Breast Reduction Scars: Are Mammoplasty Scars Permanent?
Body Plastic SurgeryBreast reduction is a major operation through which the surgeon reduces the volume of an overly large breast and improves its shape. Whether this surgery is for aesthetic or medical purposes, it involves some scarring. In this article, we briefly introduce the breast reduction procedure and provide useful tips on minimizing the scars of this operation.
What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?
People with large breasts often suffer from physical and emotional problems such as infection and rash under the breasts, shoulder, neck, and back pain, and attracting unwanted attention that lowers self-esteem.
As the leading causes of macromastia (which means large breasts) are genetic and hormonal problems, the patients cannot reduce their breast size significantly; therefore, they should undergo breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty. Breast reduction is a body plastic surgery that removes excess tissues, skin, and fat from the breasts to make them more proportioned and lifted.
Types and procedure
Generally, breast reduction surgery involves two types of incisions; vertical cut (Lollipop) and inverted T (anchor-shaped). The surgeon removes excess tissues, fats, and saggy breast skin during this operation to make them more attractive.
Recovery
Reduction mammaplasty is a major operation and has quite a lengthy recovery period. Depending on the extent of the surgery and how well the body responds to the operation, it can take 2 to 8 weeks to recover fully. However, most patients can return to work 2 to 3 weeks after the surgery.
Complications
The most common complications of breast reduction are swelling, bruising, scarring, and change in the sensation of the breasts. In some rare cases, this surgery may lead to skin discoloration, infection, necrosis, nipple loss, and permanent loss of areola tissue.
Types of Breast Reduction Scars
As mentioned earlier, two types of incisions can be made in breast reduction surgery; lollipop and inverted T.
Short-scar technique
In this method, commonly known as lollipop or keyhole incision, the surgeon makes a horizontal incision around the areola and a vertical one down to the breast crease. This method is mostly suitable for those with moderate sagginess, who want more minor changes (reducing one cup size), or are highly concerned about the scarring after breast reduction.
Large-scar technique
The inverted T or anchor-shaped technique involves three cuts. The first cut is made around the areola; the second one is made from the nipple to the breast crease, and the third one is made horizontally along the crease. This technique is mainly offered to patients who require major fat and tissue removal (two or three cup sizes) or have too saggy tits.
What Does the Breast Reduction Scar Look Like?
The scars of almost all plastic surgeries are the same. After the breast reduction surgery, you will have a red or pink thin scar around the areola and under your breast, which will get paler within a year. If you have a dark skin tone, you are more at risk of developing atrophic scars and hyperpigmentation. Hypopigmentation may also occur in people with lighter skin, making the scars lighter than the skin color.
The size of the breast reduction scar mainly depends on the technique used during the operation. Although most scars can be concealed behind a regular bra or bikini top, the scars of the inverted-T method are larger and more prominent than that of the lollipop method.
General Tips to Reduce Scarring After Breast Reduction
Read on to learn what you should do after breast reduction to minimize the breast reduction scars:
- Follow your surgeon's instructions about how to take care of your wounds;
- Use your surgical bra and bandages for as long as your doctor has suggested;
- Avoid weight gain as it can make your scar tissue wider;
- Do not scrub your scars as they get worse;
- Avoid stress and anxiety because they can hinder your wound-healing procedure;
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol as they affect the collagen production in your body;
- Avoid sunbathing, UV rays, and tanning beds;
- Take your antibiotics on time to prevent wound infection;
- Avoid using makeup products to conceal your wounds;
- Refrain from using OTC ointments and creams as they may interfere with your healing procedure.
How to Minimize Breast Reduction Scars?
Right after reduction mammaplasty, the surgeon provides useful instructions on caring for your wounds on the days following the surgery. By following these instructions, your scars will heal better and be less apparent; however, you probably still need the following treatments to minimize your breast reduction scars:
Apply moisturizers and topical creams
Applying moisturizers and creams containing vitamins A and E can improve the healing process and make the scars paler. Remember that the moisturizers you use shouldn't have alcohol, paraben, and fragrance, as they may cause infection.
Use silicone gel and sheets.
Using silicone gels, sheets, and ointments can prevent the formation of keloid scars, reduce swelling, and minimize the skin irritations such as redness and itching.
Wear a surgical bra and embrace dressings.
