If you have uterine fibroids and are looking into treatment options for the symptoms they cause, you may be asking, “Will I have fibroid removal surgery scars?” Yes, most fibroid surgeries leave some type of scar, but the size, location, and visibility depend on the procedure used. Many newer techniques use smaller incisions that tend to leave less noticeable scarring.
When choosing a treatment for fibroids, it is normal to wonder if you will have fibroid surgery scars, what they might look like, and how long they will take to heal. Understanding the different treatment options and how they work will help you know what you can expect in the way of uterine fibroid surgery scars.
What Causes Fibroid Surgery Scars?
Any time the skin is cut, the body goes into instant repair mode. This is true even if the cut is a perfectly straight incision used for fibroid surgery. Your body makes new collagen and elastin on an ongoing basis using a fairly flat criss-cross weave pattern. When collagen is being produced to fix an injury, it is made quickly and haphazardly using a series of random patterns, which creates a scar.
The visibility of fibroid removal scars will depend on the type of surgical technique used, the size of the incision, your skin type, and how well your body heals. Most scars will gradually fade and begin to more closely match your normal skin tone after about a year, but they may not totally disappear.
What Do Myomectomy Scars Look Like?
A myomectomy is a surgery that removes fibroids by cutting them out of the uterus one at a time. The type of scar that is left will depend on how the myomectomy is done.
Laparoscopic or Robotic Myomectomy
Laparoscopic surgeries are done using 4 or 5 small incisions that are placed in strategic spots on the abdomen. These openings are used for the surgeon to insert thin medical instruments to perform the operation.
This type of myomectomy normally leaves:
- Three to five small scars on the abdomen.
- Scars that are between ¼ and 1 inch long.
- Scars located near the belly button and on each side of the lower abdomen.
- Smaller and less visible fibroid surgery scars than an open myomectomy.
Open Abdominal Myomectomy
Women who have very large fibroids or many fibroids may need to have open abdominal surgery. This will allow the surgeon greater access to the uterus and the fibroids that need to be removed. This type of surgery creates one long uterine fibroid surgery scar across the lower abdomen, usually just below the bikini line.
An open abdominal myomectomy normally:
- Creates one longer horizontal scar that is between 5” and 7” long.
- Takes longer to heal from compared to laparoscopic myomectomy surgery.
What Do Hysterectomy Scars Look Like?
Laparoscopic or Robotic Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy surgery removes the entire uterus and the fibroids at the same time. A laparoscopic hysterectomy normally uses the same type of incision placement as a myomectomy, using between 3 and 5 abdominal incisions. The scars that are left behind are near the belly button and on each side of the lower abdomen.
This type of hysterectomy normally results in:
- Three to five ½ inch to inch-long scars on the abdomen.
- The scarring left behind is minimal compared to open surgery.
- A faster recovery than open surgery.
- Smaller, less visible scars
Open Abdominal Hysterectomy
This surgery typically creates a larger uterine fibroid surgery scar across the lower abdomen. The incision is normally placed below the bikini line in about the same location as during a C-section, and the scar it leaves is usually easy to hide under clothing or a bathing suit.
If fibroids are quite large or there are numerous, a vertical incision that runs from the belly button down to the bikini line may be needed.
An abdominal hysterectomy usually leaves:
- A horizontal scar about 5” to 7” long below the bikini line.
- Sometimes, a vertical incision is needed, which will leave a more visible scar that runs from the navel to the bikini line.
- A more noticeable scar than a laparoscopic hysterectomy.
Do All Treatments Leave Behind Fibroid Surgery Scars?
No. There is a treatment called uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) that blocks the blood flow to the fibroids permanently so the fibroids die and shrink. UFE is done during an outpatient procedure by an interventional radiologist without cutting the body open.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization and Scarring
UFE does not require abdominal incisions and instead uses a needle hole made in an artery located in your upper thigh. This access site is very small and leaves no scar.
Tiny particles are used to block the small blood vessels that are diverting blood from the uterine artery to the fibroids. Once the fibroid blood supply is cut off, the fibroids shrink and die.
UFE preserves your uterus and is 90% effective in reducing or eliminating fibroids without surgery, so the recovery time is very short compared to after surgical fibroid removal.
How Long Does a Fibroid Surgery Scar Take to Heal?
It normally only takes a few weeks for the initial healing of the incision, and it can take a year or more for the scar to mature.
- Initial healing normally takes anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks.
- Scars can look dark red or pink at first.
- After several months, scar tissue usually softens. It becomes flatter and blends in better with your natural skin tone.
- The final appearance of the mature scar can take 12 to 18 months.
Can You Reduce the Appearance Of Fibroid Surgery Scars?
There is no guarantee that any treatment will be able to erase scars, but there are some strategies that can be used to reduce their visibility when mature.
- Follow all your aftercare instructions precisely.
- Keep your incisions clean and protected.
- Avoid exposure to the sun.
- Use the scar treatments recommended by your surgeon when it is time.
- Eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep to give your body what it needs to properly heal.
Everyone heals at their own speed, and scarring can affect each person differently. If you end up with visible scars that concern you, there are some cosmetic treatments that can make a significant difference in their appearance. Some cosmetic treatments that are effective in reducing visible scarring include microneedling with radiofrequency, laser treatments, facial resurfacing treatments, etc.
When Should You Contact Your Doctor?
Contact your doctor if you notice:
- Redness that is getting worse around the incision.
- Pus or any drainage.
- You develop a fever.
- Pain that gets worse.
- Your incision is separating.
Complications with healing can make any scarring worse, so it is important to do all you can to take care of your incisions so they heal properly.
Where Can I Learn More About Fibroid Treatment Without Fibroid Removal Scars?
Dr. Lipman and Dr. Banerjee at the Atlanta Fibroid Center are board-certified interventional radiologists with over 50 years of combined experience and greater than 10,000 UFE procedures done, making them the leaders in UFE treatment.
This knowledgeable team can answer your fibroid questions and talk with you about your treatment options. If you have been diagnosed with fibroids and have only been given surgical treatment options, there is a good chance that you are a candidate for UFE.
Set up your consultation today to learn more about the non-surgical treatment for fibroids that avoids fibroid surgery scars.
