I just had breast reduction surgery. The scars seem to be settling, and I want to know what to put on them to minimize their appearance.
Answer: Breast Reduction Scar Management A: Reducing Breast Reduction ScarsI have switched to a "lollipop" type of incison/scar for breast reductions which reduces scars by about 50 % vs a traditional anchor pattern scar. Scar Management tips:Minimize tension on the scar. Embrace scar dressing is the best as it lessens tension directly on the wound. Steri-Strips and/or surgical tape are often placed in non-hair bearing areas to minimize tension and keep pressure over the scar. This minimizes the stress that can pull the scar apart (dehiscence) creating a wound and delaying healing time, and can make the scar wider, or more “ropy”.Keep your incision site/scar clean to prevent infection. Follow your surgeon’s wound care instructions to the letter with out modification. Never apply different products then recommended without first discussing them with your surgeon. This is especially important during the first few weeks. If there are any signs of infection, contact your surgeon’s office right away and/or see your doctor or his nurse immediately. Typical signs of infection may include redness outside the immediate incision site, asymmetric swelling, and drainage, of pus, fever, chills, and “feeling sick”.Protect your scars from the sun. Staying out of the sun is the best advice. Minimal exposure to sunlight is preventshyperpigmentation (permanently turning brown) and other problems that can make the scar more noticeable. Sunscreen, at least 30 SPF and an overlying make camouflage make up additionally protects the scar from the suns harmful rays. This advice is especially important the first year following your surgery.Use specific scar maturation products recommended by your surgeon. Patients seem to have their own opinions on this touting everything from Pure Vit E, Coco butter, to Aloe Vera, etc but most have minimal benefit other than keeping the scar hydrated. Although hydration is important there are better, scientifically studied products with greater efficacy. Most of the scientific articles written about this subject indicate that topical silicone gel or silicone sheets work the best. There are a lot of products to choose from, but silicone should be one of the key ingredients. Although Mederma, an onion extract derivative active ingredient rather than mainly silicone based may help, primarily silicone based products are better and many also contain other ingredients that may be synergistic (hydrocortisone or other steroid, Vitamin E, Sunscreen,etc). At the present time I prefer BioCorneum or Kelo-Cote products especially on areas that silicone strips aren’t applicable, for example, on the face. If the reader has problems obtaining these they can call my office. Patient compliance is also critical – use often and according to directions or it will not work optimally. NEVER apply products without first discussing them with your surgeon.Monitor to make sure your scar is progressing optimally. Keep your scheduled follow-up appointments with your surgeon to verify that your scars are maturing as expected. Occasionally if indicated you may need a topical steroid preparation or even a series of injections (5-FU and/or Steroids) or laser treatments to treat or prevent scar hypertrophy or keloid formation (red raised scars), or other topical medicines to treat post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (brown scars) with prescription creams and possible laser treatments.For best scar managment in general see my below link on best practices for scar managment.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Breast Reduction Scar Management A: Reducing Breast Reduction ScarsI have switched to a "lollipop" type of incison/scar for breast reductions which reduces scars by about 50 % vs a traditional anchor pattern scar. Scar Management tips:Minimize tension on the scar. Embrace scar dressing is the best as it lessens tension directly on the wound. Steri-Strips and/or surgical tape are often placed in non-hair bearing areas to minimize tension and keep pressure over the scar. This minimizes the stress that can pull the scar apart (dehiscence) creating a wound and delaying healing time, and can make the scar wider, or more “ropy”.Keep your incision site/scar clean to prevent infection. Follow your surgeon’s wound care instructions to the letter with out modification. Never apply different products then recommended without first discussing them with your surgeon. This is especially important during the first few weeks. If there are any signs of infection, contact your surgeon’s office right away and/or see your doctor or his nurse immediately. Typical signs of infection may include redness outside the immediate incision site, asymmetric swelling, and drainage, of pus, fever, chills, and “feeling sick”.Protect