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Anchor Breast Lift Scar?

How does an anchor breast lift scar feel like? Is it normally a raised scar?

Asked 31 months ago by pattyfromauburn in sacramanto

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raised scar

The anchor scar

The anchor or inverted-T mastopexy is recommended for patients with severe ptosis, poor skin quality, and/or flaccid breast tissue. This technique, which is the most popular in the United States, uses an incision around the nipple-areolar complex, a vertical incision from the bottom of the nipple to the inframammary fold, and a horizontal incision along the entire extent of the inframammary fold. The larger incisions allows for the greatest access and reshaping of the breast tissue as... more

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Jaime Perez MD

Tampa Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Never say never

Patty, The "gold standard" for breast lift surgery for many decades has been the so called "anchor scar" technique. As you see from these answers, that gold standard may be shifting to the lollilop or vertical lift techniques. This transition is by no means complete and many, if not a majority of plastic surgeons across the country still use the anchor scar. I am personally still somewhat in the transition phase and now more often use the vertical lollilop scar,... more

Kenneth R. Francis, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast lift scar.

Hi! In my opinion, an anchor scar is not necessary for a breast lift, and leaves unnecessarily prominent scars. In New York, 30% of our breast lift patients end up with just a circular scar around the nipples. The other 70% have a lollipop scar. Also the "lollipop" approach gives you better long term shape.

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Everybody heals breast lift scars differently but most all are happy

Breast lifts done expertly will restore your nipple areola to a youthful position and tighten the breast envelope to regain lost tone and shape in the breast. If you get a great shape, the scars will fade into a non-issue over time.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Anchor breast lift scar depends on how you heal.

Some breast scars heal so well that after a year you do not really see them. Unfortunately others can heal slightly darker and raised. Sometimes you have great healing and raised healing on the same person in different spots. That being said there are things we can do to help the healing process such as silicone dressings. I also feel that the Fraxel laser we have in the office really helps decrease scar thickness and color.

Kari L. Colen, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift Scarring?

Thank you for the question. Every patient heals differently; therefore, it is difficult to predict exactly what your breast lift scar will “feel like”. Best case scenario will be that the scar will be a fine line that cannot even be felt. Worst-case scenario is development of abnormal scarring ( hypertrophic or keloid scar formation). these scars may feel raised/ elevated and may be associated with itching/discomfort. Most patients (If properly... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Anchor breast lift scars.

The anchor technique for breast lift surgery is one of the first techniques that was described. However, since then many superior techniques have been created. These techniques minimize the number of incisions that are necessary and also create a more pleasing breast mound. When discussing this surgery with a plastic surgeon, ask your surgeon about the different techniques and which one would be best for your body shape and your aesthetic goals.

B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast Lifting

Dear Patty, The technique for Breast Lifting depends on your starting breast shape/size and the change in shape you are seeking. This may include an implant, incision around the Areola, a vertical incision, and a horizontal incision under the breast. The scar generally heals with a resulting thin line- but this can be variable. There are various post operative protocols advocated to reduce the visible scar. If the scar matures nicely then it will be soft- and not much different than the... more

Trevor M. Born, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS

Breast Lift scars

All scars feel different. Some are really smooth and some have a ridge. The most important thing in a reduction or a lift is that if a significant amount of fat is removed and then the breasts were significantly reshaped the possibility of fat necrosis is there. Your ABPS board certified plastic surgeon surely mentioned it prior to surgery since it can happen. In reality, the anchor scar has been replaced with a lollipop incision but not having ever seen you it is very likely that this... more

Ricardo A. Meade, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Anchor breast lift scar

Patty, The outcome of breast lifting scars depends on the patient's tendency to scar, the tension on the actual wound and the technique used by the surgeon. In the vast majority of patients the scars are NOT raised not overly wide. If your scar is raised you MAY have SCAR HYPERTROPHY (not Keloid) which may need to be treated to flatten it. Depending on their size and droopiness, breasts can be lifted with 4 incision patterns; periareolar / crescent a small lift can reposition the nipple... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

It's usually a good scar

Although I can't say "what it feels like" having never undergone breast surgery but the anchor scar tends to flatten and lighten, in Caucasians, nicely. As with most scars it may darken in darker skinned patients. Patients are unusually so happy with the procedure that the faded scar is a minor inconvenience.

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Christopher L. Hess, MD

Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Anchor scar T

Breast lift scars can vary depending upon the technique used. I usually use a vertical mammaplasty technique which leaves a"lollipop" scar on the breast. An anchor incision leaves a third incision along the inframammary fold. The final appearance of the incision can vary but usually it heals very well.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

The Anchor Scar Technique Produces the Longest Scars

The anchor technique may also produce scars that are harder to cover. I agree with Dr. Marosan, and have abandoned the "anchor" scar for a shorter scar technique (I use a LeJour technique) that gives a superior shape, less scar, and a usually a better scar in most cases.

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John LoMonaco, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast lift scarring

Anchor lift or also known as standard lift is mainly reserved for severe cases of excess of skin and ptosis (droopiness). I mainly use a vertical lift which is also known as a lollipop lift. The scar is around the areola and extends down towards the base of the breast. Anchor scars can be unpredictable and can create thickening and a raised appearance in the middle and outside of the chest area. In general breast scars fade very nicely and after the initial acceptance of a scar become a non... more

Sepehr Egrari, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Scars are unpredictable

Scars can be soft or firm, raised or flat, light or dark. While there may be statistical predictions, scars are unpredictable and you should be able to accept the scars if they are not perfect. The real question is whether and why you need the anchor-type pattern scar to begin with. The vast majority of reduction or lift patients should not need this lengthy incision with currently accepted concepts and techniques. I have not required this incision for 15 years in my practice. The vertical... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

The horizontal scar is usually the worst in an anchor scar breast lift

I stopped using the anchor scar reduction/ lift technique 10 years ago. Two main reasons: 1. loss of shape or boxy shape to the breast with bottoming out and 2. hypertrophic scarring. This usually happens in the horizontal scar under the breasts, at times carried out to the lateral chest wall and cleavage. I use a vertical reduction or lift technique mainly using a medial pedicle as opposed to an inferior pedicle which tends to "slide down".

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