How it works
Why scars feel the way they do, and what helps
A plain-English guide to scar tissue, what happens in a session, and what to expect afterwards.
How a scar forms
Your body heals in four overlapping stages. The last one lasts much longer than most people think, which is why scars keep changing.
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Minutes to a day
Stop bleeding
A clot seals the wound.
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Days 1–7
Inflammation
Swelling and redness as the body clears the area.
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Days 4–21
Rebuilding
New tissue is laid down quickly, and not very neatly.
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3 weeks to 2 years
Remodelling
The scar slowly reorganises, flattens and pales.
Why it pulls, numbs or aches
It's less stretchy
Healed skin reaches at most about 80% of its original strength and is thicker and stiffer than the skin around it.
Porter, Wounds UK, 2007
Layers can stick together
Skin, fat, connective tissue (fascia) and muscle should glide over each other. After surgery they can bind (adhesions), so movement in one spot pulls on another.
Nerves are affected
Small nerves are cut during surgery and regrow slowly. That's why a scar can feel numb, oversensitive, itchy or "electric".
What I use
I'm a qualified practitioner in two gentle methods: RESTORE, developed by UK scar specialist Emma Holly and used within the NHS, and MSTR® (McLoughlin Scar Tissue Release), a light-touch technique that uses only the hands, practised in over 20 countries. Each session is tailored; not every technique suits every scar.
Scar massage
Specialist techniques on and around the scar to soften it and help the skin move.
Fascial release
Slow, sustained work on the connective tissue to ease pulling and restriction.
Gentle suction
Light negative pressure (cupping) that lifts the tissue rather than pressing into it.
Desensitising
Different textures and touch to calm an oversensitive scar or wake up a numb one.
Taping
Kinesiology tape to support the scar and ease tension between sessions.
Home care coaching
Self-massage, moisturising, sun care and silicone, shown step by step.
Your first session
Before
Wear something loose that lets me reach your scar comfortably. Bring any surgery notes, photos of how the scar looked early on, and the creams you use.
During · up to 30 minutes
We talk, I assess how your scar moves, then treat it. You stay covered except for the area we're working on, and you can stop at any time.
After
You leave with a simple home plan. We decide together whether more sessions make sense; some people notice changes after one, most benefit from a short course.
How you might feel afterwards
Most people feel relaxed, lighter and freer to move. Some feel tired: listen to your body and take it easy.
You may notice changes straight away or over the following days. A brief, sharp sensation in the scar can happen as nerves respond; it passes quickly and isn't a cause for concern.
Gentle touch on a scar can also stir up feelings. That's normal. Tell me if it happens, and ask for help if you're struggling.
Pain that increases over several days, lasts more than a few days, or swelling that grows isn't usual: contact your GP and let me know.
Jot down how your scar feels in the days after. It helps me tailor your next session.
When we wait
Scar therapy isn't right, or we hold off, if:
- the wound hasn't fully closed, or is scabbed, weeping or infected
- you've had radiotherapy recently and your team hasn't cleared you
- you're pregnant (for scars on the tummy or torso)
- your surgeon or GP has asked you to wait
- you have a skin condition flaring on the scar
Not sure? Message me before booking. If something needs a doctor first, I'll say so.
The evidence, honestly
| What | What studies found | How strong |
|---|---|---|
| Silicone gel and sheets | Flatter, paler, softer post-surgical scars from about six months (Wang et al., 2020) | Good, recommended first-line |
| Scar massage | Less pain and itch, more flexible scars, mostly in burns (Cho et al., 2014; Scott et al., 2022) | Encouraging, small studies |
| Combined manual therapy | Better pain, pliability and itch in post-op scars over 8 weeks (Lubczyńska et al., 2023) | Encouraging, small studies |
| Gentle suction | More elastic C-section scars after one session (González-Muñoz, 2025) | Early, no comparison group |
| Physical treatments overall | Improved pain, itch and flexibility vs no treatment across 19 trials (Deflorin et al., 2020) | Moderate, mixed methods |
Questions first?
Send me a message about your scar. I'll tell you honestly whether I think I can help.