Expert: Tamsen Staniford, L.Ac. - 3/1/2009

Question
Hi i think i have some scar tissue in my cheek from surgery on my cheekbone. My cheek looks slightly puffed out i was wondering could acupunture help reduce the scar tissue?

Answer
I have seen acupuncture help reduce scar tissue.  As with anything, the faster acupuncture is performed after the formation of the scar, the better it will work.
To reduce a scar, acupuncture needles are placed around and through it.  If the scar tissue is on the inside of your check however, it would make direct acupuncture treatment both difficult and painful.  (Acupuncture is generally not painful, but the inside of the mouth is a very sensitive area!).  If the scar is visible or palpable on the outside of your cheek, acupuncture can easily be performed.  It should take repeated treatments to reduce the scar, the number of which depends on the severity.
My suggestion is to first get confirmation that there is scar tissue where you suspect, you want to rule out other causes of puffiness such as infection.  If it is a scar, massaging it directly can also help immensely.  Focus the massage on literally breaking down the scar tissue.  I have actually done this on my own face with great success.
If you are developing a keloid scar however, this may not work.  Keloid scars form differently than regular scars and can be made worse with further trauma if they are not addressed immediately after the initial trauma.  To learn more about keloid scars, visit this article at MedlinePlus: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000849.htm
High quality Vitamin E oil used in conjunction with any scar treatment will also greatly help, especially if directly massaged into the scar.
Be patient and good luck!