Should I be considering a revision or additional scar treatments 6 months post breast lift? (Photo)

Question

I am wondering if this is a good result after a lift 6 months ago or should I be considering a revision or additional scar treatments?

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

From the photo, the areolar scars still look pink and somewhat active, which can be very normal at 6 months; the single angle does not allow a full judgment of breast shape, scar thickness, or symmetry. Most breast-lift scars continue to fade and flatten for 12-18 months, so a scar revision is usually not rushed unless there is a clearly widened, raised, painful, or functionally problematic scar.

This is a good time to ask your surgeon about active scar care rather than committing to revision. Depending on the exam, options may include silicone gel or silicone sheeting, gentle scar massage if cleared by your surgeon, strict sun protection, and possibly steroid injections or laser treatment for scars that are raised, itchy, thick, or persistently red. If the issue is mainly scar color and mild firmness, patience and conservative care are often the right first step. If shape, nipple position, or widened scars still bother you closer to a year, then revision can be discussed with a clearer sense of the final result.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear j_a,

I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what is 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

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

The main goal of a breast lift is to elevate the nipple/areola to a position above the inframammary fold.  Your breast lift appears to have achieved that with a natural, smooth curve along the bottom of your breast.  Your incision lines likely will get some improvement in the color with additional healing time and patience.  If the width of your incisions are a concern, a surgical revision could be done to narrow them and perhaps create a rounder areola.  If lack of volume is your concern, the most reliable way to add volume would be a breast augmentation. Other options are fat grafting to the breast, although this is less reliable and predictable in its results. Best wishes.

Joel Patrick Maier, MD · Answer

Your scars look like they are maturing as expected. There is some redness and minimal swelling so I would anticipate flat, pale scars as you approach the 12 month post-op mark. In the meanwhile if you want to try something, silicone scar strips offer the most help while the scar matures. Otherwise, it will do fine on its own. I hope this helps, thank you!

Emre Guvercin, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Unfortunately, breast ptosis continues and it is not possible to talk about upper pole fullness. In this case, it would be a better treatment option to perform a revision breast lift at the end of the 1st year instead of scar revision. If you are satisfied with the breast volume, appropriate breast lift and upper pole fullness can be achieved with push up lift using your own tissue. At the same time, scars can also be revised.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Your results are typical of the vertical scar technique. The nipple-areola complex was moved but the center mass of the breast was not moved. Your breasts are still hanging low and you have not upper pole fullness. At this time, I recommend The Bellesoma Method. This will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained if not injured during your previous surgery.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

If you are happy with the result but concerned about the scar, it appears it is healing appropriately.  You can consider scar treatments or lasers at this time if you would like.  Scar revision can be performed after a year if you still have concerns.  As far as breast shape, the breasts still seem to be sitting low on the chest wall indicating you could benefit from a revision.

Ahmet Bilirer, MD · Answer

Hello,
Looking at your photos, we can see that your breast scar has widened slightly, and your nipple appears more balloon-shaped rather than round. For a 6-month postoperative result, this is neither excellent nor poor &mdash; it’s somewhere in between.
If I were in your position, considering that 6 months have already passed, I believe a minor scar revision could help improve the result significantly. It is something you might consider.
However, it’s also worth noting that your skin type likely contributes to the way your scar has healed. That means, after a revision, you may need long-term scar management, such as wearing silicone strips, using steroid creams, or even receiving steroid injections into the scar if necessary.
Overall, I would say this is a medically acceptable outcome. There is some mild asymmetry, but still within reasonable limits.
A scar revision can definitely be performed &mdash; but keep in mind that even after the revision, consistent aftercare such as taping, using scar creams, or steroid injections may be necessary to optimize the final result.
Whether you’d like to proceed with another minor procedure or not is entirely your choice. It’s not a bad result at all, but also not the best possible &mdash; so the decision is yours. From a surgical perspective, 6 months is an appropriate waiting period before performing a scar revision

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS - Account Suspended · 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

Should I be considering a revision or additional scar treatments 6 months post breast lift? (Photo)

Answers (9)

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