Suturing Technique for Less Scars?

Our before-after gallery has several examples of patients who had short scar surgery, had an unsatisfactory result, and had a surgery to convert those results to a longer-scar technique... with improved results!

So my colleagues are right on in noting that it is the surgeon, not the technique, that will give you the greatest chance of obtaining a great result.

It is often a mistake to try to get too much correction from minimal incisions techniques.  A fine plastic surgeon who has "seen it all" can tell you which technique would be recommended ... and why.

Scars are not a direct result of the suturing technique although it is one important factor. Other issues relate to a person's genetic tendencies for healing, the wound tension, suture material, medical history, age, etc.

The technique that leads to the best scars is a closure without tension on the skin and if it is placed in the natural wrinkle lines. Scar quality is also influenced by you ethnicity, healing ability, infection, etc. You will probably have an anchor scar reduction, and with this technique there's significant tension on the infamammary crease suture line due to the design of this operation. This incision is at higher risk for thick, raised hypertrophic scars. 

There isn't any one best technique or suture type that always produces the best scar, and your plastic surgeon will make the choice based on experience. Other factors such as tension on the skin edges are ultimately more important.

Thank you for the question.

Generally, layered closure of all tissue planes will allow for as little tension as possible on the superficial layers of skin. This relatively “tension free” closure of the final layer may help scars remain as fine as possible. You should keep in mind,  that despite a surgeon's best efforts,  some scars do not heal as well as he/she hopes.In these cases, scar revision surgery may be necessary.

Generally, breast reduction surgery is a very patient pleasing operation ( given the relief of symptoms)  despite the presence of scars.

Best wishes.