Will there be a scar from appendicitis surgery?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on March 06, 2025
00:00
00:00

Appendectomy can leave scars, especially more noticeable in people prone to scarring. Currently, there is a minimally invasive treatment that involves the removal of the appendix under laparoscopy. This method only requires three small incisions on the abdomen, resulting in smaller scars and a faster postoperative recovery. The traditional method, which involves making an incision at McBurney's point, leaves a slightly larger scar and has a slower recovery process. After recovery, the application of aloe vera can help reduce scarring. It is important to take good care of the incision, eat plenty of vegetables to prevent constipation, and protect the incision. At least two weeks of rest is necessary after the surgery, during which vigorous exercise should be avoided.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
1min 17sec home-news-image

Appendicitis belongs to which department?

Appendicitis falls under the domain of general surgery, and its pathological changes can be categorized into several types. The first type is acute simple appendicitis, characterized by mucosal congestion and edema, with patients typically presenting mild symptoms. The second type is acute suppurative appendicitis, also known as cellulitis, where symptoms worsen, and patients may develop fever and experience tenderness and rebound pain in the lower right abdomen. The third type includes acute gangrenous and perforative appendicitis, where the condition further worsens. The appendix wall is necrotic or partially necrotic, and perforation usually occurs at the proximal end of the appendix, potentially leading to the formation of a periappendiceal abscess. If the perforation extends into the abdominal cavity, it can lead to diffuse peritonitis, often requiring emergency surgical exploration. The fourth type involves a periappendiceal abscess, typically progressing slowly. The omentum can move to the lower right side and envelop the appendix, forming adhesions and leading to the formation of an abscess. Most cases are treated conservatively, and traditional Chinese medicine is used adjunctively to promote the absorption of the abscess.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
44sec home-news-image

Does appendicitis cause fever?

Appendicitis often causes fever, due to systemic infection caused by inflammation entering the bloodstream. Generally, it only causes a low fever without chills. The temperature in suppurative appendicitis does not exceed 38 degrees Celsius. High fever above 38 degrees Celsius is mostly seen in cases of appendiceal perforation or concurrent peritonitis. In addition to fever, acute appendicitis also presents with abdominal pain, tenderness and rebound pain in the abdomen, tension in the abdominal muscles, as well as nausea, vomiting, and increased frequency of bowel movements due to reflexive gastric spasms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
1min 4sec home-news-image

Appendicitis location

The location of appendicitis is generally in the lower right abdomen, as the appendix is mostly located in the right iliac fossa. There are very few cases of situs inversus, where it is located on the left, but the appendix usually originates from the base of the cecum, attached to the posterior wall of the cecum, at the confluence of the three taeniae coli. Therefore, the surface projection of the appendix is mostly at the junction of the outer one-third of the line connecting the navel and the right anterior superior iliac spine, which is also commonly used as the marking point for surgical incisions. In cases of appendicitis, there may be pain in the upper right abdomen or pelvic region due to changes in the position of the appendix. For confirmed diagnoses of appendicitis, surgery is generally considered, and minimally invasive methods can be chosen. If an abscess forms around the appendix and the patient's condition can be managed, conservative treatment is usually preferred initially, followed by elective removal of the appendix after three months.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
38sec home-news-image

Does chronic appendicitis cause fever?

Chronic appendicitis is a common gastrointestinal disease. Whether chronic appendicitis causes fever depends on the control of the inflammation. Most cases of chronic appendicitis do not involve fever, but some cases may exhibit a low fever when the inflammation is not well controlled. A very small percentage of chronic appendicitis cases can undergo acute episodes and develop suppurative infections, leading to perforation of the appendix and diffuse peritonitis, septicemia, and septic shock; in such acute episodes of chronic appendicitis, a high fever can occur.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
47sec home-news-image

How to relieve pain from acute appendicitis

For rapid pain relief in acute appendicitis, one can choose antispasmodic or sedative medications. However, it is important to note that acute appendicitis often requires surgical treatment clinically. If the pain is not particularly severe, conservative medication treatment can also be chosen, using sensitive antibiotics for anti-inflammatory pain relief. If surgery involves appendectomy, laparoscopic appendectomy is generally chosen, which has less intraoperative bleeding and quicker postoperative recovery. Only after the appendix is removed can the onset of acute appendicitis be effectively controlled or the transition from acute to chronic appendicitis prevented. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)