What type of scar is this? 6 mos. post benelli breast lift. (photo)

Question

I am trying to gather info for possible revision. I have pinkish scar/ raised skin that extends beyond my incision line. docs said no hytrophic so why is it beyond where I was cut? Purse string may have failed on this side. This is as good of a close up as I could get. Wouldn't excising scar involve removing this? This is above my nipple so wouldn't that have to go up too? I am scared of nipple getting too high so don't know what to do. Could you excise around scar but not above w/ vertical

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

That scar is based on the tension that is involved with circumareolar lifts.  It is largely not avoidable, it will recur with revision, and it not the fault of the surgeon.  It is the limitation of the operation.

Eric Pugash, MD · Answer

You appear to have a typical result from a circumareolar or Benelli-style mastopexy.  I have stated in other opinions that this is a poorly-designed operation that should be used rarely. It tends to produce areolar deformities, poor scars and flattened breasts.  Moreover, it does not provide much lift.  I have found the vertical, or lollipop mastopexy to be an excellent breast lift: it reliably reduces the areola, cones the breast, raises the inframammary fold and is a powerful mastopexy.  All the best.

Paul W. Papillion, MD · Answer

Hello, 6 months is still very early. At a year, the pink color of your scar should be gone and you should have a white scar. The scar you show in the pictures appears to be a widened scar...not obviously a hypertrophic scar...and exam would be needed to say for sure. The scar can widen over time with a periareolar lift...especially if the purstring suture breaks or if it was an absorbable suture. I would try tape therapy around your incisions for now. In general, I would wait at least a year before deciding on a revision. Hope this helps.

Chad Robbins, MD · Answer

From what I can see, this is typical scarring from the type of mastopexy procedure you had (circumareolar).  You can ask your surgeon about revising it, but with this type of lift you will most likely have the same result.

Matthew H. Steele, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question and photo. From what I can see from your photo, this is a typical widened scar and stretched areola that occurs with a Benelli type mastopexy.  This operation has a high rate of complciations and should be limited to patients who need a very small lift.  A standard vertical mastopexy with/without a "T" incision should correct the problem.  Please share your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon.  Good luck.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

The scar looks somewhat wider than "average" and is still a bit red.WIth a Binelli  type lift, a small circle is sutured to a large circle, and there is significant tension, and this is one factor that can cause widening, or hypertrophy.   I would not call this "hypertrophic". The redness should diminish over the course of a year. Most surgeons would probably advise waiting 6 more months before considering revision. All the best.

Marc Polecritti, DO · Answer

The picture suggests a pink slightly wide circumareolar scar. As long as the scar is pink, it is still maturing and further improvement is likely. The trade off with the benelli lift is that you don't have the vertical incision but all of the tension and forces are around the nipple. As a result, the skin that is bunched together initially will stretch and flatten over time. Each side may be different and/or the stress forces on each side may be different making an exact symmetrical scar very difficult. I would wait a year before considering any scar revision.

What type of scar is this? 6 mos. post benelli breast lift. (photo)

Answers (7)

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