Hypertrophic Breast Reduction Scarring

Hypertrophic, or thick scars after breast reduction can have many causes such as age, ethnicity, presence of infection, tension during healing, delayed healing, or prolonged irritation or inflammation. An open area or wound separation can easily lead to a thickened or hypertrophic scar. Once this process has been set in motion it can take a very long time for the scar to soften and improve, sometimes 12 to 24 months. If your surgeon feels the scar can be revised and improved, given a better... more

Hi there- While the exact causes of unfavorable scars are not yet perfectly understood, it is clear that anything that increases the length or vigor of the inflammatory response that normally occurs with healing will increase the risk of such a scar. If you experienced delayed wound healing, the inflammatory response was prolonged by this delay, and this was likely part of the reason you formed scars with which you are less than pleased. I would talk to your surgeon about options for... more

Thank you for the question. If the “hypertrophic scar” is occurring in the location of the previous wounds separation that is likely related. These scars can often be improved with scar revision surgery. Best wishes.

Absolutely, a wound separation is a common cause of a hypertrophic scar. Once it is healed and the overall swelling is resolved, a scar revision is likely to result in improved appearance. see video

Absolutely, this is the cause of hypertrophic scarring.  If the wound was left to heal by secondary intention, hypertrophic scars will form.  I would provide you with a specific protocol for scar revision and improvement.

Most breast reduction scars become very acceptable over time (months).  If there has been a wound healing problem, this might not be the eventuality.  A scar revision will be required which is not a big operation but does restart the whole healing process for the area that is corrected.

  Scarring after a breast reduction surgery is typically very acceptable. The breast skin in the lower portion of the breast is very forgiving to scarring. However, if you had wound separation, the scars may be thicker than normal. In this case, it is possible that you may be candidate for a scar revision surgery that will excise this wide scar and replace it with a thinner one. 

Based on your description, you won't have a fine-line scar on your breasts. You may end up with a widended scar that is fairly flat, or a thickened scar- much of this depends on your own scar biology. Scars can always be revised in the future- usually 12 months or longer after surgery.

If that is the way they formed a scar revision might be in order. This is not a common issue with well closed breast reduction scars. Best Regards.

Hi. Wound separation and delayed healing can certainly cause thick scars after breast reduction. We have seen this occasionally in our New York City practice, and the scars can usually be improved a lot with scar revision under local anesthesia.

Hypertrophic scars after breast reduction can definitely be related to delayed wound healing. Other potential causes are genetic in derivation.  With delayed healing, sometimes performing a scar revision can help.