Figure 1 In the rabbit model, early radiotherapy significantly reduced the severity of the hypertrophic scar. (A) The non-resection group, without surgery and radiotherapy, shows the visible convex surface of the hypertrophic scar at 30 days after surgery. (B) The resection and radiotherapy group shows the visible convex surface of the hypertrophic scar. (C–F) In the early postoperative radiotherapy groups, the hypertrophic scar surface was flat, and the skin color was normal. (G, H) In the late postoperative radiotherapy groups, a convex hypertrophic scar remained. (I) Quantification of the diameter of the hypertrophic scar. (J) Quantification of the healing time of the hypertrophic scar. (K) Quantification of the hypertrophic scar index (HI). Group 1, the non-resection group. Group 2, the resection and non-radiotherapy group. Group 3, the immediate postoperative radiotherapy group. Group 4, the 12-hour postoperative radiotherapy group. Group 5, the 24-hour postoperative radiotherapy group. Group 6, the 48-hour postoperative radiotherapy group. Group 7, the 72-hour postoperative radiotherapy group. Group 8, the 120-hour postoperative radiotherapy group. Scale bar = 50 μm.