Does scarring ever fade completely after a breast lift? (photo)

For most significant fading but not completely. Best Scar Management is important to minimize or completely hide from view, the telltale signs of your surgery—namely, scars. Both you and your surgeon want you to have the most minimal scarring possible. There are many possible causes for scars that are enlarged or not healing well. Unsightly scars are most commonly due to genetics, underlying medical conditions, or improper scar/wound care. The last part is very important and patients can make a noticeable difference in their scars’ appearance by following best scar management practices. Here are some simple tips in the below link:

Scarring after a breast lift is inevitable, as incisions are necessary for the procedure. While scarring will never completely disappear, it can fade significantly over time. The extent to which scars fade depends on several factors, such as skin type, genetics, and the surgical technique used. For example, patients with lighter skin types (Fitzpatrick 1 or 2) tend to experience more subtle scars, while those with darker skin may have darker scars. After surgery, the scars typically go through phases of healing, starting as pink or red and becoming less noticeable over the course of 12 to 18 months. However, they rarely vanish entirely, and some patients may desire additional treatments like silicone gel, laser therapy, or microneedling to further reduce scar appearance. The goal is to make the scars as inconspicuous as possible, but it is essential to manage expectations since complete scar elimination is not achievable.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Scars can on occasion fade until they are barely perceptible in lift patients but they are never absent to the trained eye. Breast lift scars tend to fade nicely in patients with Fitzpatrick type 1 or 2 skin (think northern European) and will eventually be a fairly fine, white scar. Patients with darker skin types tend to have more red or brown, darker with darker baseline skin pigmentation. Scar appearance is also affected by other factors: lack of elastin and collagen in the scar, weight of the breast or implant borne by the scar, and wound healing issues after surgery. All of these issues can lead to widened or stretched scars that will persist in appearance even after the initial pink quality lightens. Microneedling (several treatments) starting a few months after surgery can help to reduce scar appearance by generating new collagen in the widened scar. Patients who have a tendency towards keloid formation (tumor-like skin healing response with a raised, itchy scar) have the hardest issue with scars and can benefit from kenalog (steroid injections) and time.

Hi and thank you for your post and photos. Based on your photos it appears that you would best benefit from a lift and lollipop incision (scar around the areola and from areola down to the inframammary crease). An implant isn’t necessary unless you desire more volume in the breasts. As for scarring there are many ways to reduce scarring after surgery such as silicone scar treatment typically beginning a month after surgery. Many patients also benefit from laser treatments which begin a few months after surgery. I recommend you meet with Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to further discuss your concerns. Best wishes! Dr. Aydin 

Unfortunately, you can’t have surgery without scars, and scars never go away 100%. They do get better with time and in some cases, they may practically fade completely in a few years. But there are plenty of ways to treat unwanted scars like with silicone gels, lasers and more....so you don’t need to worry about it too much.You would be a perfect candidate for a Breast Lift With Implants. But would need a lollipop scar at the very least. If you wish to lift and even out your breast, surgery is your only option and definitely worth the scars. But you have to be ready for scars. If you don't want scars yet, then I don’t think your ready for surgery. Best of luck,Dr. Miguel Mota

Thank you for your question. Surgical scarring typically heals more cleanly than accidental trauma. In many cases, once the scar is mature at twelve months, my patients may have a very thin, almost imperceptible line. In addition, I offer a comprehensive scar care regimen as part of the surgical process to optimize the ultimate appearance of any incisional scars.
From your image, your ptosis, or sag, appears to be relatively mild. You could possibly undergo a periareolar breast lift, where the incisional scar hides well along the border of the more darkly pigmented areolar tissue. However, if you plan to become pregnant in the future, you may compromise your result via pregnancy weight gain and breastfeeding at that time.