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Risk of Scarring from a Breast Lift with a History of Keloids?

asked 3 years ago by ahh in ny, ny
Latest answer by Ivan Thomas, MD
Question viewed 4,928 times
Tags: keloid scar

I am interested in having a breast lift. Currently I'm a 34DD, and happy with the fullness and amount of breast tissue that I have. I don't feel that I'd need an implant but I'm unhappy with the my chest's "droopy" look when I remove my bra. If I undergo this procedure, what are the risks of serious scarring or keloid development? I've had a history of keloids on my ear that were successfully removed with steroids and surgery as well a hyperthropic scar on my knee. Would this affect my chances? If so, what can be done to minimize it? Also, what would be the average costs of these procedures in major cities such as NYC or LA?

21 answers to Risk of Scarring from a Breast Lift with a History of Keloids?

Keloids are unpredictable: Consult an experienced Plastic Surgeon

The develepment of keloids are very unpredictable. I'll give you an example. Suppose a patient sustains two identical injuries, one on the left arm and one on right arm. A keloid may develop on one arm, both arms, or neither arm. Its totally unpredictable. If you have a history of keloid scars, there is a higher chance that you will develop them on your breasts after surgery. Typically, an experienced surgeon would advise you against performing elective surgery as the risk of poor scars... more

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Preventing Keloids and Breast Lift

If you have had a previous history of keloid formation, you are at risk for forming keloids with any cut, whether from surgery or trauma. There are a number of treatments that can be very helpful in preventing the development of keloids. Atypical preventive treatment uses steroid injections into the scar, or the application of steroid cream or tape to the scar surface. Breast lift will certainly involve scars, one of the tradeoffs of the procedure. Carefully discuss those... more

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

www.pzwiebel.com

It is hard to avoid keloids

Your surgery will be a higher risk for keloid scars since you had some of these before. It is a hard decision for you, your surgeon can not prevent the development of the keloid. It will help to avoid a large implant or any tension on the wound. Best of luck!

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Keloid scarring with breast surgery

While keloids remain a bit of a mystery, some things are clear. There are some areas of the body that are more prone to keloids and hypertrophic scars than others. One of these areas includes the central chest. People with a strong history (personal or family) are at a higher risk of keloiding. Meticulous technique, silicone sheeting and steroids can reduce the risks of keloiding. In my San Francisco area practice, people who have a strong history of keloiding are cautioned that even with... more

Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

There is always a risk of bad scarring with any surgery,...

There is always a risk of bad scarring with any surgery, even on the breast. Having a history of keloids or hypertrophic scarring will increase your risk compared to other women having the same procedure who have not had a history of keloids. There are, however, some things that can be done to minimize your risk, and these should be discussed with your surgeon in advance: Using silicone sheet therapy after the procedure (this looks essentially like a large band-aid for all of the incisions,... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Increased Risk

If you have a history of forming keloids then your chances of forming keloids following a breast lift or reduction are high. Use of silicone gel patches for several months as a precaution Injections of low dose cortisone as soon as problems are detected These measures may minimize your scars but will not prevent them.

Ivan Thomas, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Ear and knee keloids don't necessarily mean breast lift keloids

As others have correctly stated, a history of keloids COULD be predictive of bad scarring following breast lift. You are wise to be cautious, and my colleagues' recommendations are similar to what I would tell you. BUT, there is a possibility that an ear keloid and knee keloid are not accurate predictors of breast keloids. Other than individual genetic predisposition to form excessive collagen deposition in healing tissues (in the form of hypertrophic scars, or even more aggressive... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Breast lift and keloid scars

If you have a history of keloids you will be at a higher risk of developing keloids or hypertrophic (thick) scars with a breast lift (mastopexy). Breast skin however, because it is thinner than skin in other areas of the body, is not as likely to develop keloids. The type of breast lift you need will also be a factor. If you need an anchor-type incision which has a horizontal incision in the breast crease, this area is more likely to keloid. The vertical incision... more

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Keloids and Breast Lift

If you have a history of Keloids, then your chance of having additional keloids after surgery is greater. However, you need to make sure that you really have keloids. Often patient have poorly healed incisions or hypertrophic scars which they think are keloids, but really they are not. You can talk with your surgeon about options to help minimize the chance of keloids or the limited treatments available if they form. Good luck with your procedure. more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Scarring after a breast lift

