Red scars after 7 months (Photo)

Wound healing post cosmetic surgery is a dynamic situation.  By that I mean, it takes what it takes. Incisions made in Langer's lines, which are lines in the human body that have minimal or no tension on them, can heal in a week or less.  When the incision is not placed in these tension free lines and when the dermis (the underside of the skin) is thick and there is constant movement, some of these scars can take months and even years to heal. Of course, there is the genetic component which is normally controlled through the immune system.  Some individuals form little to no scar.  Others form very exaggerated scars.  And then, of course, there is the keloid which is the very, very thick and unsightly type of scarring.Your scar is red because it is dynamic.  It hasn't healed yet.  When it does, it will turn white.  If you were my patient, I would recommend continued pressure on the scar such as the silicone tape you are presently using.  Your red scar is actually a factory producing collagen and wound healing cells called fibroblasts and myofibroblasts.  Keep the tension off the scar by wearing a bra that has a smooth bottom and no underwire as that will push on the breast chest junction causing even more tension on your scar, especially during walking and exercising.  Massaging of scars is an outstanding idea once the scar has matured because it helps the new collagen to lie smoothly instead of having elevations and depressions.  Massaging a red scar will disrupt the factory producing the new wound healing cells and also will disrupt the laying down of collagen leading to a definite slowing of the wound healing.  At this point, you need to reconnect with your plastic surgeon to be sure that you are doing everything correctly to ensure a speedy maturation of your breast lift scarring.

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

Scars can be challenging, especially breast scars. I don't think you have an unusual problem to worry about. As you are experiencing, scars can take on a course of increasing thickness and redness before they flatten and fade. It can be very annoying for the patient and surgeon. Taping early on with paper tape and then silicone tape can help decrease the intensity. Microneedling at around 7 weeks may help soften the scars. Dilute steroid injection can also help soften the scars but there is a risk for too much thinning of the tissue. The scars typically get better with time but it could take years.