After the surgery, the surgeon warps your breasts with a surgical bra to tighten your chest's skin and keep the breasts in their new position. Wearing the right bras during recovery speeds up healing and reduces noticeable scarring.
Get laser treatment
If the scars are large and bumpy, you probably have to get laser treatment to reduce the appearance of scar tissue. Although this treatment is costly and may not be covered by insurance, it can significantly minimize the scars.
Cryosurgery
In cases where hypertrophic scars and keloids are formed on the skin, dermatologists offer cryosurgery. In this novel therapeutic technique, the doctor freezes and destroys the scar tissue by injecting liquid nitrogen into its core.
It is noteworthy that cryosurgery is more effective during the early stages of keloid formation, so ensure you get this treatment right after your wounds have healed.
Get surgical treatment
Surgical treatment is the most invasive method of minimizing breast reduction scars. In scar revision surgery, the surgeon cuts the scar tissue completely or uses skin grafts to restore the damaged skin.
Inject corticosteroid
Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medicines that can reduce the size of keloid and hypertrophic scars to a great extent. They also help minimize the surgical site's itching, redness, and burning sensations.
Use polyurethane foam
Polyurethane is a sterile, soft, absorbent foam covering the scars and preventing excess skin from forming on and around the wound. It also provides necessary moisture for the wound, hindering keloid scars' proliferation.
Avoid sun exposure
Direct sunlight can turn new scars into mature ones; therefore, it is necessary to avoid sun exposure for at least six months following the surgery. If you have an outdoor job, cover your wounds with clothing or bandages before leaving.
Massage your scars
Massaging your new scar tissue can increase the skin's collagen and elasticity and reduce the itching and burning sensation in the operated area. You should rub your scar tissue horizontally, vertically, and circularly with your fingers three times a day for at least four weeks.
Use surgical tape
Surgical tapes (or steri-strips) during the first two weeks following the surgery keeps the incisions closed and promotes healing.
Use chemical peelers
If your scars are not atrophic, the dermatologist may offer you chemical peeling techniques to remove the outer layer of the scar's skin. This helps shrink the scar and makes it less apparent.
Where Do the Scars Form After Breast Reduction?
The location and extent of breast reduction scars depend on the technique employed during the operation. In the lollipop method, the largest part of the scar is located under the areola, with only a small horizontal scar around the areola.
In the inverted T method, however, there would be a larger scar along the breast crease and a minor one on the areola. The scars of reduction mammaplasty can be concealed entirely under an ordinary bra or swimsuit.
Do Breast Reduction Scars Go Away?
Generally speaking, breast reduction scars do not go away independently and require additional treatments such as laser therapy or corticosteroid shots. However, the scars get paler and thinner as time passes, and, in some cases, they are hardly visible a year after the surgery. Make a mental note that the treatment and development of breast reduction scars highly depend on your skin type, genetics, and how well you care for your wounds.
Are Breast Reduction Scars Avoidable?
Scarring is an inevitable complication of breast reduction surgery. Still, if you have a history of developing atrophic scars or are too concerned about the effects of scarring on your final results, you can undergo liposuction breast reduction.
During this surgery, only two small cuts are made on less-visible parts of your body, and a cannula suctioning device sucks out fats. Although liposuction is less invasive and has a shorter recovery period, it only removes fatty tissues from the breasts, not the glandular ones. So, if you do not expect significant changes after reduction mammaplasty, liposuction can be a proper technique for contouring your breasts.
FAQs About Scarring After Breast Reduction
1) What factors worsen breast reduction scars?
Smoking tobacco, tanning, scrubbing, using OTC medications and ointment without your doctor's permission, and scratching the wounds can adversely affect the scars.
2) Will breast reduction scars be itchy or painful?
Your wounds will be itchy or painful during the first weeks after the surgery, but once the scars are formed, they won't be itchy anymore. However, some keloids and atrophic scars may be painful when touching them.
3) Can I get a tattoo over my breast reduction scar?
Yes, but you have to wait until your wounds are completely healed.
4) How long does it take for breast reduction scars to go away?
Since each body has its unique pace of healing, we cannot say when exactly the scars will go away. It generally takes 6 to 12 months for non-atrophic scars to go away. This time will be shorter if you use extra treatments such as laser therapy or chemical peeling.
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