Silicone Taping for Abdominal Scars

Overseen By Jason G Williams, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Nova Scotia Health Authority

Must not be taking: Steroids

Disqualifiers: Collagen disease, Connective tissue disorders, Psoriasis, Lupus, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

Duration: 10 weeks

32 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether silicone tape can improve the appearance of scars after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery compared to the usual care of not using any dressing. Researchers will apply silicone tape to one half of each patient's surgical scar, leaving the other half without any dressing for comparison. The goal is to determine if silicone tape reduces scar appearance over time. Individuals who have undergone a tummy tuck as part of breast reconstruction may be suitable participants, unless they have conditions such as allergies to adhesives or are smokers. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to innovative research that could enhance post-surgical care.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are currently on steroids.

What prior data suggests that silicone tape is safe for improving scar outcomes?

Research has shown that silicone tape is generally safe for managing scars. In past studies, people using silicone tape experienced scars that either remained the same or improved, without major side effects. Another study found silicone products, such as silicone tape, easy to use on scars, with most people experiencing no significant issues.

Overall, silicone tape appears to be a safe option for improving the appearance of scars. The absence of major reports of negative effects suggests that most people tolerate it well. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using silicone tape for managing abdominal scars because it offers a non-invasive and easy-to-use option for patients post-surgery. Unlike traditional treatments that might rely on ointments or no dressings at all, silicone tape provides a physical barrier that can help maintain moisture and protect the healing incision. This method is convenient as it's applied daily and can be easily removed and reapplied after a shower, making it a flexible option for patients. The hope is that this approach will improve scar appearance and patient satisfaction compared to the standard care of leaving the incision uncovered after the initial healing period.

What evidence suggests that silicone tape is effective for improving abdominal scar appearance?

Research has shown that silicone tape can improve the appearance of scars. In this trial, participants will apply silicone tape to one half of their abdominoplasty incision, while the other half will remain uncovered after the initial two-week post-op period. Studies have found that silicone tape results in better-looking scars compared to no covering. In one study, experts observed significant improvements in scar appearance with silicone tape. Additionally, silicone tape helps scars become more flexible, making them look and feel more like normal skin. This suggests that silicone tape could be an effective option for reducing the visibility of scars after surgery. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jason G Williams, MD

Principal Investigator

Nova Scotia Health Authority

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals getting new abdominoplasty as part of breast reconstruction. It's not suitable for those with scleroderma, open wounds or infections at the surgery site, inability to care for incisions, current smokers, steroid users, or a history of collagen disease, connective tissue disorders (like psoriasis or lupus), or silicone adhesive allergies.

Inclusion Criteria

I am having a tummy tuck as part of my breast reconstruction.

Exclusion Criteria

You have a history of certain autoimmune diseases such as lupus, psoriasis, or connective tissue disorders.

I cannot take care of my surgical wounds by myself.

I have scleroderma.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive silicone tape treatment on one half of their abdominoplasty incision for scar improvement

10 weeks

Daily application by participants

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for scar assessment at multiple timepoints

12 months

Visits at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Silicone tape

Trial Overview The study tests if silicone tape can improve the appearance of scars after abdominoplasty compared to no dressing. Participants will have silicone tape applied to half their surgical scar two weeks post-operation and will be monitored over time to assess scar healing.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Silicone tape Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Adult subjects will act as their own control and will be randomized to have silicone tape applied to one half of their abdominoplasty incision. Patients will apply silicone tape on a daily basis, with each piece lasting 24 hours. Tape may be removed for showers and replied after drying. Total length of treatment will be two and a half months.

Group II: No dressing Active Control 1 Intervention

Control treatment using the current standard of care at our institution to the other half, which is no dressing after the initial two week post-op period, will be used on the other half of the incision for comparison. Each individual patient will act as their own control.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Nova Scotia Health Authority

Lead Sponsor

Trials

302

Recruited

95,300+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 163 patients undergoing breast reconstruction, the hypoallergenic polyester-woven fabric tape (Atofine) resulted in significantly fewer skin complications and better aesthetic outcomes compared to the nonwoven surgical tape (Yu-ki ban).

Patients using Atofine experienced less pigmentation and improved scarring, suggesting that tapes with higher moisture permeability and lower keratinocyte removal are preferable for postoperative care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of Two Types of Tapes for Taping After Breast Reconstruction Using Silicone Materials. Ishii, N., Ando, J., Kiuchi, T., et al.[2022]

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 38 participants, silicone gel significantly improved the appearance and function of hypertrophic burn scars after 4 months, as measured by the Vancouver scar scale.

While the silicone gel showed benefits in reducing scar characteristics, it did not significantly affect pain levels compared to the placebo.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of silicone gel on burn scars. Momeni, M., Hafezi, F., Rahbar, H., et al.[2009]

The FDA has classified silicone sheeting for managing hypertrophic and keloid scars as a class I medical device, which means it is subject to general controls and does not require premarket notification.

This classification streamlines the process for bringing silicone sheeting to market, potentially increasing access for patients seeking treatment for problematic scars.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

General and plastic surgery devices; classification of silicone sheeting. Final rule. [2004]

In a study involving 10 individuals with linear scars less than one year old, silicone gel sheets did not show significant improvements in scar healing compared to untreated sides, except for observer ratings of overall scar opinion.

