Scar issues 9 months after lift. What can be done to improve this? (Photo)

It appears you have multiple 'spitting sutures', which is when buried absorbable sutures penetrate the skin and get infected. You can have a revision lift now, preferably by another surgeon, who can do this reliably.

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

Thank you for your question.
Without a full insight into your medical and surgical history, it is difficult to comment on why your scarring appears the way it does. You may qualify for a scar revision; however, there is no guarantee that this healing issue will not persist. I recommend speaking with your plastic surgeon to discuss your options.

The lift technique that was used has a vertical scar. The vertical scar is often weight bearing and the weight of the breast on the scar has caused it to separate. You may also have internal drainage that has caused the problem. You will need the scar revised and any underlying pathology corrected.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

It is possible that your surgeon used dissolving sutures that take a very long time to disappear. In some patients these can create small openings in the skin while they are in the process of dissolving. Your scars could be revised - I would use faster-dissolving sutures to try to improve things. This procedure could be done under local anesthesia, sidestepping the anesthesia shortage issue. I suggest you press the matter with your surgeon. All the best.

Hello @lma123, thank you for your question and showing your pictures. Scarring has a maturation cycle of approximately one to one and a half years depending on the patient's skin. An examination would give you more information about what can be done. Please have in mind that the scar takes different features depending on the process inherent to the patient's health and skin condition. I link a video to shed more light. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS.

It appears you have formed multiple suture granulomas throughout the closure from absorbable suture not breaking down, resulting in your body spitting them out. I would find out what suture was used. A revision, especially after this much time, may be warranted with a different suture material.

Dear lma123,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

It is not unusual to get small areas of breakdown like this after a lift or reduction. There may be a stitch in there that is causing it to persist. I would open the incision just a little like half an inch and clean the area out removing any retained suture material. See this all the time

You may have a permanent suture left that is irritated or might even have some bacteria that causes it to continue to react. It will need to be removed for this to stop if antibiotics do not work. Dissolving sutures should have all dissolved by now.