Suturing Technique for Less Scars?

I'm getting a breast reduction. Is there a suturing technique that surgeons use that will leave me with the least amount of scarring?

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by Sarah415 in Sacramento, CA

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Short scar or minimal scar techniques

Our before-after gallery has several examples of patients who had short scar surgery, had an unsatisfactory result, and had a surgery to convert those results to a longer-scar technique... with improved results! So my colleagues are right on in noting that it is the surgeon, not the technique, that will give you the greatest chance of obtaining a great result. It is often a mistake to try to get too much correction from minimal incisions techniques. A fine plastic surgeon who ha more

Plastic surgeons are trained in the best suturing techniques to give you the best scar

A breast reduction is usually performed with a anchor shaped scar. This is an incision around the nipple areolar complex, then down the center of the breast and usually at or just above the inframamary fold. The breast tissue will be shaped and positioned with deep sutures. The skin will be brought together with several rows of sutures. There is a buried subcuticular layer of sutures which will pull the deep layer of skin together firmly and evert the skin edges. This is the most important... more

Breast Reduction And Suture Technique?

Thank you for the question. Generally, layered closure of all tissue planes will allow for as little tension as possible on the superficial layers of skin. This relatively “tension free” closure of the final layer may help scars remain as fine as possible. You should keep in mind, that despite a surgeon's best efforts, some scars do not heal as well as he/she hopes.In these cases, scar revision surgery may be necessary. Generally, breast reduction surgery... more

Breast Reduction and Scarring

Unfortunately whenever you cut the skin you will get a scar and breast reduction surgery is associated with reasonably lengthy scars as a result of removing the excess skin, fat and breast tissue. Although the length of overall scar is an important issue, the quality of the scar is equally so and fortunately most scars will heal quite nicely. You will need to be patient however as the scars will change dramatically as they evolve over the year after surgery. Most plastic surgeons will use a... more

Ways to obtain the best possible scars following breast reduction surgery

Surgical technique including placing virtually all of the sutures deep to the skin will help you obtain the best possible result given your particular genetic issues and skin characteristics. Longer lasting dissolvable sutures can protect the incisions for a greater period of time thereby providing you with the best opportunity to obtain narrower scars. Using surgical tapes for a few weeks after surgery followed then by scar reduction agents such as Mederma, silicone gel or silicone... more

Silicone gel sheets for scar improvement after breast reduction

As some of the comments point out, the specific suture technique generally does not matter as much as the tension, patient genetics, age, etc. However, things can be done AFTER the surgery to minimize the scars. One option that has been demonstrated to work in well designed scientific studies is silicone gel which comes in sheets that can be applied to scars starting 1-2 weeks after surgery. For best results, it should be used at least 12 hours per a day for at least 2 to 3 months. The... more

Least Amount of Scarring

Although a patients genetic predisposition plays a very large role in scarring, there are a few surgical techniques that can minimize scarring: 1.tension free closure of the incision-this means ensuring the skin envelope is not too tightly closed over the remaining breast tissue 2. careful handling of tissues: crush injury to the tissue edges can lead to loss of blood supply (ischemia) and result in poor healing 3. appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis:... more

Appearance of scars with breast reduction

Scars are not a direct result of the suturing technique although it is one important factor. Other issues relate to a person's genetic tendencies for healing, the wound tension, suture material, medical history, age, etc.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

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Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Suturing Technique to reduce Scars

Although all plastic surgeons strive to reduce scars, there are many small things that can be done to improve the resultant scar. Doing the procedure so that there is no tension on the wound is most important. Particularly in breast reduction, use of a deepitheliazed margin improves the strength of the scar. Use of a subcuticular suture that is non-absorbable or absorbs over many months significantly improves the scar strength to prevent spreading. Ask for B&A pictures and look at the usual... more

Suturing technqiues and scarring

All plastic surgeons do their best to leave their patients with theleast amount of scarring. This can be minimized by using less incisions and non-reactive suture material with little to no tension.