Advice for achieving the best anchor breast lift scar possible?

Dear nishaellis,
my preferred lift is a lollipop lift when a periareolar won't do (ie greater than 2cm lift required). The lollipop technique was created by a Canadian plastic surgeon named Elizabeth Hall-Findley and treats the breast as a three dimensional structure instead of two dimensions (anchor - lift). Most importantly it does not require the horizontal component scars that the anchor-lift requires and breasts appear much more natural, lifted, and less boxy. Lastly, the lift lasts longer because the lollipop doesn't rely on the skin to hold the breast up, its actually breast tissue thats being brought together to support the breast and hence improves longevity.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello NISHAELLIS.
Thank you for your request regarding advice for achieving the best anchor breast lift scar possible. You’ve certainly been doing your research! However, plastic surgeons rely on medically proven data and not just anecdotal stories. Plastic surgeons are specialists in, among other things, wounds, and scars. From the Plastic surgery medical literature, the BEST thing for scars is the application of silicone cream and silicone gel sheeting. I would apply the silicone when the incisions are healed. The timing varies from patient to patient. Silicone ointment can be applied as early as two weeks after the anchor breast lift surgery. However, it is up to your plastic surgeon to give you the “green light” before applying silicone ointment and strips. Also, from the Plastic surgery scientific literature, we know that it takes a scar a full two years to mature. Therefore, ideally, you should wear your silicone cream and silicone strips for two years. Compression can also help to minimize the scars. That means wearing a tight sports bra for two years. Scar massage can help minimize the scar. Micro-needling, and FRAXEL laser can also help to minimize the scar. If a keloid develops, you may need an injection of steroid. However, keloids are rare after an anchor breast lift. Items like Vaseline and ice packs have not been medically proven to improve anchor breast lift scars statistically. I hope this helps to answer your question regarding advice for achieving the best anchor breast lift scars possible. Good luck.
Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS
Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeon

Plastic surgery scars require attention after surgery so that they remain cosmetically-appealing and barely noticeable. In our office, we use a protocol for scars that minimizes their activity in the 6-8 weeks after surgery. If you have late plastic surgery scars, you may also require laser and RF therapy to help reduce the longterm effects of the scarring. Keloids, hypertrophic scars, widened scars, red scars, and hyperpigmented scars all require scar modulation with topical creams followed by lasers and RF therapy. Topical skincare should be directed to a specific need, whether for pigmentation or hypertrophy and our office can guide you through the process to obtain the correct Plato’s Scar cream or Melarase cream for hypertrophy and discoloration. In terms of lasers, we would employ the vbeam laser for redness, Venus Viva RF, PRP microneedling, chemical peels, and Morpheus 8, fractional erbium, or fractional co2. All of these have their individual benefits. Most of all, we recommend you visit a solid plastic surgeon who understands surgical scar revision, laser therapy, and RF therapy for scars.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

One of the downsides of a breast lift is scarring. I recommend a combination of scar gel, BioCorneum, silicone sheeting, and laser scar therapy. This should give you the best results possible.

A number of factors can affect the appearance of scars following surgery. These include skin type and genetics, surgical technique and type of sutures, post-surgical regimens, and various products. Of the products available, some help more and others less. Also, some products work better than others, depending on the person and quality of healing. I personally like to see and follow the healing then make recommendations based on the appearance. Your surgeon can do this as well as instruct you on the timing to begin use.

Hello and thank you for your question. After ANY surgery, the surgical incision goes through multiple stages of wound healing before arriving at the final "mature" scar. Assuming no infection or wound breakdown, during normal healing the incision approaches its final tensile strength 6-8 weeks after surgery, creating an "immature" scar. The immature scar is generally still raised and somewhat pigmented (pink or red), and can be associated with some discomfort or pulling, especially with movement or touch. It takes up to 1-2 YEARS for this immature scar to convert into a "mature" scar, during which time the scar remodels- the collagen becomes more organized, the scar flattens, and becomes less pigmented. It is typically safe to start massaging the scars at this point in the remodeling phase (after 6-8 weeks post-op), which can help break up and fibrosis/adhesions forming between the skin and underlying tissues. Also, it is VERY important to avoid UV light to the immature scar during the remodeling phase, as UV can cause permanent and irreversible hyperpigmentation (making it more noticeable)- so sunblock and sun avoidance are key until 1-2 years after surgery. If the final scar appearance is cosmetically concerning, this can always be revised electively- just note this will reset the healing process.
Regarding your research, aside from sun/UV avoidance and scar massage that I already mentioned, vaseline can help during the first week or two if your incisions are left open (i.e. no dressings on top), and silicone can be helpful starting around the same time as scar massage (6-8 weeks, if wounds heal uneventfully). I would avoid ice packs, especially early postop, as this can cause local tissue ischemia around the already relatively compromised skin wound edges (which have been heavily manipulated during surgery)- so this can result in potentially avoidable wound healing issues. I hope this helps!
Best,
Dr. Donald Groves
Plastic Surgeon

In my experience, moisture is the biggest factor for best healing. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

The best advice is to avoid the anchor lift altogether. The technique I recommend is The Bellesoma Method. This will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

I would also add hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) to that list. I encourage all of my breast lift and breast reduction patients to attend HBO2 to maximize the healing. The first session is within 24 hours of the completion of the procedure and then there are once daily sessions for up to two weeks or so. I have seen the most amazing thin, flat, narrow scars in patients who follow this approach. It's not a sure thing but it definitely helps with the healing.

Hello, thank you for your question. Thats wonderful, sounds like you are top of things. Scars have multiple factors on how well they heal. Its a combination of genetics, location of scars, tension on the scar, if the incision had infection or multiple cuts to the same area and sun exposure. So with that said definitely wear a supportive bra throughout recovery and after that. Silicone strips at 3 weeks post op. Scar massage at 3 months post op along with the topical tretinoin. It takes about 1 year for the scars to mature, meaning that the pigment will lighten by the one year mark. Some patients require tattooing to camouflage the pigment so that it is less noticeable. See how your scars heal and wait one year before any lasers or tattooing. There are some new studies coming out about botox to the scars on the skin level every 6 weeks while healing but the data is not sufficient enough to begin to implement this. Check out our youtubevideo on breast scars below.