Can you get rid of old internal scar tissue?

Author: Clark Lakin  |  Last update: Sunday, June 8, 2025

Internal scar tissue will never go away. However, if treated properly, you can work to restore movement and minimize pain. There are a variety of treatments for scar tissue pain – some more effective than others.

Does internal scar tissue ever go away?

Normal scar tissue forms to heal an internal wound and quietly retreats when the job is done. But in many common diseases — kidney, liver and lung fibrosis — the scar tissue goes rogue and strangles vital organs. These diseases are largely untreatable and ultimately fatal.

How to break up old internal scar tissue?

Massage. Deep tissue massage and cross-friction massage are two manual therapies that improve mobility, promote healing, break up existing scar tissue, and help prevent it from forming. Scar tissue massage also helps with those aches and pains that develop when tight areas and adhesions impede healthy movement.

Can you get rid of scar tissue years later?

Treatments can reduce a scar's size or appearance, but the scar will never completely go away. Some treatments prevent a scar from forming as a wound heals. Scar treatments include: Dermabrasion: A common acne scar treatment, dermabrasion removes the top layer of skin by gently “sanding” the skin.

How do you get rid of old scar tissue under the skin?

The following are some of the more common scar-minimizing procedures:
  1. Dermabrasion. ...
  2. Chemical peels. ...
  3. Collagen injections. ...
  4. Cortisone injections. ...
  5. Cryosurgery. ...
  6. Laser resurfacing. ...
  7. Punch grafts. ...
  8. Surgical scar revision.

Get Rid of Scar Tissue - Ask Doctor Jo

When is it too late to massage scar tissue?

For best results, you should perform scar massage for at least 10 minutes, twice a day, for six months. You should only stop sooner than that if the scar starts showing signs of infection or you experience intolerable discomfort.

What are the symptoms of internal scar tissue?

Scar tissue forms after an injury and can develop on the skin's surface or inside the body. For some people, scar tissue may cause pain, tightness, itching, or difficulty moving. Due to how scar tissue matures, these symptoms may occur years after an injury.

Can years old scars be removed?

You cannot get rid of a scar, but most scars fade over time without any treatment. If a scar is more severe or bothering you, a GP may be able to recommend treatments or refer you to a specialist. The aim of treatment is to help improve how the scar looks.

Can scar tissue become permanent?

How much a scar fades depends on its size, location and type. However, scars never fully disappear, because the jumbled tissue remains fundamentally different from the skin around it.

What is the injection to dissolve internal scar tissue?

Dermatologists may inject a corticosteroid solution directly into a hypertrophic scar or keloid, which may help reduce its size. Steroids break the bonds between collagen fibers, which reduces the amount of scar tissue beneath the skin.

Is it ever too late to break up scar tissue?

It's best to begin such therapy soon after the surgery, though long enough after for the area to heal. However, the therapy can still be beneficial years later. "By then, scar tissue tends to be really stiff and not easy to move," says Dr.

Why does my scar itch after 10 years?

Check if you have a keloid scar

You can get keloid scars on any part of the body, but they're most common on the chest, shoulders, chin, neck, lower legs and ears. A keloid scar usually grows for months or years and becomes bigger than the original wound. While it's growing, it may feel itchy or painful.

What is the lump under my scar?

After a surgery, fluid can collect under the skin near the cut the doctor made (incision). This soft, puffy area is called a seroma. It can be tender to touch. The incision may even have opened up.

Why does scar tissue never go away?

After a scar is first formed, the body continues to touch up its work where it can - which is why scars fade slightly over the years when left alone. But scar tissue does not get replaced by this process2, which means that most scars, when left to heal naturally, will never fully disappear.

What is the scar tissue from C section years later?

An isthmocele is a pouch, or niche, of tissue that forms on the wall of your uterus. It's the result of a c-section incision that didn't heal completely. Isthmoceles can lead to abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain and menstruation problems. It can also cause infertility or problems with future pregnancies.

Does internal scar tissue keep growing?

Why internal scars won't stop growing. Normal scar tissue forms to heal an internal wound and quietly retreats when the job is done. But in many common diseases — kidney, liver and lung fibrosis — the scar tissue goes rogue and strangles vital organs. These diseases are largely untreatable and ultimately fatal.

Can stretching get rid of scar tissue?

Scar tissue remodeling occurs as you stretch and pull on it. The stretching of scar tissue helps to align the collagen fibers, to allow them to realign back to normal. Stretching helps make the tissue better able to tolerate trauma to the body.

Does fasting get rid of scar tissue?

Previous research on intermittent fasting has demonstrated its notable impact on diabetic wound healing. It can enhance re-epithelialization and dermal regeneration while reducing scar formation.

How to get rid of internal scar tissue?

Physical therapy can be a viable option for scar tissue treatment and associated pain. Physical therapists use a combination of active and passive motion to break down and retrain scar tissue. Active motion refers to a patient moving the affected area under his or her own power.

Can an old scar turn cancerous?

Skin cancer can develop in scar tissue, although it is rare. Scar tissue provides an environment where abnormal cells can grow. These abnormal cells can form tumors over time. The most common type of skin cancer found in scars is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

How do I remove old scars on my body?

Older scars are harder to treat, but laser therapy may make them less noticeable. This usually takes multiple sessions. How can I get rid of acne scars? Acne scars can be treated with prescription creams, laser therapy, skin injections, or dermabrasion, depending on their severity and type.

What does old scar tissue feel like?

Scar tissue can have a local area of pain when touched or stretched or it can produce a referred pain that feel like that of a nerve which is a constant annoying burn that occasionally turns sharp.

What injection dissolves internal scar tissue?

Intralesional injection of corticosteroids is the most widely used clinical treatment for pathological scars.

What test shows internal scar tissue?

If scar tissue is suspected, then a diagnostic laparoscopy (a procedure that allows a doctor to view the tissue and remove it if necessary) may be utilized.

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