1.5 Week Post-Op BA: Is it normal for incision area to feel hard?

Thank you for your question.  It is normal for the incision to feel firm in the first few weeks after any surgery.  The skin adjacent to the repair is swollen and thickened.  The sutures bind the tissues together tightly and increase the density.  Even the suture knots can add to the firmness.  This all tends to settle over a few weeks and months as the swelling settles and the sutures dissolve.  It has nothing to do with capsular contracture in answer to your concerns regarding that.  Your incisions are very nicely placed in the IMF and should heal just fine.  I would check in with your PS when they are back in town.

Incisions are typically quite firm early on after surgery and it will take several months for them to soften. Follow up with your surgeon when they return so that they can review scar maturation with you and what to expect in the weeks and months ahead.

Thank you for your question and photograph.  It is quite common for your incisions to be raised, red and firm following breast augmentation.  As healing progresses, this area will soften and flatten.  Best of luck.

It is normal for the scar or incision to feel firm after surgery.  This is a normal process of scar maturation and healing and will take some time to soften.  In general, it will take about 1 years time before the scar has completed its healing process but usually by 4 months time if not sooner the scar should have softened.As far as the breast asymmetry, it is not uncommon for one breast to be different slightly (bigger or smaller) that the other.  This is usually from swelling and in certain cases it is the patients own breast asymmetry.Hope that helps.

Hello and thank you for the question. It's not unusual to have some firmness in the scar early post op and it should soften up over the course of next several weeks to months. I'd suggest that you run this by your surgeon. Best,Pejman Aflaki, M.D.Johns Hopkins-trained plastic surgeon

Dear michellep.o,it is hard to tell for sure without an examination but it is normal for incision site to be firm so early after the surgery. If you are concerned, I would suggest you to consult your plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thanks so much for your questions!  After surgery, it is normal for the incision and scar tissue to feel hard, which will get softer over time.  Sometimes the swelling after surgery can be more in one breast than the other, but would ask your surgeon to look at it during your next visit.
Hope this helps...best of luck!
Joyce C. Chen, MD, MPH, FACS

It is not unusual for the incisions and the tissue around the scar to feel hard and it is also not unusual to be able to feel the edge of a stitch. Best to run this by your PS.

Hi and thank you so much for your question! It is normal for scars to feel firm post-operatively as this area is healing. It takes a scar a full year to mature and become the softest it will become. I would suggest discussing your concerns with your board certified plastic surgeon and congratulations on your breast augmentation!

Hi and thanks for the question and photo. What you are describing sounds normal and the appearance of your breasts is normal in my opinion. If you have any concerns however contact your surgeon or the doctor covering for him or her. Best of Luck - Dr. Hardy...