BA scar not healed 6 months post-op. Anything I can do to speed up healing? (photos)

Question

My implants were under the muscle/ transmammary. After a few weeks my right scar became slightly infected. I was put on antibiotics and everything cleared up. after i developed a bump on my scar that my derm thought was a keloid(my PS is out of town)She injected it with a dose of kenalog 3wks later she realized it wasnt a keloid (which ive never had one before). My PS said it will heal over time but is there anything i can do to help speed it up besides rest? an ointment? any advise would help

Peter J. Capizzi, MD · Answer

6 weeks in my experience.  I have taken care of thousands of women and if this is the scar you are looking at you should see your surgeon and evaluated.  You may need just to have it excised and closed.  The concern is that this tracks to the implant and threatens it being exposed.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Hi Nicoal44,

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. As your scars heal, it should flatten out and lighten. Loss of pigmentation or hyperpigmentation may also be experienced but will 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. Your surgeon can also advice you of new innovations that can help with managing and improving the appearance of scars like lasers and other scar treatment modalities.

Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS
  
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
  
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
  
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Donald R. Revis Jr, MD · Answer

Good afternoon!It has been a long time to still have healing going on- especially in a crease incision. The risk is implant exposure if it doesn't heal- I would go ahead and ask your PS about a scar revision to get this definitively closed!

Marc DuPéré, MD · Answer

Thank you.  It is hard to know based on pictures but this is very unusual and considering you have breast implants, I would suggest you visit sooner than later your plastic surgeon.  Could be a reaction to some sutures as it looks like granulation tissue, could be a pyogenic granuloma, could also be scarring.Best to visit your plastic surgeon.Kind regards,Dr. DuPéré, aesthetic plastic surgeon.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs and I am sorry to hear of your difficulties. I would recommend seeing your surgeon for an in-person evaluation.  Very rare to not have a wound heal in 6 months time and a work up as to the cause needs to be determined in order to have it corrected.  Best wishes.

BA scar not healed 6 months post-op. Anything I can do to speed up healing? (photos)

Answers (5)