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Are my Areola Incision Scars Healing Well? (photo)

asked 4 months ago by Curlysue in West New York, NJ
Latest answer by Ankit Desai, MD
Question viewed 855 times
Tags: areola, African American, periareolar, scar tissue

I am an African American 8 months post op (breast aug) and I am very worried about how my scars are healing. They often appear bright pink or red. Also I can feel the scars over my shirt this worries me that they aren’t healing flat enough. I have not used anything to aid in the healing of the scars and wonder if I should use some of the suggested silicone strips, scar cream or vitamin E.

20 answers to Are my Areola Incision Scars Healing Well? (photo)

Areolar Scarring after Breasr Augmentation

You should consider several options which include scar revision with early silicone gel sheeting application as well as cosmetic tattooing of the scars to camouflage them. Tattoos won't make the scar flatter, but should conceal the pink color. Consult with your plastic surgeon to determine which options are best for you.

Ankit Desai, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Are my Areola Incision Scars Healing Well?Answer:

I think after 8 months your scars will not improve much no matter the treatment. On occasion, peri-areolar scars do need to be touched-up and that is usually done as an in office procedure under local anesthesia. I my practice I perform this for my patients free of charge, included as part of their original procedure if needed...

John J. Corey, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Quality of periareolar scars

Reviewing your photographs shows somewhat widened scars, but more importantly the scars are hypopigmented which makes them stand out even more. I would try some scar management with massage, Mederma, and gel sheeting. I would try to hold out to see if some of these pigmentation issues improve. Most likely, however, you will require a scar revision.

Michael Sundine, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Unsatisfactory appearance of areolas after breast augmentation

Unfortunately, your scars have not healed well or to a satisfactory degree - and that is why you are seeking answers. It is unlikely at this point in time that there will be a significant improvement in their appearance. My suggestion would be to return to your plastic surgeon (or another) and discuss the possibilities. These can include scar revision with early scar treatment afterwards. Meticulous closure would be necessary otherwise you may see a repeat of this outcome. Consideration... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Areola scar problem

Thank you for providing photos for review. I think a trial of Cordran tape is worthwhile. Once the scar is soft you may want to consider having a medical aesthetician tattoo the pink areas of the scar to better match the pigment of your areola.

Ann F. Reilley, MD
Baton Rouge Plastic Surgeon

Cortisone is good for thick scars but it may lighten the color of the scar as well

If you have a thick scar 8 months after a breast augmentation it still may go down and soften. If it does not cortisone is an option but it may blanche the scar and make it more visible, also it may thin it out too much as well. This would make the scar indented instead of raised. Silicone gel sheeting is the only proven treatment other than cortisone injection which has been shown to improve scar thickness. If the color of the scar does not improve surgical... more

Dev Wali, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Treatment of breast scars

The photos are helpful, and demonstrate that the primary factor causing visibility of the scars is pigment abnormality. Steroid injections, tattoo, surgical revision, and topical treatments such as NewGel, Cimeosil, Hybrisil, PMT, or other silicone scar reduction products may be helpful in combination.

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Peri-Areolar Scars may be quite visible

Placing breast implants through a peri-areolar incision (around the areola) is my least favorite approach for breast augmentation. This is because the scar can be very visible. If it doesn't heal perfectly, it can look wide, thick, light, or dark...and is tough to hide. I prefer placing the scar in the breast fold because even if it heals poorly, it is more easily hidden in the crease and is not right in the middle of your breast. If the scar is thickened, steroid injections... more

Matthew Schulman, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Hypertrophic scars

Your scar is definitely a little thicker than one would like, but unfortunately you are not guaranteed that the problem will not occur again with scar revision. You may want to ask you PS to prescribe Corduran tape to wear on the scars for a few months, we have had excellent results with this approach.

Jeffrey Hartog, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Hypopigmentation is a difficult problem

Thanks for your question. You have hypopigmentation of your scar (too little pigment/coloration). You may gain pigment still for the next several months which will fill in the light spots. I do not know of any topical products which will improve that process. Silicone sheeting is excellent for keeping your scar flatter. If after 18 months you still have light areas you may have to consider a scar revision if it still troubles you.

Vishnu Rumalla, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

tarrantplasticsurgery.com

Areolar scar after breast augmentation

Unfortunately, your scars have healed somewhat poorly. At this point, silicone gel sheeting is unlikely to make much difference in the appearance of the scars. You will likely need a scar revision. After any scar revision, you will need some further modalities such as silicone gel sheeting to try and prevent recurrence. Good luck!

Naveen Setty, MD
Plano Plastic Surgeon

Are my areolas healing well afetr 8 months?

From the photos it appears that you probably will be neeing a scar revision. You should consult with your plastic surgeon for his advice. Good luck!

George Lefkovits, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Healing of scars

Healing takes time . you may need more than 8 mos.. consider silicone strips. kelocote,, vitamin e .. all good suggestion. if not improving in the next few months.. scar revision with different suture materia and immediate topical treatment may help but never a guarentee

Jed H. Horowitz, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Scar revision

You probably will need scar revision and then possibly scar coverage with silicone sheets or other topicals to help it along. Good luck.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Hypertrophic scars

At 8 months, it's safe to say that the scars will not look any better. This will continue to change if left alone, but probably minimally so, and potentially, for the worse. I echo my colleagues' recommendations for scar revision, with the realization that you very well could form those same hypertrophic scars or even worse. Unfortunately, scars are inherently unpredictable so as much as we try to perform the best revisions, sometimes certain patients can still form poor scars. Speak... more

Daniel Kaufman, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Scars

At this point you may want to consider a scar revision to address your result which at 8 mos is pretty finalized-speak to your PS about this procedure

Edward J. Bednar, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

Are my breast scars healing well?

Unfortunately, they are not. And, at 8 months, this is your final result. The scar is a bit long, and you have suture marks, which indicates that sutures were left in for over 5 days. Also your scars have hypertrophied, and it is possible they will keloid. My suggestion is to have a scar revision, which is removing the scar with a scalpel, and re-suturing it with both deep and skin sutures. The latter should be removed at 5 days. With your history of a hypertrophies scar,... more

E. Ronald Finger, MD
Savannah Plastic Surgeon

Areolar scars

I agree that your scars are not optimal but they are healed at this point and not likely to improve greatly with time. You should re-visit your doctor and discuss possibilities like steroid injections, scar revision, and even tattoo to return the color.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Compromised Healing of Breast Augmentation Scars

You are right to be concerned. Your breast augmentation scars have not healed well: tthey manifest rail road tracking ( outer stitches left for more than 7 days after surgery), wide scar and loss of skin pigment. At 8 months you are looking at the final result. At ths point the only real possibility of achieving an attractive scar is to surgically revise the scar and start over again taking care to do everything perfectly.

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Scar Healing after Breast Augmentation?

Thank you for the question and pictures. Since your scars are raised you may benefit from steroid injection into the scars. this treatment may help flatten them. If not, scar revision surgery may be helpful. At this stage, I'm doubtful that silicone sheeting or gel will make a significant difference. I would suggest follow-up with your plastic surgeon to discuss options in person. Best wishes.