Medically reviewed by M. Thurairaj, Registered physiotherapist. · Last reviewed June 2026.
How a scar heals over time
Healing happens in stages over weeks and months. Early on the area is fragile and should be left to the surgical team. Later, as the scar matures, it can feel tight or sensitive, and the surrounding tissue may be less mobile. This is a normal part of healing for many people, and it often softens with time.
Where gentle care fits — only with clearance
Only once your surgeon has cleared it, and only well into healing, gentle work around a mature scar may ease comfort and the tightness in nearby muscle. We never work aggressively on a scar, never on a fresh or open wound, and we avoid any area with redness, heat, swelling or discharge, which needs medical review.
Key takeaways
- Scars remodel over weeks and months as they heal
- Tightness and sensitivity around a maturing scar can be normal
- Gentle scar work only with clearance, well into healing
- Redness, heat, swelling or discharge needs medical review
Frequently asked questions
Does massage remove scar tissue?
We avoid that claim. Gentle work around a mature scar, with clearance, may ease comfort and nearby tightness, but it does not "remove" scar tissue.
When can scar work start?
Only well into healing and only once your surgeon has cleared it. A fresh, red, swollen or weeping scar needs medical review, not massage.