Why do doctors use glue on the outside of a breast lift incision?

I don't use glue for breast lift incisions.  I place all dissolvable sutures under the skin, and then I place some tape, called "steri-strips," over all of the incisions.  These "steri-strips" then fall off about 2 weeks later. I haven't found tissue adhesive (or "glue") to be helpful on the breast, but I do routinely use tissue adhesives for tummy tucks.

Great question. Unfortunately, you are going to get a few difference answers on this. Plastic surgeons have certain preferences some based on research, others on personal experience. Surgical tape or steri strips on top of the incisions is a common dressing. I prefer this method as it reduces tension on the incision and allows drainage if necessary. I use surgical glue in areas where it is hard to keep tape on like a inside thigh lift. The best thing to do is trust your surgeon and follow whatever protocol they prefer. 

I'm not a fan of surgical glue on most breast incisions. Besides being too expensive for routine use, it can be difficult for patients to remove completely and can occasionally get within the incision and prevent the edges from healing properly. The simplest and most effective early dressing on the breast is paper tape or steri-strips, which is what most plastic surgeons traditionally use. There is not much evidence to support any advantage of the glue, particularly at the price it costs.

Thank you for your question. There are a number of methods used to hold skin edges together and to augment sutures in the wound. Some people use tapes and some people use sheer sheets of plastic (tegaderm).  Superglues are used to seal the wound and prevent intrusion of water and skin bacteria into the wound. Glues are expensive and can add significant cost to the procedure so are not used by everyone. If you have concerns consult with your surgeon and his/her plans for closure. 

Hello and thank you for your question.  "Glue" refers to a cyanoacrylate substance, quite similar to 'crazy glue'.  Some surgeons use this for the final layer of breast lift closure, others use a suture directly under the skin and steristrips.  Both methods work well in the hands of an experienced board certified plastic surgeon.  There is no particular advantage to either technique.  Select a plastic surgeon with experience in breast lifts and trust him or her to perform an excellent closure on your new, lifted breasts.
Cheers,
Brad Remington, MD

Hello and thank you for your excellent question. We use the glue in order to seal the incision and prevent any bacteria from getting into the wound. It also lets you shower earlier. If you are allergic, or do not want to use the glue, the option exists to not use the glue at all. Of course, you will need an in-person consultation to evaluate you for this procedure. Preoperative visualization and surgical simulation with the Crisalix system may help with your decision. Any treatment plan should be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from both you and your surgeon.    Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation in person with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon. Good luck!

Best,

Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS 

Harvard educated plastic surgeon