Your chances of developing a keloid after breast lift is likely higher if your ear scar was truly a keloid scar. Hypertrophic scars (thick and raised scars) can sometimes be mistaken for keloid scars and they do not have the same genetic basis. If you are prone to worse scarring, discuss this fact thoroughly with your plastic surgeon. Look at pictures of patients after breast lifts and understand where the scars will be located. You have to be comfortable with the... more

Naveen Setty, MD
Plano Plastic Surgeon

Keloids after breast lift

Given your prior history of keloid scar formation, you may be at greater risk for the same type of scar after breast lift surgery. There are interventions, though, to reduce your risk. Early postop treatment with silicone gel, silicone sheeting, possibly kenalog and/or 5-FU could all be helpful. Of course, the only way to prevent the keloid for sure is to avoid the surgery.

Carmen Kavali, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Keloid scarring from breast lift

A history of keloids in the earlobe does not necessarily predict keloid formation after breast surgery, but it does increase your risk of unsightly scars, especially since you already had a hypertrophic scar as well on your knee. There are various treatment options to try to prevent keloid or hypertrophic scars but none are guaranteed to be effective.

Olivia Hutchinson, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift surgery and keloids

It is possible to perform breast lift surgery on a patient with a history of keloids. Your best bet is to do your research and find a board-certified plastic surgeon with a great deal of experience in not only breast lift surgery but in working with patients who are predisposed to developing keloids such as African-Americans or other people of Mediterranean descent. When discussing your surgery with your plastic surgeon, show him any other scars you may have on your body so... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Carefully proceed with any surgery with history of keloids

First on the list is to figure whether or not you have true keloids. In this case a breast lift should be carefully considered as the incisions could develop keloid scarring. Many people who think they have keloids actually have hypertrophic scars instead. These are more treatable. Best Regards.

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

A history of keloid on the ear does not necessarily predict a bad scar after breast lift.

Unattractive scars are that way because they are too thick, too dark, too wide, or depressed. A keloid of the ear is not particulary worrying vis a vis breast reduction but it shouldn't be totally discounted. It's important to see examples of bad scars before proceeding with the surgery. You need to make sure you can live with those results if you a one of the unfortunate few. My prices (Atlanta) are posted on my website.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Keloid or hypertrophic scarring possible with a breast lift

Probably the largest downside to a Breast Lift operation is the resultant scars. There are various types of Lifting procedures, some producing more extensive scarring then others but none that result in zero scarring. Women considering a Breast Lift better be able to tell themselves that regardless of the scarring they will be happy with the effects of the lift. This is because there is no predicting the nature of a patients' scarring prior to the surgery. Some patients scars will fade... more

David A. Ross, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift and keloid

If you have the gene for keloid then you ru a significant risk of forming keloid after any surgery. If that bothers you then DO NOT DO THE SURGERY.

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Keloids and breast surgery

If you have a history of keloid formation on your ears, I would be extremely cautious about having breast surgery. The last thing you want is unfavorable scarring around your breasts from a lift.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Keloid trouble

When there is a history of keloid type scar, there is always a possibility that they can form from any scar. A keloid is a type of swollen scar that grows much larger than other scars, appearing similar to a fibrous tumor. Keloids are not especially dangerous, but they may cause discomfort and itching and may limit movement if they become too large, especially if they are located around the joints of the body. In some cases, they may be severely disfiguring as well. A combination of several... more

William J. Hedden, MD
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Higher risk for keloids

Certainly, if you have a history of keloids on other areas of your body, you are at higher risk than the general population to develop them on your breasts following a breast lift. However, higher risk does not mean that you will develop them for sure. You should discuss this with the surgeon that you choose, so that you can determine if injection of a dilute steroid into your incisions at the initial operation may be beneficial. At the hospital that work with, we also have a low dose... more

Kevin Brenner, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift (Mastopexy) and the risk of keloids

SEE VIDEO BELOW: Unfortunately there are no surgical techniques to absolutely prevent the formation of keloids. However, keloids of the areolae are EXTREMELY rare. Therefore the use of lifting techniques in which the incisions are limited to the AREOLAE, such as the periareolar or circumareolar ("crescent" or "donut") lifts are far less likely to cause keloid scarring. However the amount of lifting which can be achieved with these techniques are fairly limited. more