If you’re considering a breast lift, it’s normal to have some concerns about possible breast lift scars. While some degree of scarring after any surgery is inevitable, following certain steps can help you to minimise the appearance of scars after your procedure.
In this blog, we’ll discuss how your breast lift scars may appear, the steps you can take to minimise scarring, why it’s important to follow your surgeon’s instructions and what to let your surgeon know during your breast lift consultation to help your surgeon minimise your scars.
A consultation with Dr Perron in Brisbane will provide you with your own personalised advice and instructions on minimising scars after a breast lift. When you’re ready, please contact our team to discuss how to arrange your consultation.
What is a breast lift?
A breast lift aims to lift the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue. It’s a highly personalised procedure that needs to be planned based on the patient’s personal needs and preferences.
The procedure can be suitable for those who may have noticed a change in the position of the breasts due to the natural ageing process, or after pregnancy, breastfeeding or significant weight loss.
How your breast lift scars may look
A breast lift is designed to lift the breasts, which can be achieved by using different incision patterns. Incision patterns will determine the appearance and placement of the incisions, which then outlines how scars may look and where they will appear.
The type of incision pattern that your surgeon will use depends on the amount of lifting you will need, which then depends on the condition of your breasts and your personal goals for the results of the procedure. The most common incision types include the anchor, vertical, and peri-areolar techniques, each varying in the length and placement of the scars.
The anchor incision involves cuts that follow the natural contours of the breast, creating a shape similar to an anchor. The technique includes a horizontal cut along the breast fold, a vertical cut from the fold to the nipple, and a circular incision around the areola. The vertical incision, often referred to as the lollipop incision, combines a circular incision around the areola with a vertical incision that extends down to the breast fold. The peri-areolar incision involves a single circular cut around the perimeter of the areola.
In the early weeks or months after surgery, the scars may appear red or raised, but this is a normal part of the healing process. Over time, they typically fade and flatten, although the degree of fading can vary based on individual skin characteristics and healing. Factors such as genetics, skin type, and post-operative care all play a role in how noticeable the scars will be.
Our tips to heal breast lift scars after surgery
Our first tip to minimise the appearance of breast lift scars is to choose a qualified plastic surgeon to perform your procedure. Qualified and experienced surgeons can use techniques to minimise scarring as much as possible and provide you with the right advice.
As for general scar-healing tips, we recommend keeping your incision site clean and dry and looking for signs of unusual redness, swelling, or discharge. Preventing infection and spotting signs of infection early help the incision sites heal fully without complications that could make scarring more significant.
Next, consider using silicone gel sheets or silicone-based creams, as these products have been shown to help flatten and soften scars over time. If you do want to use silicone gel sheets or creams, we recommend asking your surgeon for instructions on when and how long to use them.
Once the incisions have healed, gentle scar massages can help to reduce the appearance of scars. Massaging the scars can improve circulation and promote collagen remodelling, which may help to soften their appearance over time. You should use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser or a specialised scar cream during the process to help keep the skin hydrated.
Another step to take after your incisions have healed is to protect scarring from excessive sun exposure. Scars can become more noticeable when exposed to sunlight, so it’s important to protect them by wearing clothing that covers the area or applying a high-SPF sunscreen. Protecting scars from sun exposure helps to prevent pigmentation changes that can make scars darker and more visible.
While these are our top tips for healing breast lift scars, your surgeon will provide you with more, based on your personal circumstances, during your consultation.
If you find that your breast lift scars still appear to be quite noticeable after following these steps, you may then like to consider additional treatments, such as laser therapy or microneedling, to specifically treat scars. These treatments are non-invasive to minimally invasive and slowly work to heal the scar tissue over time. Typically, you’ll need to wait until at least six months after your procedure, or until your scars have completely healed, before undergoing any of these scar treatments.
Always follow your personalised instructions
After your breast lift, your surgeon should provide you with specific instructions on healing breast lift scars. Your surgeon’s instructions can be tailored to the details of your procedure, the specific surgical technique used, and any personal factors.
Since wound care instructions will consider the procedure’s details, surgery techniques and personal factors, the instructions can vary from patient to patient, which is why it’s important to follow your personalised advice.
A huge personal factor that can influence how your surgeon recommends treating your scars is if you are prone to keloid scarring, or other types of scarring that can be more significant. Before undergoing a breast lift, you’ll have a consultation to discuss health factors, including the details of any other surgeries you have had and if you are prone to developing noticeable scars.
Discussing how your body has previously responded to surgery and any health factors that can influence scarring will help your surgeon to take any possible steps to minimise scarring during the procedure planning process. It will also help your surgeon when providing your recovery instructions and making a plan to make scars less noticeable after surgery.
Dr Justin Perron: Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in Brisbane
Dr Justin Perron is a Canadian born, Australian-trained Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon based in Brisbane.
In Canada, he began his studies in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Calgary, before relocating to Australia in 2000. He then completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Flinders University in Adelaide, before moving to Queensland.
As a fully qualified surgeon, he is a member of the Royal Australiasian Society of Surgeons (RACS), Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS Aust), American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS USA) and the Queensland Hand Surgery Society.
Dr Perron supports his patients from the preparation process to recovery, providing personalised advice and instructions based on their individual needs. During a consultation, he develops a deep understanding of each patient’s goals and creates a personalised treatment plan.
To arrange your breast lift consultation, please contact our team. All patients will be required to have a GP referral to see Dr Perron for a consultation.
