Most patients heal incredibly well and have good scars after breast reduction surgery, particularly if their surgery was carried out by an experienced surgeon and all aftercare instructions were followed.
There are also some additional steps that you can take during your recovery to minimise scarring.
Breast Reduction Scars Explained
Scarring is a natural part of every surgical process, with most scars taking about 12 to 18 months to mature. Most scars are raised, red and hard for the first 12 weeks – this is because the body is producing additional collagen in order to heal the incision site.
The reason why some scars are more prominent than others is that the body doesn’t always know how much collagen will be required to heal the skin so it can end up producing more than is necessary. Once the scar matures though, it will start to soften and hopefully reduce in size and colour too.
Surgeons usually recommend using surgical tape on the incision site for the first few weeks following your breast reduction surgery and progressing to silicone gel or sheets thereafter. High-quality silicone sheets are a must if you want to focus on scar reduction during your recovery and can be used for up to 4 months.
These before and after breast reduction images will give you an idea of what your breasts will look like after surgery.
Reducing Breast Reduction Scars at Home
Here are some additional tips that will minimise scarring after your procedure:
Apply pressure to the scar. Paper tape and silicone gel pads will help apply pressure to your breast reduction scars.
Wear a good supportive bra. By reducing wound tension with a supportive bra, you can minimise the appearance of scars.
Use micropore tape. This easy-to-use tape creates a barrier between your scars and your clothing, which will help reduce the appearance of your scars and protect them from dirt at the same time.
Stay out of the sun. Exposing your fresh scars to the harmful rays of the sun can create pigmentation issues and make your scars worse. Always use a good sunscreen and cover your scars with protective clothing until they are fully healed.
Find out about steroid injections. If you have hypertrophic or keloid scars, steroid injections can help reduce their size.
Ask about incision options. Vertical and short incisions are said to produce minimal scarring so speak to your surgeon about your incision options prior to your surgery.
Schedule a laser treatment. Laser treatments are another popular way to reduce the appearance of your scars once they have fully matured. Just be sure to find the right type of laser treatment for your scars and skin tone.
Over and above these tips, time is always going to be one of the best ways to heal and reduce the appearance of any breast reduction scars. Carefully following your surgeon’s aftercare instructions will also make a massive difference.
