicone and massage explained

Every operation leaves a scar. Whether yours ends up as a fine pale line or something more noticeable depends partly on your skin and the surgery – and partly on what you do in the months afterwards. This guide answers the practical questions UK patients ask about scar care after surgery in Türkiye: when to start, silicone, massage, the Antalya sun, swimming and what to do if a scar does not settle. It does not replace advice from your surgeon or GP.

How does a scar change in the first year?

A new scar usually looks worse before it looks better – and it keeps changing for a long time. NHS leaflets describe scars continuing to change for up to 18 months, and the NHS says fading can take two years or more.

A typical course looks like this:

Time after surgery	What you may notice
First weeks	Wound closing; scar is pink or red, may feel tight
First months	Scar can become redder, firmer, slightly raised and itchy – this is common
Later in the first year	Colour gradually fades; scar usually softens and flattens
Up to 18 months or more	Scar becomes paler and more mature; it will not disappear completely

Timings vary from person to person; the table shows a common pattern, not a schedule.

Itching, sensitivity and a firm feeling are normal during this phase. What matters is the trend: a scar that is slowly getting softer and paler is behaving normally.

When can I start scar care?

Only once the wound has fully closed – stitches or clips out, no scabs, no weeping, no open areas. Until then, the job is wound care, not scar care: keep dressings as instructed and do not put creams, gels or pressure on an open wound.

Your surgeon decides the start date, because it depends on the operation, the stitching technique and how you heal. For some patients that is before they fly home from Türkiye; for many it is a week or more after they are back in the UK. Before you leave, ask for clear written instructions.

Tip: Ask your surgeon to write down the date (or the sign) for starting massage and silicone, which products they recommend, and how to reach them with photos if a scar looks wrong.

Silicone gel or sheets – what’s the evidence?

Silicone is the most widely recommended scar product, but the evidence is weaker than the marketing suggests. The NHS says silicone gels and dressings can help improve how a scar looks, and pharmacists can recommend them.

A Cochrane review from 2013 looked at 20 trials involving 873 people. It found that most studies were of poor quality and concluded that “a great deal of uncertainty prevails” about how much silicone gel sheeting helps. In practice, that means silicone is low-risk and reasonable to try once the wound has healed, but it is not a guaranteed fix.

Gel or sheets?

• Sheets are reusable pads you stick on; they suit flat, longer scars on the body (tummy tuck, breast surgery) and can be hidden under clothing.
• Gel dries to a thin film; it is easier on the face, joints and curved areas, and on visible skin during the day.

Follow the product instructions and your surgeon’s advice on how many hours a day and for how many months to use it. Stop and get advice if the skin under silicone becomes sore, red or broken.

Scar massage – when and how?

Start massage only when the wound is fully healed and your surgeon agrees. The NHS says to massage only a fully healed wound, a few times a day for up to ten minutes, with a water-based or unperfumed cream.

NHS hospital leaflets give similar practical advice:

• Use the pads of two fingers in small circles, then up and down, then side to side.
• Start gently and increase pressure as you can tolerate – one NHS leaflet suggests pressing until the scar turns paler.
• Aim for several short sessions a day; tie them to habits such as brushing your teeth.
• Keep going for months – one NHS trust advises at least six months.
• Use an unperfumed moisturiser you know your skin tolerates.

Stop and contact your surgeon or GP if the scar becomes redder, bleeds, feels warmer than the skin around it or hurts more than usual.

Why is sun so harmful to new scars – and what does that mean for Antalya?

New scar tissue burns easily, and sun exposure can darken a scar permanently. That is why UK guidance is strict: the NHS advises keeping a scar covered in the sun for at least one year and using sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. One NHS trust recommends high-factor UVA and UVB protection for two years, and another says to protect scars even on cloudy days.

Antalya has strong sunshine for much of the year, and many patients are tempted to treat their recovery as a holiday. BAPRAS advises not to sunbathe after surgery abroad and suggests taking any holiday before the operation, not after. In practice:

• Keep scars covered with loose clothing or dressings whenever you go outside.
• Avoid sitting in direct sun, including on balconies and by the pool.
• Once the wound has healed, use SPF 30 or higher on any scar that cannot be covered.
• Remember that sunscreen on an open wound is not appropriate – cover it instead.

