An open heart surgery scar typically appears as a straight line down the middle of the chest, usually about 8-12 inches long. Initially, the scar may be red or pink and slightly raised.

Over time (and with proper scar care), scars can fade to a lighter color. Using silicone scar products can help reduce scar visibility and improve healing outcomes.

Because open heart surgery is such an intensive procedure, you’ll want to keep the wound site in the most ideal healing environment as much as you can. The best way to do this is with silicone scar products— particularly our Scar Heal Kits. These kits combine silicone sheeting and silicone gel to give you day & night coverage for flatter, smoother scars.

For open heart surgery, we recommend using a Kit with 1x12” or 1.5x9” silicone sheeting.

You must wait until your wound is fully closed before starting use of your silicone scar products, when your wound has begun the “maturation phase” of scar healing. In short, this means your wound is no longer oozing, bleeding, scabbing, etc, which usually takes a few weeks. However if in doubt, we also suggest consulting your doctor to see if it’s time for scar treatment.

Recovery from open heart surgery generally takes about 6 to 12 weeks or longer, but it can vary based on individual health and the procedure's complexity. You should be able to resume most normal activities by six weeks, and be fully recovered by three months.

During this period, the body focuses on healing the chest incision and stabilizing heart function. Following a structured aftercare plan and using scar care products can help with both the internal and external healing process, including scar recovery.

No, a heart-lung bypass machine isn’t always required. While traditional open heart surgeries use this machine to temporarily take over heart function, some procedures (like beating-heart surgeries) can be performed without it.

However, the choice depends on the surgery type and patient needs. Regardless of the method, proper post-surgery care, including scar management, remains essential.

Caring for your open heart surgery incision involves keeping the area clean, dry, and free from irritation. Avoid direct sunlight to reduce scar darkening, and refrain from touching or picking at the wound.

Once the incision has healed, applying silicone scar products can further improve the appearance and texture of the scar, supporting the overall healing process.