Healing is a natural process during which the body renews cells to restore the injured tissues. The process is joined with a self defense mechanism to attack bacteria and mechanical insult as well as to promote the production of substances to restore tissue re hydration and healing. The process needs supplements to optimize the function of the immune system and biological reactions of the body.

What is injury?

It is the interference of the integrity of tissues whether through mechanical, chemical or physical factors. The mechanical factors could be trauma or surgery. The chemical factors include drugs and hazardous solutions and agents. The physical energy may be light like laser or thermal insults. Injury results in disturbance of biologic reactions of the body leading to weakness of cells or their death.

The physiological process of healing

At the start the body produces agents like serotonin and bradykinins; the so called transmitters which transfer feeling to the central nervous system to be analyzed and treated accordingly. The body sends a mass of white blood cells to defend the possibly attacking bacteria and other micro-organisms. After receiving the signals of injury, they are interpreted and the trial of fighting against it begins. The body starts to consume more fluids, vitamins minerals and trace elements. The biochemical process begins to maximize renewing cells of the injured area. This is a slow process.

At first the area is full of fluid with high salt content. The swelling starts to subside and some cells called the fibroblasts start to adhere to the surface of the wet tissues to protect them. These cells retract later to form the fibrous tissue responsible for retraction and wound closure. The area starts to develop new blood vessels and nerves which creep to give nutrition and feeling to the newly developing cells. These cells are in thin layers.

They are glistening and sensitive as they give little protection to the nerve endings of the area. The seal of the wound becomes complete and the newly developed fibrous tissue retracts. The formation of the scar is then complete. The scar needs about 6 months to develop well and to become less sensitive. It changes its color from the pale pink to darker in time. The overlying cells differ according to the area of injury. They are skin cells when superficial and lining cells (mucous membrane) if in one of the organs.

The clinical process of healing

The primary healing of tissues requires 6 weeks and it is completed in 6 months. In the case of genital surgeries, it is advisable to abstain from sexual intercourse during the first 6 weeks post surgery. Immediately after the operation, your wounds may be somewhat, if not extremely, painful and slightly burning. A mild swelling and bruising of the area is present. Ten to 20 percent of the patients have more or less intense pain in the first two to three weeks after the operation and a slower wound healing process follows. In this case your advising physician will support you if necessary.

Some patients may experience a reduction of sensitivity of the organ operated on, particularly the penis. This reduction in sensitivity is temporary and  it disappears after 2-3 months, once the swelling and healing process inside the organ has settled down.

The scar is at first hypersensitive and it bleeds until it is completely covered with overlying cells. This hypersensitivity becomes less over a period of weeks until normal sensation is resumed. The color of the scar is usually pale but it becomes darker on deposition of melanin until it resumes the normal color of the skin and sometimes becomes darker.
The appearance of some scars is glistening, granular and pink. These scars bleed easily upon touch. This is called granulation. It is a natural process of healing and is considered healthy. It is an indication of the absence of bacteria.