The same rules apply back in the UK, and on any beach holiday in the following year.

Can fresh scars go in the sea, a pool or a Turkish bath?

No – not while you are recovering. BAPRAS advises patients having surgery abroad not to swim or do water sports, because open or fresh wounds can become infected. Sea water, hotel pools and hot tubs all count.

A Turkish bath (hamam) is a separate issue: heat, steam and vigorous scrubbing are hard on healing skin and on swollen tissue after surgery. Leave it until your wounds have completely healed and your surgeon has said it is safe.

Practical rules for your stay:

• Showers only as instructed by your surgeon; no baths, pools, sea or hot tubs.
• No sauna, steam room or hamam during recovery.
• Ask your surgeon before your first swim or bath back in the UK – the answer depends on your operation and your healing.

Tip: If your travel package includes a hotel with a spa or pool, assume you will not be able to use it after surgery. Plan any spa days before the operation.

When is a scar a problem – and who can help in the UK?

Most scars settle without treatment, but two types can need help. The NHS explains the difference:

• Hypertrophic scar: raised and firm, but stays within the edges of the original wound. These often flatten and fade over time.
• Keloid scar: raised, hard and smooth, and grows larger than the original wound. A keloid does not usually flatten or fade without treatment.

See your GP if a scar is painful, very itchy, keeps getting bigger or is affecting how you feel about yourself. Get a same-day GP appointment or call NHS 111 if a scar becomes swollen, painful, warm or has pus coming from it – these can be signs of infection.

Treatment options listed by the NHS include silicone dressings or gels, steroid injections or cream, freezing (cryotherapy), laser therapy and skin camouflage. Your GP can refer you for skin camouflage, or you can self-refer. The aim of any treatment is to improve how the scar looks – no treatment removes a scar completely.

Also contact your surgeon in Türkiye with clear photos. They know what was done and may offer advice or follow-up. Keep your operation notes and discharge letter, so any UK doctor can see what was done.

What doesn’t work – common myths

• “The right cream will make it disappear.” No product removes a scar. Moisturising and massage can make it softer and more comfortable.
• “Vitamin E or bio-oils are proven scar treatments.” The NHS and the hospital leaflets used for this guide do not recommend them; a plain unperfumed moisturiser is usually advised.
• “A bit of sun will help it blend in.” The opposite – sun can darken a scar permanently.
• “If it is red after three months, something went wrong.” Redness and firmness for many months are normal.
• “Starting early is always better.” Massage or silicone on a wound that has not closed can cause harm. Wait for your surgeon’s go-ahead.

Scar care checklist

Before you fly home

• Written instructions on wound care and when to start scar care
• Names of recommended silicone products and how long to use them
• Your operation notes and discharge letter (in English)
• A way to send photos to your surgeon

During your stay in Antalya

• Scars and dressings covered whenever you go outside
• No sunbathing, swimming, sea, pool, hot tub or hamam
• Showers only as instructed

Back in the UK

• Start massage and silicone only once the wound has fully healed
• SPF 30 or higher on scars, and cover them in the sun for at least a year
• Take photos every month to track progress
• See your GP if a scar grows beyond the wound, becomes painful or shows signs of infection

What happens if I don’t follow the aftercare instructions?

If you do not follow your surgeon’s aftercare instructions, you will usually be responsible for the consequences yourself. A clinic is liable for its own mistakes – but not for complications that arise because a patient leaves off the compression garment, flies too early, smokes, exposes fresh scars to the sun, stops medication on their own or misses follow-up checks.

This has very practical consequences:

• Guarantees and free revisions: Many clinics make guarantees or free corrective treatment expressly conditional on the aftercare instructions having been followed.
• Complication insurance: An insurer may also refuse to pay if a complication results from instructions being ignored.
• Compensation: Even if the clinic made a mistake, a Turkish court can reduce or refuse compensation where your own conduct contributed to the harm (Article 52, Turkish Code of Obligations).

At the same time, the clinic must give you clear, written aftercare instructions in a language you understand. Keep them, ask if anything is unclear – ideally in writing – and keep a record showing you followed them (photos, appointments attended, receipts for garments and medication).

Read more

• Aftercare after surgery in Türkiye
• Warning signs after surgery
• Complications after cosmetic surgery abroad: what the NHS will do