your scars from the sun. Staying out of the sun is the best advice. Minimal exposure to sunlight is preventshyperpigmentation (permanently turning brown) and other problems that can make the scar more noticeable. Sunscreen, at least 30 SPF and an overlying make camouflage make up additionally protects the scar from the suns harmful rays. This advice is especially important the first year following your surgery.Use specific scar maturation products recommended by your surgeon. Patients seem to have their own opinions on this touting everything from Pure Vit E, Coco butter, to Aloe Vera, etc but most have minimal benefit other than keeping the scar hydrated. Although hydration is important there are better, scientifically studied products with greater efficacy. Most of the scientific articles written about this subject indicate that topical silicone gel or silicone sheets work the best. There are a lot of products to choose from, but silicone should be one of the key ingredients. Although Mederma, an onion extract derivative active ingredient rather than mainly silicone based may help, primarily silicone based products are better and many also contain other ingredients that may be synergistic (hydrocortisone or other steroid, Vitamin E, Sunscreen,etc). At the present time I prefer BioCorneum or Kelo-Cote products especially on areas that silicone strips aren’t applicable, for example, on the face. If the reader has problems obtaining these they can call my office. Patient compliance is also critical – use often and according to directions or it will not work optimally. NEVER apply products without first discussing them with your surgeon.Monitor to make sure your scar is progressing optimally. Keep your scheduled follow-up appointments with your surgeon to verify that your scars are maturing as expected. Occasionally if indicated you may need a topical steroid preparation or even a series of injections (5-FU and/or Steroids) or laser treatments to treat or prevent scar hypertrophy or keloid formation (red raised scars), or other topical medicines to treat post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (brown scars) with prescription creams and possible laser treatments.For best scar managment in general see my below link on best practices for scar managment.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: There are plenty of options for scar care Hi from Istanbul! Minimizing scars is a process that begins during surgery, by skillful stitching with minimal tension. Good postop wound care also helps, of course. I would recommend silicone sheets, scar gels, steroid injections when necessary and laser treatments for mid post-op period. It's been quite a while since this question has been asked but I hope this will be useful to new patients who have concerns about scarring. Best of luck!
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CONTACT NOW Answer: There are plenty of options for scar care Hi from Istanbul! Minimizing scars is a process that begins during surgery, by skillful stitching with minimal tension. Good postop wound care also helps, of course. I would recommend silicone sheets, scar gels, steroid injections when necessary and laser treatments for mid post-op period. It's been quite a while since this question has been asked but I hope this will be useful to new patients who have concerns about scarring. Best of luck!
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August 7, 2023
Answer: Breast Reduction Hello and thank you for your question. You have some options. You can use silicone sheeting, scar gel, or lasers/micro needling. Speak to your surgeon for his/her guidance and recommendations. Best wishes!
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Answer: Breast Reduction Hello and thank you for your question. You have some options. You can use silicone sheeting, scar gel, or lasers/micro needling. Speak to your surgeon for his/her guidance and recommendations. Best wishes!
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June 2, 2021
Answer: Biocorneum scar gel and paper tape Hi there, this is such a great question. I instruct all of my cosmetic surgical patients to use a combination of Biocorneum scar gel and paper tape for approximately 6 months following surgery. The combination of the two maximizes the healing of the scars as well as maintaining the flatness and minimizing keloid and hypertrophic scars with the paper tape. Best of luck!
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Answer: Biocorneum scar gel and paper tape Hi there, this is such a great question. I instruct all of my cosmetic surgical patients to use a combination of Biocorneum scar gel and paper tape for approximately 6 months following surgery. The combination of the two maximizes the healing of the scars as well as maintaining the flatness and minimizing keloid and hypertrophic scars with the paper tape. Best of luck!
