Horrendous scars after Benelli lift - can anything be done? (photo)

Based on your pictures looks like you can benefit from a scar revision consult with your PS to see what are your options.Best wishes.

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

Unfortunately, this can occur with the type of lift that was performed. After one year the scarring will likely not change significantly. In order to "revise" the scar you would likely need a revision lift. Be sure to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.Best, Dr. Kludt

Dear NipTuckWhatsUp,it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering a scar revision surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.Daniel Barrett, MD

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hi. Thank you for the questions and for your pictures. You won't see much improvement from those scars after 1 year. Call the surgeon who did your surgery. I'm sure he wants you to be happy with your results and you could schedule a revision. Unfortunately scars like yours are not uncommon after this type of lift. I hope this helps and best of wishes.

Hi NipTuckWhatsUp, (Love the name!) The modified (benelli) mastopexy only removes skin around the areola, placing a "purse string" suture that pulls together to give the areola a mini lift. Because of this limited scarring everyone wants only this lift (not the fuller versions with more scars). Unfortunately, very few patients are truly candidates for this version of a lift because in most patients, as in your case, there ends up being far too much tension on that suture for it to heal properly. Exactly what you experienced, was the incision stretching because of the weight and movement of your breasts pulled it apart. Thankfully your scar is translucent, but I understand if you would wish to have a revision. Just speak candidly with your surgeon, revising it now should prove to have a more desirable outcome. Now there won't be as much tension on the incision.I would also use an Rx scar product this time around. Good luck!

Hello and thanks for your questions and photos.  Short answer is that you should get a nice improvement from a revision.  After 1 year, your scar will not improve further and you should be ready for a revision.  I would encourage you to discuss with your surgeon. Best wishes!Daniel Brown, MD, FACSBoard Certified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsMember American Society of  Plastic SurgeonsCastle Connolly Top DocReal Self Top 500

because when it comes to Benelli's, just because you can do it, should you???  I abhor the Benelli after experiencing similar outcomes as you have and only use them if no other option exists.  As for improving your scars, conversion to a lollipop lift may help but its very likely you will have retained areola from your spread out appearances now.  You can try to 're-do' the circumferential suture hoping that it will hold this time around but one of the great lessons in plastic surgery is if plan A fails, do not make plan B the same as plan A... 

I am sorry you are having issues with the scarring from your breast lift. Keeping an open line of communication with your plastic surgeon is important.  They were correct to encourage you to wait a year to see how the scars matured.  Unfortunately, this type of breast lift is known to be at risk for developing widened scarring around the nipples.  If you are still unhappy with how they look, then one of the potential treatments would be to excise the scars under local anesthesia and reclose everything.  There would be no guarantee that they scarring would improve but in general the tension on the closure would be less this time around which is the most common cause for your widened scarring.  

Best Wishes,