Why Does my Verticle Scar Widen and Pigment After Breast Lift?

Question

I'm 25 and had my 1st of 3 surgeries when I was 18 and my last at 23 to correct a size B tuberous breast, and a normal size A breast. I now have implants with anchor cuts to both breasts. I'm now a size 36 DD with breasts that sag and have 1/2-1 inch wide pigmented verticle incisions. This has been a reoccuring problem (widdened scar/pigmetation) causing countless in-office procudres under local between sx. I'm looking to reduce to a C & get a lift, will this reoccur? Thanks :)

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

I have a saying that scarring is 50% my skill and 50% the patient's response to healing. I believe that part of the reason is the tension of your large breasts on the incisions but also your tendendcy for scarring. If you ever decide to have your implants removed, it may be worth one more try at a revision but I am skeptical and do not otherwise advise replacement.

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

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, sometimes despite plastic surgeons' best efforts,  breast scars can spread/widen and/or hyper pigment. Sometimes the hyper pigmented skin along the vertical incision is actually residual areola skin. Occasionally, downsizing of breast implants may be helpful in this regard ( although may lead to smaller breasts then the patient is looking for).

	Best wishes.

Delio Ortegon, MD · Answer

I agree, how you heal is often out of your surgeon's control.  Given that you have had several procedures and each time you get the same scars as a result, this means that the scarring is not secondary to technique or handling of the skin.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Even with revising the scar with a small lift in the office, if you have a propensity for the scars to widen, more than likely they will again.

Why Does my Verticle Scar Widen and Pigment After Breast Lift?

Answers (5)

Answer: Scar widen after breast revision

Answer: Scar widen after breast revision

Answer: Scars after a lift

Answer: Scars after a lift

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Why Does my Verticle Scar Widen and Pigment After Breast Lift?

Answers (5)

Answer: Scar widen after breast revision

Answer: Scar widen after breast revision

Answer: Scars after a lift

Answer: Scars after a lift

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.