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February 2, 2021
Answer: Silicone gel and sun protection are the way to go! One of the most important things is good technique at the time of surgery to help scars start out on the right foot. Your own biology also plays a large role, as some people barely have visible scars and some patients on the other end of the spectrum can keloid, which is rare with breast reduction. After the surgery is done, the most important thing is protecting the scar from the sun for the first year or so after the surgery. This includes tanning beds. I ask all of my patients to use silicone gel (which typically has sunscreen in it) for 6 months to a year after surgery, starting 2 weeks out from the surgery date. the scars often look worse during the first 6 months before they start to fade away, and you need to wait at least a year before you judge the scars. -Dr. David Mattos, New York Plastic Surgical Group
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CONTACT NOW February 2, 2021
Answer: Silicone gel and sun protection are the way to go! One of the most important things is good technique at the time of surgery to help scars start out on the right foot. Your own biology also plays a large role, as some people barely have visible scars and some patients on the other end of the spectrum can keloid, which is rare with breast reduction. After the surgery is done, the most important thing is protecting the scar from the sun for the first year or so after the surgery. This includes tanning beds. I ask all of my patients to use silicone gel (which typically has sunscreen in it) for 6 months to a year after surgery, starting 2 weeks out from the surgery date. the scars often look worse during the first 6 months before they start to fade away, and you need to wait at least a year before you judge the scars. -Dr. David Mattos, New York Plastic Surgical Group
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July 16, 2018
Answer: Minimising scars after breast reduction These scar minimisation advice applies to all scars especially after breast reduction. 1) Sunscreen especially here in Australia and New Zealand. Sun tans the scar compared to your "normal skin" and that change in colour along the scar makes the scar more noticeable and can be permanent. I tell my patients apply SPF30-50 as often as you can and as long as you can. Rough guideline is 3-4 times a day for at least 3 months if not 6-12 months. (or if you're in Australia, forever.) 2) While putting this on, massage the scar. The way human body is designed to deal with any wounds/scars is to make the wound/hole smaller- when the wound heals these special fibres pull on each other to close the wound and make is smaller (everyone has seen their graze on their knee get smaller and smaller). The trouble is for the scar that's what your body wants to do, to bunch up the tissues- massaging, through direct pressure has been proven to reduce this scarring process. What to massage with? I've heard patients tell me vitamin E, Bio oil and other weird and wonderful but the long and the short of it is it does not matter, there is no scientific unequivocally proven magic potion yet. Believe what you want (because while there is no evidence for what you put on your scar there IS evidence for your power of belief) but its all marketing. Regular non scented sorbolene you get buy from your local supermarket for $5 for 2 tonne will do. BUT, since you're applying sunscreen (refer to rule number one), use sunscreen to massage it, you're doing 2 good things with one action because life is busy enough. 3) Silicone- it works by moisturising the wound and applying pressure, similar in theory to massaging. The problem is it needs to be on most of the day and needs to continue for at least 6 weeks and more. My wife (wife of a plastic surgeon) tried to keep on the silicone dressing to her C-section scar after the baby, didn't last long. Can you imagine your child keeping it on their face for longer than half a milli second, for days/weeks? Compliance/practicality is a major issue along with the cost- (Cicacare in Australia costs close to $100 per sheet) There are other things you can do to minimise scar down the track but it should be discussed with your medical specialists (plastic surgeons, dermatologists- not your beauty therapists, hair dressers and even your uber driver who want to lie you down for a "laser". Yes all three of those people in Australia can use laser, legally) Wish you the best in your journey. Dr Leo Kim, Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Sydney
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CONTACT NOW July 16, 2018
Answer: Minimising scars after breast reduction These scar minimisation advice applies to all scars especially after breast reduction. 1) Sunscreen especially here in Australia and New Zealand. Sun tans the scar compared to your "normal skin" and that change in colour along the scar makes the scar more noticeable and can be permanent. I tell my patients apply SPF30-50 as often as you can and as long as you can. Rough guideline is 3-4 times a day for at least 3 months if not 6-12 months. (or if you're in Australia, forever.) 2) While putting this on, massage the scar. The way human body is designed to deal with any wounds/scars is to make the wound/hole smaller- when the wound heals these special fibres pull on each other to close the wound and make is smaller (everyone has seen their graze on their knee get smaller and smaller). The trouble is for the scar that's what your body wants to do, to bunch up the tissues- massaging, through direct pressure has been proven to reduce this scarring process. What to massage with? I've heard patients tell me vitamin E, Bio oil and other weird and wonderful but the long and the short of it is it does not matter, there is no scientific unequivocally proven magic potion yet. Believe what you want (because while there is no evidence for what you put on your scar there IS evidence for your power of belief) but its all marketing. Regular non scented sorbolene you get buy from your local supermarket for $5 for 2 tonne will do. BUT, since you're applying sunscreen (refer to rule number one), use sunscreen to massage it, you're doing 2 good things with one action because life is busy enough. 3) Silicone- it works by moisturising the wound and applying pressure, similar in theory to massaging. The problem is it needs to be on most of the day and needs to continue for at least 6 weeks and more. My wife (wife of a plastic surgeon) tried to keep on the silicone dressing to her C-section scar after the baby, didn't last long. Can you imagine your child keeping it on their face for longer than half a milli second, for days/weeks? Compliance/practicality is a major issue along with the cost- (Cicacare in Australia costs close to $100 per sheet) There are other things you can do to minimise scar down the track but it should be discussed with your medical specialists (plastic surgeons, dermatologists- not your beauty therapists, hair dressers and even your uber driver who want to lie you down for a "laser". Yes all three of those people in Australia can use laser, legally) Wish you the best in your journey. Dr Leo Kim, Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Sydney
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