5 months post. Red/inflamed areola incisions after breast lift. Is this a normal reaction? Can it improve by itself with time?

Question

5 months ago I had breast lift on both of my breasts. About 2.5 months ago I noticed that the area around a thin white scar is getting pink, making the scar look bigger and more noticeable. My doctor told me this kind of reaction is not common and he's not sure what causes it. He said it may fade by itself with time (which can take up to 2 years) or he proposed getting Pulsed Dye Laser treatment. Is this a normal reaction? Can it improve by itself with time? How effective is PDL?

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Hi Fenone,
For scars, I close all of my incisions in 5 layers and do not use absorbable sutures because they cause inflammation and worse scarring. I tape all of my incisions in the office visits once a week for six weeks after surgery to improve the appearance. After taping, I start my patients on a scar gel therapy for 3 months that they have to put on their incisions twice daily.
  
I understand you are concerned with the appearance of your scars. Scar redness is not uncommon after breast augmentation surgery and may resolve over time.  Always follow your surgeon's post operative care instructions when it comes to scar management to avoid any complications like infection and for faster healing and recovery.
  
If you are concerned, you should visit your plastic surgeon for assessment. and to discuss your concerns, as different surgeons have different approaches in scar management.
  
 Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS
  
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
  
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
  
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Prashant Soni, MD · Answer

This situation is unusual but here are some possibilities to discuss with your surgeon. It may be that the sutures used beneath the skin in the areola are dissolvable sutures that are programmed to dissolve now. All dissolvable sutures breakdown from inflammation and this may be causing some redness. If so, then this phase should pass or improve with laser.
Another possibility is that the areola is stretching out over time and the scar is thickening in reaction to this. If this is the case the areola can be revised using a permanent suture under the skin ( Gortex is one such suture) to limit stretching out later. 
See what your PS thinks. 
Best Regards, Prashant SoniM.D.

Jeffrey Claiborne, MD · Answer

Scar redness is quite common after surgery. The redness tends to fade throughout the first year. A laser can help speed up the process. Some patients have no redness to their scars, and some patients develop some redness. It can be a little unpredictable. But, with time, it always seems to improve. Hope this helps.

Jorge Jiménez Toribio, MD · Answer

Hi dear, thank you for your question.It is hard to give you a proper assessment without seeing you in person. I'd recommend expressing your concerns to your PS or seeking for other PS's opinion just to make sure what may be causing it or if its just a normal process. Pulsed dye laser treatment may be effective but it could also be unnecessary for your case. Hope this helps!Dr. Jiménez Toribio Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon.

5 months post. Red/inflamed areola incisions after breast lift. Is this a normal reaction? Can it improve by itself with time?

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Answer: Breast lift

Answer: Breast lift

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5 months post. Red/inflamed areola incisions after breast lift. Is this a normal reaction? Can it improve by itself with time?

Answers (4)

Answer: Breast lift

Answer: Breast lift

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Everything you need to know about Breast Lift

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