So what does it look like?!!!

Depends...

by crustyg - 2020-07-20 18:11:32

Unless you're a keloid former, you should end up with a nice little (narrow) scar over the top of the pocket about 40mm long.

They try really hard to use the same incision when it's time to replace the PM itself, so no, you shouldn't end up with two or three scars.

HTH.

Mine has healed well

by Gemita - 2020-07-20 18:43:19

Izzy, mine has really healed well and I can hardly see my scar, or indeed the pacemaker, even though it was a bit prominent in the beginning.  I haven't got much fat on me so I would expect to see it more but fortunately I do not !

My surgeons seem to have done a good job.  My scar is about 2" long but it is "hairline" thin and fading to nothing fast after just two years.  It was always hairline thin.  I haven't experienced a pacemaker change, but at 71, scars don't really worry me !!

Does that mean that you might go ahead ?

scars etc

by Tracey_E - 2020-07-21 09:30:16

I'm on my 5th. They usually go in the same place each time. After about a year, the scar is thin and flat and blends right in. Just keep it moisturized and out of the sun the first year.

Talk to them about placement, mine is placed so that it is covered by a tank so unless I wore something strapless, you'd never see it. It's also buried deep enough that it completely disappears, no lump. 

Scars

by Finn - 2020-07-21 12:44:17

My cardiologist used the same scar, in fact now it looks better, new units are smaller!

Superglue!

by Protimenow - 2020-07-21 14:46:36

I'm only on my first (and maybe only?) PM. I had it put in on May 30 this year. 

Unlike the way that they may have closed the incision in the past (stitches?), they're now using a medical grade Superglue to close it. It's a smooth line.

As others have said, they try to use the same incision when changing pacemakers. The scar doesn't look like much at all.

As far as my own scarring - I had open heart surgery nearly 30 years ago -- if anyone had ANY interest in looking at this old chest, it's the long vertical scar from the open heart surgery that they'll see first. 

Pacemaker scar

by Caguy - 2020-08-14 18:02:05

The scar this time is very ugly, I told them wednesday at Dr visit I think the Dr just squeezed the scar with the glue on and the put a purple tape on top. The nurse was with me at visit and said it will heal. Sure in about a year. Very unhappy with this hold replacemant job. Works great but looks like Ug.