Follow up: Will brief, accidental exposure to sun affect the end result for my gynecomastia incision scar? Pt. 2

Question

Thank you for the previous answer however I think my question may have been misinterpreted. I was lying down and REMOVED a blanket off my chest after a nap, leaving my chest exposed. Shortly after (maybe a minute or two) I looked down and saw the sun was shining through directly on my chest (the shades were open allowing sun through the window). I quickly moved and got out of the sun but am wondering if that was enough exposure to affect my end result. Thanks!

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

It's likely that the sun exposure did not affect the healing or end-result of your surgery. If anything, the surgical site may be somewhat sensitive to the #sun light and may be irritated as a result. Following #Gynecomastia #surgery, your #incisions will go through a maturation #process. For the first few months they will be red and possibly raised and/or firm. As the scar matures, after 6-12 months, it becomes soft, pale, flat, and much less noticeable. You may experience numbness, tingling, burning, “crawling”, or other peculiar sensations around the surgical area. This is a result of the #healing of tiny fibers which are trapped in the incision site. These symptoms will disappear. Some people are prone to keloids, which is an abnormal scar that becomes prominent. If you or a blood relative has a tendency to keloid formation, please inform the doctor.

Jeffrey D. Wagner, MD · Answer

Generally sun exposure will not affect the scar quality, size or thickness, but can affect the color by causing hyper pigmentation in some cases.  I would generally recommend, in order to protect your scar from becoming too darkly pigmented, that you avoid suntanning and sunburns for at least a year after surgery.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

You should talk to your plastic surgeon about your concerns. I advise all my patients that it is very important to protect your incisions from the sun. Keep your chest completely covered until your incisions have closed (approx. 2 weeks). After that time, you must wear a high grade sunscreen on your incisions for a minimum of 12 weeks to ensure optimal healing of the scars.#gynecomastiaremoval#malebreastreduction#gynecomastiaremovalpostop

Richard Zienowicz, MD · Answer

No, there should not be any negative effect on your scar following a brief accidental exposure to the sun.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

Trauma to the scar they can increase inflammation may affect the final outcome. This would require long-term exposure to ultraviolet light.

Follow up: Will brief, accidental exposure to sun affect the end result for my gynecomastia incision scar? Pt. 2

Answers (6)

Answer: Follow up: Will brief, accidental exposure to sun affect the end result for my gynecomastia incision scar?

Answer: Follow up: Will brief, accidental exposure to sun affect the end result for my gynecomastia incision scar?

Answer: Brief sunlight on a healing gynecomastia incision will have no effect on the outcome.

Answer: Brief sunlight on a healing gynecomastia incision will have no effect on the outcome.

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Everything you need to know about Gynecomastia Surgery

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Follow up: Will brief, accidental exposure to sun affect the end result for my gynecomastia incision scar? Pt. 2

Answers (6)

Answer: Follow up: Will brief, accidental exposure to sun affect the end result for my gynecomastia incision scar?

Answer: Follow up: Will brief, accidental exposure to sun affect the end result for my gynecomastia incision scar?

Answer: Brief sunlight on a healing gynecomastia incision will have no effect on the outcome.

Answer: Brief sunlight on a healing gynecomastia incision will have no effect on the outcome.

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Gynecomastia Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.