Breast Reduction Scars - How to Avoid Scarring?

If you have excess skin and desire a decrease in volume, there is no way to get around having scars.  Science has yet to find a way to truly do "scarless" surgery.   That being said, most patients are very happy to trade off having scars for an improved breast shape, less aches and pains associated with large droopy breasts, and looking better in clothing, swimming suits, bras, etc.  (and maybe even feeling comfortable going bra-less for the first time!)It is best to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs breast surgery.  You can look photos of typical scars in a wide variety of patients and better understand what to expect and what the trade-offs and risks are.Best wishes,Dr. Michelle Spring

Unfortunately there is no way to perform a breast reduction without scars.  However, the significant improvement in shape, size, weight and appearance of the breast with the improvements in back pain, neck pain, shoulder grooving, and the other problems associated with large breasts are well worth the surgery.  The scars are hidden in the nipple areolar complex at the transition between the colored portion of the nipple and the light skin of the breast, and along the breast fold.   The scars also fade with time.  Breast reduction is a safe, effective way to improve the size and position of the breast, and is met with overwhelming patient satisfaction.

Scarring is a very common concern. In a very small subset of breast reduction patients you can consider liposuction. Typically this is best for a young patient with good skin elasticity who only needs a small reduction. This is not meant for large volume reductions. The scarring will vary depending on how much skin and breast tissue needs to be removed. The scars do heal well overtime and there are products that can help them fade/blend faster. See a board certified plastic surgeon to learn what might be best for you. 

Unfortunately scarless approach is not compatible with a proper breast reduction procedure. It is a necessary tradeoff that one has to accept should the patient desires to have an effective breast reduction procedure. There are however some less invasive approach for consideration e.g.. liposuction for a small reduction or reshaping, but by en large scars will be required in order for a suitable amount of breast tissue to be resected and reshaped in a breast reduction procedure.

Depending on breast skin quality, patient preference and surgeon's experience, there are however certain "limited scar" technique in a breast reduction procedure. They either involve a "lollipop" scar pattern or an "anchor" scar pattern depending on each specific case requirement. Scar implications certainly is an important consideration especially for the younger females considering breast reduction procedure along with potential impact on breast feeding ability and nipple sensitivity. Certain surgical technique can minimise the occurrence of these complications but patients in general will need to accept possibility of these implications. Scar quality is also more important than scar quantity and while there are ways to optimise the healing & scarring process, you'll need to be realistic of what's involved in the overall recovery experience. 

Hope that helps.

Best wishes

Ellis Choy

The only way to reduce breasts without significant scarring is by liposuction. You will still have scars, but they will be very small. This will only remove the fatty portion of the breasts and since you are young and not obese, your breast tissue is probably mostly fibrous. You will get a small lift this way as well but probably not as much as you are hoping for.You may be a candidate for a “short scar” reduction. This involves a scar around the areola and a vertical scar only. Your other option is to have the reduction and treat the scars after to make them as “un-ugly” as possible. (They don’t all turn out ugly!)

Great question!  There is a relatively uncommon breast reduction technique called liposuction reduction which has minimal scars.  This technique is good for patients seeking a reduction who have large but perky breasts with a significant fat content.  Scarring is minimal, but this technique does not lift the breasts, and is not effective for patients with a lot of glandular (firm) breast tissue. Unfortunately, if your breasts are starting to sag, this "scarless" breast reduction would possibly make your breasts droopier as they would lose volume without tightening the skin envelope. Also, if your breasts stay the same size after weight loss, it is likely they have a higher glandular tissue component with less fat, also making you a poor option for liposuction breast reduction. 


In general, breast reduction or breast lift surgeries create some type of scar, but in most cases the scars fade nicely over time and are a small tradeoff for the vastly improved breast shape and size, as well as improvement in back, neck and shoulder pain. Fortunately for my patients, I have spent years training with leading innovators in the area of breast reduction surgery. Much of my training focused on minimizing scars through the use of meticulous technique and under-the-skin dissolving sutures (to avoid stitch marks), and implementing the vertical or “Lejour” technique (to avoid a scar under the breast in certain patients). All of these techniques help improve scars in ways that the traditional anchor shaped incision with external stitches or staples cannot.

It’s completely understandable to be concerned about scars when considering breast reduction, but unfortunately, it’s difficult to avoid them entirely if you need to reduce excess tissue. There’s no way to lift the breasts without leaving scars, but commonly, the incisions are strategically placed in areas that are easier to conceal, such as around the areola, vertically down the breast, and under the breast fold. The majority of patients find that the benefits (including improved shape) far outweigh the visible scars.
Larger breasts can lead to physical discomfort, including back, neck, and shoulder pain, and many patients find that after surgery, they feel more comfortable in their clothes, swimwear, and even without a bra. A breast reduction may significantly improve both your physical well-being and self-esteem. Although there will be some scarring, modern techniques and a skilled surgeon can minimize and/or optimize them. A plastic surgeon can explain the expected results, show you before-and-after photos, and help you make an informed decision about whether the trade-off is worth it for you. To minimize scars, following your surgeon’s aftercare instructions is crucial and keeping the incisions clean, avoiding sun exposure, wearing a supportive bra, and using scar management products (such as silicone) once healing is complete can all help improve the appearance of scars. Many patients, particularly those with significant breast volume, find that after a reduction, they no longer care much about the scars because of the newfound comfort and confidence the procedure provides.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Hi there, thank you for your question. The general answer to your question is no, unfortunately when you do a breast reduction you are accepting having those scars which typically look like an anchor. For certain patients with very good skin tone, occasionally liposuction and radiofrequency skin tightening can be of value, but it’s never going to get the same result as a true breast reduction.

Thank you for the questions. With the breast reduction operation, there will be scars but certain measures like atraumatic techniques, suturing in multiple layers, use of absorbable sutures and good care of the wound and scar in post operative period can help reduce the scars. Use of silicone gels on scars can improve the quality of the scars.

T the trade-off for having smaller breasts are scars. We can use short scar techniques to limit the visible scars under the breast. If you have problems, we do have methods to help or we can revise them a year later. Nearly all scars will fade given sufficient time (years).  Some skin types can develop problematic scars such as keloid scars, however this is rare. The vast majority of patients are so much happier with their smaller breasts, (less pain, aches and more comfortable in clothing), that they feel that the scars are a small price to pay. 

Unfortunately incisions are necessary to reduce or lift the breasts.
There are tricks to get a nice scar such as close the incisions in layers, using sutures "inside" that your body will dissolve allowing them to stay in place longer without marking the skin. 
Massage and use of sun screen are important postoperative care that help with the scar. There is also some topic cream that can help such as Biocorneum, gel silicone with sun screen.
Each patient heals in a different way. It takes up to 12-18 months for the scar reach its final form.
Young patients has more redness over the scar and it takes longer to fade than old patients.