Scarring is the primary concern of most patients considering breast lift surgery at our practice. Most believe their beautiful, transformative results are a worthwhile tradeoff, especially after scars begin fading. Still, you should know what to expect with your scars from breast lift surgery.
What Do Breast Lift Scars Look Like?
The appearance of your breast lift surgery scars depends on the surgical technique used, which I determine after evaluating the extent of lifting required. My goal is to minimize your incisions while still producing the best possible outcome. Common incision patterns for breast lift surgery include:
Periareolar or “Donut” Lift: Women with minimal breast sagging are good candidates for this technique, which involves making an incision that encircles the areola. The scar blends with the darker skin of the areola.
Lollipop Lift: This technique adds a vertical incision from the circular incision around the areola that extends to the natural crease at the bottom of the breast—creating a lollipop pattern. It provides more support for patients with moderately sagging breasts.
Anchor Lift: If you have moderate to significant sagging, adding a horizontal incision along the breast fold to the incisions made in a lollipop lift is often appropriate. This creates an anchor-shaped scar.
Breast Lift Before and After Photos
WARNING:
This feature contains nudity. Please click OK to confirm you are at least 18 years of age and are not offended by such material.
In these before and after photos, some of the patients combined a breast lift with implants to enhance the shape and fullness of their breasts. In an earlier blog post, you can read more about combining breast augmentation with a lift.
How Long Until Breast Lift Scars Fade?
Scar healing occurs gradually. Proper incision care is essential for minimizing the appearance of your scars. Initially, breast lift scars appear as thin red, brown, or pink lines. They may be slightly raised and tender to the touch. The darkness and swelling start subsiding about 2 weeks after surgery, but the scars may remain slightly raised.
Scars can take about 3 months to become flatter and less noticeable. By the one-year postop milestone, scars have significantly faded in most cases and may blend in with your natural skin tone.
Minimizing the Appearance of Breast Lift Scars
Even though some scarring is inevitable, you can minimize their appearance. Following my post-surgery recovery instructions and scar care program are essential first steps. This includes not lifting anything heavy so you don’t strain your incisions. Some other steps you can take to help scars fade include:
- Topical treatments: Silicone sheets or gels can improve the scars’ color, texture, and thickness.
- Scar massage: Gently massaging scars after your incisions heal can reduce discomfort and inflammation while increasing collagen production.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Avoid smoking and maintain a nutritious diet to support optimal healing.
- Avoid sun exposure: Sun exposure can cause scars to darken and become more prominent. Use sunscreen or cover your scars when spending time outdoors.
If you remain unhappy with the appearance of your scars after a year or so, you can consider nonsurgical revision treatments such as laser therapy or microneedling to help reduce them.
It’s important to note that while these methods can significantly improve the appearance of scars, they won’t completely eliminate them. However, with proper care and patience, breast lift scars typically fade to thin, pale lines that are barely noticeable for most patients.
Schedule Your Consultation
It’s natural to worry about how scars will look after a breast lift. Rest assured, I take great care during the procedure to limit their appearance. With proper care and time, these scars can fade significantly, allowing you to enjoy your rejuvenated breast appearance with confidence. Request a consultation using the online form to get more information about the procedure. Or call us at (407) 218-4550.
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