Are you planning to have breast surgery but are worried about the possibility of post-operative scars? Scarring is a natural and common effect after breast surgery. While your breast surgeon will always take great care to minimise the appearance, it’s important to know how to care for any scars that may occur.
By following a few steps and techniques, you can reduce the appearance of breast surgery scars and help your skin heal safely.
Why does scar tissue develop after breast surgery?
When you undergo any form of breast surgery, the procedure involves making incisions. When the skin is closed, a scar will naturally form as a part of your body’s healing process.
What does a breast surgery scar look like?
Scars essentially form where two edges of skin are held together with stitches. However, scar tissue tends to be thicker and less elastic than the skin around it. After breast surgery, you might notice a slightly raised line along the incision your surgeon made.
Whether you’ve had a breast reduction, augmentation, or lift (mastopexy), the scar appearance will usually be the same, even if the location is different. Depending on the type of procedure you go for, scarring may occur in the crease underneath your breast, around the nipple, or beneath your armpit.
For most people, a breast surgery scar will appear red or pink early on and then gradually fade into your natural skin tone. However, a few different factors, including your age, skin type, and general health, can affect how prominent your scars may be.
For example, if you have a genetic predisposition, you might develop hypertrophic or keloid scars, which are more raised than other scar tissue, extending out beyond the incision site. Those with a darker skin tone may also notice scarring more.
How long does it take for breast surgery scars to heal?
Your breast surgery scar tissue will heal in three phases:
- The inflammatory phase: Immediately after your procedure, your breast surgery incision sites might look red and swollen and feel sensitive.
- The proliferative phase: Your body will start producing collagen to strengthen the scar tissue, which might now look firmer and more raised.
- The maturation (or remodelling) phase: Your breast surgery scar will gradually lighten in colour and flatten, becoming less noticeable.
While a breast surgery scar usually won’t ever completely disappear, it will fade considerably over time. Our bodies heal at different speeds, so there’s no single answer to how long it takes for breast scars to heal.
However, as a ballpark figure, most people find that their scars typically heal within 2-4 weeks. At the 2 week mark, dressings are removed and the patient can shower as normal. The skin is ‘waterproof’ at this stage, but avoid deep, hot baths or swimming for 4-6 weeks.
Scars achieve maximal strength at around the 3 month post-op mark, so it’s a good idea to wear supportive sports bras as much as possible (night and day) during this phase.
Breast scar treatment and care
So, what do you need to do in order to care for and treat your breast surgery scars after your procedure?
- Avoid smoking, as this can slow down your body’s healing process.
- The wounds will have waterproof dressings in place for the first 2 weeks. For this reason, showers should be short and not too hot to avoid the dressings lifting at the edges.
- Don’t exercise heavily for a month after your procedure.
- Wait until your breast incisions have fully healed before sunbathing.
- Wear a surgical bra or bandages day and night for 3 months. It’s best to avoid underwired bras, as these can rub against your scars, creating discomfort and irritation.
Tips for reducing the appearance of breast surgery scar tissue
As well as following the above advice to keep your breasts safe after surgery, there are some actions you can take to help reduce the appearance of any scarring.
Stay hydrated and eat a healthy, balanced diet
Drinking plenty of water can help keep your skin hydrated and improve its elasticity. Combined with eating healthily, this can support your scars in healing more quickly and effectively. Try to eat lots of protein and vitamins to help your body produce more collagen and healthy tissue.
Apply breast scar cream
There are several scar creams that are perfect for applying after breast surgery.
Once the surgery dressings are removed, you can use a silicon-based scar cream. This type of cream helps hydrate your skin and scar tissue, leading to flatter, softer scars that appear less noticeable. It’s important to wait at least two weeks after your breast surgery before applying silicone scar cream. After this time, you can apply the cream several times a day to help your scars heal and fade.
Silicone treatments are also available as gel sheets you place over the scar if you prefer, or silicone tape. This can be removed, washed, dried and reused.
Gently massage the scarred areas
Alongside using breast scar cream, you can gently massage the affected area to help increase blood flow and speed up the healing process. The motion can also help distribute the collagen your body produces more evenly.
However, it’s important not to massage your scars until a few weeks post-surgery, once any scabs or soreness have healed.
Monitor your breast surgery scars
After any form of breast surgery procedure, it’s essential that you keep an eye on how your scars are healing. If you notice any soreness or unusual sensations, it’s always best to arrange a follow-up with your breast surgeon to make sure everything is healing as it should be and there are no signs of infection.
Breast surgery procedures in Newcastle
No matter what kind of breast surgery you’re looking for, a highly-qualified surgeon, like Adam Critchley, will support you throughout your recovery process.
With a dedicated team on hand to offer advice on everything from procedure pricing to post-surgery scar care, we’re your go-to for top-quality breast augmentation and reduction in Newcastle.
Please feel free to get in touch to book a consultation.