Does scar massage really help with the appearance of breast lift scars?

Question

I mean, is there actually good evidence in the medical literature for surgical scars (and, not burns)? I have not been able to find significant evidence, albeit with only a quick search.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Scar massage can be effective for the first year after surgery or longer.  The type of massage and what is needed is largely dependent upon your anatomy and point of recovery.  Your plastic surgeon will have better insight into your specific case.As scars mature over months to a year, the quality of the scar usually improves. There is no one best therapy for scars. Silicone sheets, Mederma, and Biocorneum are reasonable and popular options. I recommend that the scar therapy begin after the scars have healed and there are no open areas, which usually takes 4 to 6 weeks. Conservative treatment for a year is the best advice, because the scar will become less pigmented.  Then you can evaluate whether a scar revision or resurfacing would be helpful.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear KWxx,
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.You should discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon as different surgeons have different approaches in scar management.
Daniel Barrett, MD

Donovan Rosas, MD · Answer

Scars will typically improve and remodel over time. However, there adjuncts which can help include scar massage (mechanical disruption of organizing collagen) topicals (often with a corticosteroid component and UV protection), and silicone sheeting.For more resistant scarring, laser resurfacing and IPL can play a role. Injectable steroids and 5-Fu have been shown to help with pathologic scarring.As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).Donovan Rosas MD
Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes, scars, including burn scars, do respond well to massage as well as to other scar products like Mederma, Scar Guard, and even micro-needling.

Ron B. Somogyi, MD · Answer

Admittedly, the published evidence for scar massage is weak. Having said that, we educate our patients on scar massage in great detail and have seen beautiful results with this. We feel it is a very important part of scar management. Aside from massage, there are several other modalities including silicone scar gel, sheeting and taping.  Your surgeon can go over their specific protocol with you.

Sean Kelishadi, MD · Answer

Hello! Most important factors for scar outcome is 1) your genetics, 2) meticulous surgical technique using tension free methods with multi-layered closure, and 3) not using any tobacco products. Beyond that, minimizing sun exposure and using silicone scar gels or tape are helpful.Sincerely,SSK

Douglas McGeorge, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

If you are able to obtain it, from Science of Skin, in the UK, Solution for Scars has been clinically and scientifically proven to help active scars.  It reduces thickness and redness and increases pliability by modulating the inflammatory response.

Jeffrey C. Hamm, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!
Early scar healing may respond favorably to lymphatic massage to lessen edema. Thickened hypertrophic scarring may respond to immobilization with application of silicone gel sheeting. Sun protection is recommended to prevent scar pigmentary disturbances. Refractory scarring may respond to steroid injection or surgical scar revision. In spite of everything, it still takes a year or more for scars to mature and naturally lose their redness.
Seek a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for in-person evaluation and discussion. 
Best wishes...

Does scar massage really help with the appearance of breast lift scars?

Answers (9)

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