Accutane and Scarring [posted 8/7/98]
Question: I am in my third month of accutane. I want to have breast augmentation next month. The procedure is being done through the naval. Should I be concerned with scarring internally?

Answer: Probably no problem, but I'd stop the drug a week or so before the surgery.

Poor Scar Healing [posted 7/24/98]
Question: The last two times I have had surgery, I have had problems with proper healing of my scars. There is raised tissue, like keloids (but my dermatologist said it was "hypertrophic tissue".) and it is red in color, taking much longer to fade than normal. Prior to these 2 surgeries, my scars always healed fine I am 53 years old, and I am wondering what has caused the change in my healing patterns. Could it be methotrexate? I took this powerful medication for about 9 months in 1995. I am wondering about the over-the-counter scar treatment called "Rejuvness." Do you have any knowledge about the efficacy of this product in improving scars such as mine?

Answer: If you were going to have keloids, it would have been life long. Healing, like most things, declines with age. That is, it takes longer and has different scarring patterns. The methotrexate would not have any effect. However, the underlying reason you were on it could. Why were you taking it? I haven't seen that any of these drugs is of any use, but it won't do any harm other than financial.

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