Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Scar massage and care after cancer surgery | CION Cancer Clinics
Start scar massage only once the wound has fully closed, the stitches are out and your surgeon agrees. Then press and rub the scar gently with a plain moisturiser for a few minutes, a couple of times a day. It helps a tight scar soften and itch less. This page shows you how, what to avoid, and who should check with their team first. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MI
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammed ImaduddinConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Surgical Oncology) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- When can you start massaging a scar, and does it help?
- How do you massage a scar at home?
- What should you use on the scar, and what should you avoid?
- What else helps a scar settle well?
- Who should ask before massaging their scar?
- What do people believe about scar care, and what is true?
- Common questions about scar massage after surgery
The short answer
When can you start massaging a scar, and does it help?
Start scar massage only once the wound is fully closed, the stitches or clips are out, there are no scabs, and your surgeon or nurse has said it is fine. Then press and rub the scar gently with a plain moisturiser for a few minutes, a couple of times a day, to help it soften and move more freely.
What massage can and cannot do
Massage helps a tight scar loosen, eases itching and stops the scar sticking to the tissue underneath. It can make a scar more comfortable and less noticeable. It will not make a scar vanish. The evidence behind it comes from small studies and long clinical experience, so think of it as a sensible habit rather than a treatment with a promised result.
Why the timing matters
A fresh wound is still knitting together underneath, even when the skin on top looks closed. Rubbing it too early can pull the edges apart or let infection in. Waiting a little longer costs nothing. Starting too soon can set healing back.
Your surgeon may give you a different plan for your scar. Their advice comes before anything on this page.
!
Stop and call your team the same day
If the scar opens, weeps fluid or pus, or the redness around it is spreading, stop massaging straight away. Do the same if it becomes hot, more painful or swollen, or if you develop a fever. Cover it with a clean dressing and call the team that did your operation. Do not put any cream, oil or powder on it first.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistStep by step
How do you massage a scar at home?
Wash your hands
Use soap and water and dry your hands well. Trim long nails so they do not scratch the new skin. Sit or lie somewhere comfortable where you can see the scar.
Use a little plain moisturiser
An unscented cream or plain petroleum jelly is enough. You only need enough to stop your fingers dragging on the skin. Wipe away anything left sitting on the scar afterwards.
Press and make small circles
Place two fingers on the scar and press firmly enough to make the skin pale for a moment. Move in small circles along the whole length, moving the skin over the tissue beneath, not your fingers over the skin.
Go along and across the scar
Then rub up and down along the line, and side to side across it. Some tingling or mild discomfort is normal. Sharp pain is not, so ease off if it hurts.
Keep going for a few months
A few minutes a couple of times a day is plenty. Scars keep changing for a year or more, so the habit matters more than any single session.
What to put on it
What should you use on the scar, and what should you avoid?
Usually fine once healed
Best avoided
Plain unscented moisturiser or petroleum jelly
Perfumed lotions, which can sting and cause a rash
Silicone gel or sheets, if your team agrees
Turmeric, herbal pastes or powders on the scar
Sunscreen over the scar when you go outdoors
Bleaching or fairness creams to lighten the scar
Loose cotton clothing that does not rub
Tight straps or waistbands pressing on the line
Gentle soap and water in the shower
Scrubs, loofahs or strong antiseptic on the scar
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Beyond massage
What else helps a scar settle well?
Massage is one part of scar care. These simple habits matter just as much, and most cost very little.
Keep it out of the sun
New scar tissue darkens easily in sunlight, and on Indian skin that dark mark can last a long time. Cover the scar with clothing, or use sunscreen once the wound has healed, for at least the first year.
Keep it moist
Dry scars itch and crack. A thin layer of plain moisturiser, or silicone gel if your team suggests it, keeps the skin supple.
Silicone may help if
- The scar is raised or red
- You have had thick scars before
Do not scratch
Itching is part of normal healing. Scratching damages the new skin and can leave a wider, darker mark. Pressing or tapping the scar gently often eases the itch instead.
Move, but do not strain
Gentle movement stops a scar tightening, especially over a joint, the armpit or the neck. A physiotherapist can show you stretches. Avoid heavy lifting until your surgeon says you are ready.
