Breast Lift Scars: Are They Healing Correctly?

You are only 8 weeks from surgery, and neither your scars nor your implants have reached their final appearance! That will take about 6-12 months, with gradual and ongoing changes along the way. Final breast shape is related to both, and as your tissues heal and stretch, and your scars mature and soften, your final results will be revealed. In most cases it's worth the wait!

Though your photos do not show significant discrepancy (particularly for this point in your recovery), an elastic bandeau worn above the "high" breast implant side and below the "low" implant side (at night only) will help to even out position differences. During the day, going braless as much as work and social activities allow will aid in implants dropping into their final position.

Implant movement exercises can help your implant pocket stay open (and the breast soft), and can in some cases help to stretch it slightly, allowing more similar movement when your chest muscles contract. Move your implant on the "tighter" side more vigorously to help stretch the capsule. Can't hurt; might help!

Vitamin E scar massage, silicone scar pads, and ultraviolet avoidance will all aid your scars in fading as much as possible. Remember, however, no matter how skilled we are in suturing your incisions, all scars are permanent. Best wishes!

Your scars look typical for their stage of healing.

Patients need to be tolerant of minor differences as the healing proceeds. Remember that you didn't undergo one operation on 3.9.11, you had two separate procedures (the right breast and then the left).

Keep your followup appointments with your plastic surgeon, and all the best.

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

HI. Your scars are healing fine. They will continue to get better and eventually will be barely visible. as afar as the implants, They can take several months before they drop completely. It has only been two months so you have about 6 more months for them to settle. You can help with massages on the breasts that has not settled. There are specific massages that are done to help the implants settle. Please ask your surgeon about breasts massages to speed up the settling process.Beast of luck,Dr. Miguel Mota 

Thanks so much for your question! From your photos, I think that you are looking great. You are certainly within normal limits to be so early in the healing process. I recommend my patients to use a silicone gel twice a day to see the best results. Follow up with your plastic surgeon to ensure everything is healing correctly. Best of luck!

Your scars look great and seem to be healing perfectly. If you are right handed it may explain why one breast is still sitting higher then the other due to your muscle dominancy. Follow your surgeons instructions as to what type of support bra you should be wearing and any massages they would like you doing. It takes several months for the final result. Warm regards, 

Being that you are only 8 weeks post op, your healing seems to be going well.  Healing tissue when you read a basic physiology text, takes up to 2 years to complete the process.  While we may inform patients you will be healed in less time, you may notice that scars look better and better as time goes on.  At eight weeks, it is a very dynamic process and you may notice one breast looks better than the other and vise versa.  It's way too early to make any judgement call on your over all scar appearance.  I would be patient for the time being and continue to follow up with your plastic surgeon at your scheduled appointments.  

No matter what type of breast lift you undergo there will be scars that will take time to heal.  Breast lifts can be around the nipple ("doughnut" or peri-areolar mastopexy), vertical ("lollipop" type scar), or a full lift ("anchor" type scar).  The scar healing process takes 12-18 months for the scar to fully mature and take on its final appearance. During this maturation process the scars will start off as a thin line, become red and slightly raised, and finally fade and flatten. There might be some irregular, firm, or un-evenness to the scars throughout this process but they should eventually smooth and flatten. The scars in these pictures are just starting to mature and have the typical uneven appearance and are slightly pink. This is a normal appearance at 8 weeks out.  There is some asymmetry to the areola (one is slightly larger than the other) this may not correct itself over time and may require a small revision that can typically be done in the office. There is also some "coning" appearance of the areola that can occur with the peri-areolar lift. This might remain long term.  When implants are placed under the muscle, it is normal for them to move with muscle contraction.  The "settling" of the implants occurs over a 3-6 month period as the skin and muscle relax and accommodate the recent increase in volume.  I would not be concerned with the scars and implant position at this time and allow things to settle.  Regular follow up with your plastic surgeon during the healing process is very important for re-assurance and guidance. 

It looks as though you are healing well. The areola incisions should continue to settle out, as this typically takes time. Be sure to keep a good follow-up with your surgeon so he/she can track your progress.

Thank you for sending your question. Your very early in your recovery from surgery.  It can take anywhere from 3-6 months
for your breasts to soften and implants to drop. Be patient and give it a few
months. Your scars appear normal for this early after surgery.  Discuss with your surgeon your concerns. Best wishes

Scars go through a healing process, during which they are their most noticeable at approximately three months.  At that time they are often pink, firm, raised and can be itchy or uncomfortable.  After they evolve past that phase, they generally improve over a very long period of time.  They typically appear smoother, softer, and more pale by a year to 18 months, but can continue to improve past that time.  I would anticipate that you will continue to see improvement in many aspects of your scars during that time.  Certain interventions such as silicone bandages may help expedite this process.   It may be helpful to ask this question of your surgeon so that the specifics in your case can be addressed.