Open Heart Surgery Scar For Women – Jenny’s Picture Request

August 15th, 2008

Jenny must be tired of seeing my scar sprinkled throughout this website. She asks, “Adam – Do you have any pictures of incision scars for women who have had open heart surgery? I’m getting ready for open heart surgery and would like to see what my chest scar might look like.”

Well, I do have three pictures of women which show an open heart surgery scar at different stages of the recovery. The picture below shows a woman still in the hospital (shortly after surgery).

Woman With Heart Surgery Scar After Operation In The Hospital

The next picture shows a lady who appears to be fully recovered. You need to look real close to see the incision scar which is no longer red (as shown above) but white. Yes, this picture is a little artsy but it does a good job showing just how well the skin can heal.

Finally, here is a picture of Mary Billings. I met Mary on my honeymoon in Fiji. She was working at the hotel that Robyn (my wife) and I were staying at. After speaking with Mary, we quickly learned that we both shared a unique commonality – heart valve surgery.

I hope that helps show what an open heart surgery scar looks like for a woman. If you have any pictures that you would like to add to this blog, please leave a response.

Keep on tickin!

About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates clinical research with the personal experiences of 135 former patients to help future patients and their caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.

5 Comments... Click here to add one.

Elaine says on August 16th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

Adam,

I have a few that were taken about a month post surgery. I’d be happy to share.

Dorothy Walton says on August 16th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

I still have a little swelling on the left side.
And now I have a little infection on my right leg where the vein was removed.
I am taking an anti-biotic and have some ointment for a few days.
Has anyone use CoCoa Butter on the Scar.

s-d says on October 10th, 2008 at 1:30 am

Adam,

You are doing a wonderful job – by providing pictures.

I am about to marry a woman who has had open heart surgery. I was reconsidering my decision.

Wondered how she looked without her tops.

Thank you for the pictures. I am now fairly clear.

I think my illusions are lost after seeing the pictures.

Hope you add more pictures across different races to make things more clearer.

We live in India where getting such pictures is a real damn difficult think (particularly topless pictuers) – those give much more clarity rather those that have been taken with shirts on.

Thanks.

Many warm regards.

s- d.

jessicadavis says on February 26th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

I just wanted to say Thank you for including some pictures of the women that have open heart surgery scars. I am 26 about to have surgery in a couple days they arent doing heart surgery but removing a tumor from my thymus and this is the only way they can get to it, I was very nervous about having such a big surgery and ugly scar afterwards but your website has helped tremendously thank you again.

Denise says on November 30th, 2009 at 9:21 am

Hello..
I had my open heart surgery 1 year ago and my scar developed KELOID. So, is there any type of laser surgery to remove the scar?