10/06/2026
THE TRUTH ABOUT SCARS
Most people are told that once a scar closes, it is healed.
But scars can continue affecting the body for years, physically and emotionally. What happens physically is that scars can create fascial adhesions (think stuck knots in surrounding tissue) that alter fluid dynamics, circulation, nerve signaling, movement, tension patterns, and even nervous system regulation.
This can contribute to:
• Chronic pain, tightness, pulling and compensation patterns
• Swelling and fluid retention
• Numbness and hypersensitivity
Physical scars can sometimes carry emotional scars alongside them, and cause one to experience:
• Shame, self-consciousness, or discomfort around body appearance
• Grief, shock, or loss of identity or alternatively challenges integrating a positive new identity
• Emotional distress linked to hospitalization, pain, or recovery
The nervous system often remembers more than the mind consciously tracks. Scar healing can also involve restoring a sense of safety and connection within the body.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HEAL AT HOME:
At-home techniques like “Gua Sha” (scraping petichiae- named for the red dots that can arise with stroking) can improve scar mobility, local fluid flow, and a therapeutic connection to the scar area for psychological integration.
Using a smooth-edged tool over a lubricant such as shea butter, you can make a daily practice of firmly stroking the scar area for a few minutes at a time to help soften adhesions and support tissue remodeling.
While this can be helpful, and is often part of the at-home care I suggest to patients, deeper and more distant effects of scar adhesions often require more comprehensive treatment.
One of my specializations is scar healing using advanced acupuncture and tissue-based techniques aimed at restoring whole-body function and communication. If you have a surgical or injury-related scar and wonder whether it may still be affecting your health, you are invited to book a discovery call. I look forward to discussing your care needs!
https://julianakramer.janeapp.com/ #/prospective-patient-discovery-call
