Visible scarring after lung cancer surgery in Italy depends on the surgical approach. Minimally invasive techniques leave 1-4 small marks, while open surgery results in a single, longer curved incision. Most scars fade from red or purple to pale, flat lines within 12-24 months.
- VATS incisions: These consist of 3-5 small ports, each measuring only 1-2 centimeters.
- Thoracotomy scars: Open surgery creates a 6-10 inch curved line under the armpit.
- Minimally invasive appearance: Small port scars eventually resemble large freckles or faint skin indentations.
- Open surgery maturation: Large incisions remain red for 6 months before flattening into pale lines.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Italian research hospitals like San Raffaele specialize in mini-invasive thoracic surgery, which significantly reduces visible scarring. Large-volume centers performing 52,000+ annual operations often use VATS lobectomy. This technique places smaller incisions in natural skin folds or under the arm where they remain hidden by clothing.
Patient Consensus: Patients report that side and back scars are largely invisible in daily life. Using silicone sheets and sunblock religiously for 1 year helps scars fade much faster into nearly imperceptible marks.