When to check first
Who should ask before massaging their scar?
Some scars need a word with your team before you start. Scar massage is not the right choice for everyone, and in a few situations it is put off until later.
If you have had, or are having, radiotherapy
Skin in the treatment area becomes fragile, dry and easily broken. Massage is usually avoided during the course and for a while afterwards. Ask the radiotherapy team when it is safe, and which creams they allow on that skin.
If there is an implant, flap or reconstruction
After breast reconstruction or other plastic surgery, the tissue under the scar may have its own care plan. Your surgeon may want a particular direction or pressure, or may ask you to wait longer.
If the scar is near a stoma, drain site or feeding tube
These areas can stay open or tender longer than the main cut. Leave them alone until the nurse confirms they have closed.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you how your own scar will look in a year, or whether it is healing normally. Only someone who sees and feels the scar can judge that, so keep your follow-up visits.
Commonly believed
What do people believe about scar care, and what is true?
"The harder you rub, the faster it fades."
Firm pressure helps, but rough rubbing can break new skin and leave it red and sore. Steady, gentle pressure every day does more than a hard session once a week.
"Expensive scar creams work better than plain moisturiser."
Much of the benefit comes from the massage and from keeping the skin moist. Costly creams have little good evidence behind them. Ask your team before spending on one.
"Once the stitches are out, the wound is fully healed."
The skin closes first. The deeper layers keep strengthening for months. That is why you are asked to wait before massage and to avoid heavy strain for a while.
"An old scar is too late to help."
A scar that has been there for years changes less, but massage can still ease tightness and itching. It is worth asking about even if your operation was a long time ago.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about scar massage after surgery
How soon after surgery can I start scar massage?
Only after the wound has fully closed, the stitches or clips are out and there are no scabs or wet spots. For many people that is a few weeks after the operation, but it varies with the type of surgery and how you heal. Ask your surgeon or nurse to check the scar and give you the go-ahead.
Can a family member do the massage for me?
Yes, if you cannot reach the scar or find it hard to touch. They should wash their hands, keep their nails short and use gentle, steady pressure. Many people find doing it themselves helps them get used to the scar, so try it yourself when you feel ready.
Can I use coconut oil for scar massage?
On a fully healed scar, a little plain coconut oil is unlikely to cause harm for most people, though some develop a rash. Never put it on an open or fresh wound. A plain unscented moisturiser is the simplest choice. Stop if the skin turns red, itchy or bumpy.
It feels numb around the scar. Is massage still safe?
Numbness is common after surgery because small nerves in the skin are cut. You can still massage, but you may not feel if you are pressing too hard. Watch the skin instead. If it turns very red or breaks, you are rubbing too firmly. Feeling often returns slowly over months.
My scar is lumpy under the skin. Is that normal?
A firm ridge under a healing scar is common. It is the body laying down new tissue, and massage often softens it with time. A lump that is growing, hard, or appears some time after the scar had settled should be shown to your surgeon rather than massaged away.
Does scar massage hurt?
It may feel tender, tight or tingly at first, especially over a sensitive area. It should not cause sharp pain. Start with lighter pressure and build up as the scar gets used to being touched. If pain persists or gets worse, stop and mention it at your next visit.
How long should I keep doing it?
Most people continue for several months, until the scar is pale, flat and moves freely. Scars keep maturing for around a year or longer, so there is no harm in carrying on. If the scar is getting thicker despite massage, ask your team about other options such as silicone.
Should I massage the scar during chemotherapy?
Ask your oncologist first. Chemotherapy can slow healing and lower your ability to fight infection, so the team may want you to wait. If they agree, keep your hands very clean and stop at any sign of redness or broken skin.
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Sources
- NHS — Scars
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Surgery
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for cancer
- American Cancer Society — Cancer surgery
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Keloid and Thickened Scars After Cancer SurgeryIf your scar is growing or getting thickerWill the Scar Fade? What to Expect Over a YearHow a scar normally changes over timeNumbness Around the ScarWhy the skin feels different and whether it returnsSigns Your Wound Is InfectedWhat to watch for before starting scar care
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