27 Jun 2024 | by Dr. Sean Doherty
Any surgical procedure is going to leave a scar. It is the body’s natural way of healing a cut. This can be a stumbling block for many patients when it comes to considering surgery, particularly breast surgery. The breasts are a vital component of a woman’s identity so how they look is often directly linked to self-confidence. When your breasts are lifted, perky and the right size for your anatomy, it can make you feel more comfortable in your skin. As an expert in breast surgery, I am keenly aware of the many benefits that a breast augmentation, breast lift or breast reduction can deliver for my Boston area patients. However, so many women are reluctant to come in to discuss rejuvenating breasts that bother them because they fear the scar. One of the first questions that a potential breast surgery patient asks is: Do the scars go away? The truth is that while they will never fade completely, scars on the breast heal exceptionally well assuming that you take a few precautions.
Surgical Technique Matters with Breast Scars in Boston
We spend a lot of time on this blog emphasizing the importance of seeing a board certified plastic surgeon. One of the reasons is that surgical technique is critical when it comes to ensuring that your scars will be as minimal as possible. It all comes down to reducing tension on the incision line. Less pulling on the skin is going to result in a smoother, flatter and less noticeable scar. This is why you want to see a surgeon with a lot of breast surgery experience. Furthermore, when you go in for your in-person consultation, you want someone who is going to be really honest with you about what procedure you’ll need to achieve your desired outcome as well as what kind of scar you can expect. Personally, I spend considerable time during a consultation asking about your family and medical history, including any prior surgeries or injuries, as I want to establish a baseline for how your individual body heals. Every patient is different, and genetics can play a big role in scarring.
Scar Therapies Can Help Reduce Breast Scars If you know that you are someone who scars easily and/or is prone to hypertrophic scars or keloids, there are a number of scar therapies that we can employ. These include:
- Massage
- Silicone topical treatments
- Micro-needling
- Laser skin therapy
Generally, I recommend that you start using either Silagen or Biocorneum staring at 2 weeks post breast lift, breast reduction or breast augmentation. You will also be instructed on how to massage your scar. Massaging a scar daily helps allow it to organize itself better during the healing process. After a few weeks on one of these topical treatments, we’ll reassess how things look and decide if you need further intervention. Most of my breast patients who were really worried about their potential breast scars are happy to report that they barely notice them. It can take up to year for a scar to fully resolve and show its final result, however, so keep in mind that this is a journey, not a sprint.
To find out more about a breast lift, breast reduction, breast augmentation, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Brookline office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.
