11 Days Post Breast Reduction and I Have What Looks Like Dog Ears?

Question

I went to get my dressings changed today and revealed where what seems to be two dog ears both on the inside of my incisions (cleavage). Even my nurse commented saying that's what they seemed to be. Is it too early to tell? Can they settle on there own or if they are dog ears will they definitely need another procedure. Im so disappointed. If they where at the other ends, under my arm pits I wouldn't care. I went from a 34J to a 34D Thanks in advance.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

With very careful planning and execution, “dog ear" occurrence can be minimized. Occasionally (despite best efforts), after breast reduction surgery surgery, patients will have excess skin or adipose tissue at the very end of their incision lines. These may be referred to as “dog ears”. "Dog ears"  refer to a bunching up of tissue at the end of a incision line/scar. Generally they occur  because a surgeon,  in his/her attempt to keep the scar as short as possible,  has a discrepancy between the lengths  of the upper and lower breast reduction incision lines. They can be avoided by extending the incisions and removing additional skin and subcutaneous tissue. Most patients will much prefer a longer incision line than  the bunching up of tissue and contour elevation, which is visible and palpable with and without clothing.  Often, excision of the dog ear, if it's still a concern roughly one year postoperatively can be corrected easily under local anesthesia. I hope this helps.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

It is too early to tell.  As swelling resolves and tissues relax, the appearance will change.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

If you truly have redundancies of skin near the edge of the incision colloquially referred to as "dogears", only surgical correction is possible.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

It is quite possible that you have  dog ears. If so, they would need to be excised probably after several months when the wounds have healed and the tissue swelling has subsided.

Stephen Salerno, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

Hello

	I am sorry to hear that you are dissapointed, however dog ears are common especially when you have such a large reduction.  You a little early in the post operative period and some of it will settle down.  How much is unpredictable.  If you require a revision of a dog ear, it can be done under local anaesethetic in a rooms setting.  I would recommend waiting about 3 months before undergoing any revision surgery if it is required.  You can also try taping the dog ears so they shrink down a little and you can also attempt massaging the area.  Wait about 3 weeks and ensure that all the scars are completely healed before taping and massaging.

	Hope this helps

	Stephen Salerno

11 Days Post Breast Reduction and I Have What Looks Like Dog Ears?

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11 Days Post Breast Reduction and I Have What Looks Like Dog Ears?

Answers (5)

Answer: Dog ears after breast reduction

Answer: Dog ears after breast reduction

Answer: Dog ears post breast reduction surgery

Answer: Dog ears post breast reduction surgery

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Everything you need to know about Breast Reduction

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