Conclusions This systemic review shows that preoperative interventions can be beneficial in improving wound healing and scar formation .
In selected cases , wound healing was found to benefit from a higher preoperative body temperature , topical vitamin E application , and low patient stress levels .
Background Poor wound healing and scar formation  remain critical problems in daily surgical practice .
Generally , most attention is paid to intra- and postoperative interventions to improve wound healing after surgery , while preoperative interventions remain unsatisfactorily explored .
Objectives In this systematic review , the available literature on the beneficial effects of preoperative interventions on wound healing and scar formation have been summarized and compared .
Improving Scar Quality: A Prospective Clinical Study
Following traumatic or surgical injury to the skin , wounds do not heal by tissue regeneration but rather by scar formation . Though healing is definitely a welcomed event , the result ant scar , very often , is not aesthetically pleasing , and not infrequently , may be pathologic causing serious deformities and contractures . Management of problematic scars continues to be a frustrating endeavor with less than optimal results . Prophylactic methods of wound management to minimize serious scarring are being developed . In a previously published study , we have demonstrated improved healing of split thickness skin graft donor sites following treatment with Moist Exposed Burn Ointment ( MEBO , Julphar Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries , Ras Al-Kh aim ah , UAE ) . At present , we are reporting the results of a comparative clinical prospect i ve study evaluating scar quality following primary healing of elective surgical and traumatic facial wounds with prophylactic MEBO application , topical antibiotic ointment application , and no topical therapy at all . Scars were evaluated according to the Visual Analogue Scale for scar assessment . Statistical analysis of scar assessment scores demonstrated marked prevention of unfavorable scars with improved cosmetic results following MEBO prophylactic therapy
Conclusions This systemic review shows that preoperative interventions can be beneficial in improving wound healing and scar formation .
In selected cases , wound healing was found to benefit from a higher preoperative body temperature , topical vitamin E application , and low patient stress levels .
Background Poor wound healing and scar formation  remain critical problems in daily surgical practice .
Generally , most attention is paid to intra- and postoperative interventions to improve wound healing after surgery , while preoperative interventions remain unsatisfactorily explored .
Objectives In this systematic review , the available literature on the beneficial effects of preoperative interventions on wound healing and scar formation have been summarized and compared .