Effectiveness of silicone sheets in the prevention of hypertrophic breast scars.

A clinical study was designed in which 20 women who were to undergo bilateral McKissock reduction mammaplasties were requested to use a precut silicone elastomer sheet over the scars of one breast, starting at the time of suture removal. The patients were instructed to use the silicone sheet for 12 hours each day for 2 months. Evaluation of the scars at 2 months revealed that 60% of the nontreated scars were hypertrophic and only 25% of the treated scars were hypertrophic. The difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). The use of the sheets was discontinued after 2 months and the beneficial effect remained at the 6-month evaluation.