While participants noted some improvements in color, stiffness, and irregularities over time, the silicone gel sheets specifically did not enhance pliability or pigmentation compared to untreated scars, suggesting they may not be effective for normal scar healing.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Linear scar reduction using silicone gel sheets in individuals with normal healing. Maher, SF., Dorko, L., Saliga, S.[2022]

In a pilot study involving 30 diabetic patients with healed foot ulcers, silicone gel sheeting did not reduce the risk of reulceration compared to emollient cream.

In fact, the use of silicone gel sheeting may have potentially increased the risk of reulceration, suggesting it may not be a safe or effective option for preventing ulcer recurrence in this patient population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A diabetic foot ulcer pilot study: does silicone gel sheeting reduce the incidence of reulceration? Westphal, C., Neame, IM., Harrison, JC., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 40 hypertrophic scars in a rabbit model, both microporous paper tape and silicone gel sheeting (SGS) were found to be more effective than untreated controls in preventing hypertrophic scarring based on photographic analysis.

However, histologic measurements showed no significant difference in scar elevation index between the treatment groups and controls, indicating that while visual improvements were noted, the underlying scar tissue characteristics may not have changed significantly.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of effectiveness of silicone gel sheeting with microporous paper tape in the prevention of hypertrophic scarring in a rabbit model. Tollefson, TT., Kamangar, F., Aminpour, S., et al.[2019]

A study involving eight hypertrophic scars showed that a topical self-drying silicone gel significantly reduced scar thickness by an average of 37% after 6 months of treatment.

The results indicate that this silicone gel, applied twice daily, is both effective and well-tolerated, suggesting it could be a safe treatment option for hypertrophic scars, although further research with larger patient groups is needed.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An open-label pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a silicone gel in the treatment of hypertrophic scars using clinical and ultrasound assessments. Lacarrubba, F., Patania, L., Perrotta, R., et al.[2016]

In a study of 60 adult patients, silicone tape caused significantly less skin injury compared to standard acrylate tapes, with only 0% experiencing skin denudation versus 13.3% with standard tapes.

Patients reported higher satisfaction with silicone tape for both eyelid and facial skin conditions, scoring an average of 4.53 and 4.57 respectively, compared to 3.83 and 3.87 for standard tapes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of Medical Adhesive Tapes in Patients at Risk of Facial Skin Trauma under Anesthesia. Zeng, LA., Lie, SA., Chong, SY.[2020]

In a randomized controlled trial involving patients who underwent cesarean sections, silicone sheets were found to improve scar appearance compared to paper tape at 6 and 12 months post-surgery, as measured by the visual analog scale (VAS).

Despite the silicone sheets showing better VAS scores for scar appearance, the differences were statistically significant but not clinically meaningful, indicating that both methods are relatively similar in effectiveness for scar prevention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of Silicone Sheets and Paper Tape for the Management of Postoperative Scars: A Randomized Comparative Study. Lin, YS., Ting, PS., Hsu, KC.[2021]

In a study involving 60 patients with burn scars, a cohesive elastic silicone bandage was found to significantly improve vertical elasticity compared to traditional silicone gel sheets, suggesting it may be more effective for scar treatment.

Both treatments showed similar results in subjective assessments and color measurements, but the cohesive bandage's unique design provided better pressure and contact with the skin, enhancing its therapeutic effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can a Cohesive Silicone Bandage Outperform an Adhesive Silicone Gel Sheet in the Treatment of Scars? A Randomized Comparative Trial. Moortgat, P., Meirte, J., Maertens, K., et al.[2021]

In a 2-week evaluation involving 217 clinicians across multiple countries, 92% preferred the new silicone tape over current gentle tapes for patients with fragile skin, indicating a strong acceptance of its use.

The silicone tape outperformed existing tapes in 10 performance attributes, with 90.2% of clinicians willing to switch to it, highlighting its potential to better meet the needs of patients with delicate skin.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a new silicone adhesive tape among clinicians caring for patients with fragile or at-risk skin. Manriquez, S., Loperfido, B., Smith, G.[2019]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04506255

Silicone Taping for the Improvement of Abdominal Donor ... This study will look at silicone tape compared to the current no dressing standard at the investigators institution, to determine if silicone tape provides ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7949016/

Efficacy of topical silicone gel in scar management In conclusion, topical silicone gel was effective in the prevention of scars, although the efficacy may not be significant until around 6 months after surgery.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12076371/

48. Silicone Taping for The Improvement of Abdominal ... RESULTS: The primary outcome (Total Observer Score) by blinded surgeon-observers was clinically and statistically improved with silicone tape at ...

4. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/227644/silicone-taping-for-the-improvement-of-abdominal-donor-site-scars/

Silicone Taping for the Improvement of Abdominal Donor ... This study will look at silicone tape compared to the current no dressing standard at the investigators institution, to determine if silicone ...

5. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-cicatrix-10-2020-3b283

Silicone Taping for Abdominal Scars In a study involving 60 patients with burn scars, a cohesive elastic silicone bandage was found to significantly improve vertical elasticity compared to ...

6. jwmr.org jwmr.org/m/journal/view.php?number=479

Clinical Application of Self-Adherent Scar Care Silicone ... All scars in the study either remained stable or improved. Better results from group 1 suggest combining Mepiform products offers advantages.