Can my breast shape and scarring be improved post-breast lift? (photo)

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

Dear Kate3131,
breast revision surgery is the most difficult plastic surgery procedure performed. Botched breast surgery alters normal tissue planes and laxity, the ability of breasts to heal properly, and leaves scar tissue that dramatically affects the level of difficulty of the corrective surgery.Many patients come in to correct poor outcomes from their initial surgeries. The most common problems are due to implant malposition, bottoming out of the implant, poor scarring, and incorrect implant size.While the type of revision required will depend on the result of the previous surgery and the desired result of the patient, some revisions involve extensive pocket repair that may or may not need specialized external bras.If you are considering breast surgery revision, you should speak with a board certified plastic surgeon and have yourself properly assessed. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations. Also, you have to make sure that your surgeon understands your breast augmentation goals.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question on this revision surgery. I would encourage a formal consultation with several board certified plastic surgeons in your area. You will likely benefit from breast implants to restore the volume in the upper poles and you may also benefit from a scare revision operation. To get better scars next time around, consider Embrace Scar Defense.Best wishes, Dr. ALDO 

Your pictures are helpful, but a physical exam will be required to give specific advice. It does appear that the distance from your nipple to your breast crease is elongated and your vertical scar is a bit thickened. It is possible that removal of a crescent of skin from the base of the breast may improve both of these issues and ultimately improve the shape of the breasts. Overall, your results appear to be quite good, but probably can be improved with a small revision. 

I agree that your breasts are now settled a bit too much. You need an in person evaluation, but I would probably recommend a revision of your lift to get your breast tissue centered behind your nipples, This would also revise your scars. Good luck.

It looks to me as if your wounds have healed well, though the somewhat pale scars have stretched, making them slightly more visible than you would have wanted. This could be due to a number of factors but the most common one is genetic factors that influence your wound healing and therefore revising the scars is likely to produce a similar result. It is possible that you could get some improvement in shape by tightening the lower pole of the breast, though it is difficult to be certain without examining you in person. This may be a good enough reason for you to undergo revision surgery, which may also improve the quality of the scars, though this is, as I said, less likely.

Yes, depressed shape could be improved with surgery. Some of the lower skin could be removed that would push the breast tissue up above the nipple to give a little bit more fullness. If you wanted more and implant could be inserted. It would be best to find a board-certified plastic surgeon by the American Board of surgery who performs a significant amount of these procedures.Best regards,Dr. Michael Gartner

The scars are slightly wide and raised, but overall they have a satisfactory appearance.  The scars can be revised surgically by excising them and re-suturing the skin together without the tension present at the original operation, which will likely allow them to heal with a thinner scar.  However, there is no guarantee that the appearance will be better and may end up healing in a similar fashion.  If you choose to surgically revise them, I would recommend applying silicone tape or gel as scar therapy to maximize the appearance of the scars.  Scar therapy is only effective in the first year since scar maturation is complete after that time frame.  In regard to your dissatisfaction with how your breasts have settled, this can only be improved with a revision breast lift.
Ziyad Hammoudeh, MD

Your scars look very stable, as clearly they are over 3 years old.  I don't believe that any improvement can be done to the scar around the outside of the areola/nipple.  This could be cosmetically tattooed to disguise it.The other scars could be minimally improved by revising them surgically.  The only way to improve the breast shape would be further surgery.  You should discuss your exact wishes regarding what you would like improved with your surgeon.  Although this may or may not be possible.All the best

The scars have healed pretty well and although both the scars and the shape could be improved there is no guarantee. You would have to open up the scars again and lower the inframammary fold. You need to discus the pros and cons of this with your PS.