Although a certain amount of scarring accompanies any type of surgery, breast implant scars need not trouble most women. When you select a well qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, he or she will plan your surgery so that incisions are placed in inconspicuous areas, such as the crease below the breast, around the areola or in the armpit.

While it’s true that your genetic tendency to scar, your ethnic makeup, your age and your general health have an effect upon the amount of scarring you will experience, the first step to minimizing breast implant scars is to choose a top breast surgeon.

Top Breast Surgeons Take Great Care to Minimize Scars

You should discuss scars with your plastic surgeon prior to your breast augmentation procedure and he or she should make clear to you where and about how long your incision (and therefore your scars) will be. Your plastic surgeon should be very sensitive to your concern about scarring and let you know what he or she will do to minimize it.

Your surgeon will prevent unnecessary scars with proper surgical planning (including incision size and placement), precise and gentle surgical technique (to minimize tissue trauma) and advanced suturing techniques (limiting tension on the skin) to close your incisions inconspicuously.

If your surgeon glosses over the subject of scars or fails to explain what you can reasonably expect in your specific situation, consider another surgeon.

Preparation and Proper Timing of Surgery Help to Limit Breast Implant Scars

Pay attention to your health:

The healthier you are, the better and quicker you are likely to heal. (Age is also a factor, but older women can have very successful breast surgery.) If you have a chronic condition or health problem such as diabetes, especially if your blood sugar is not properly controlled, (or is you have uncontrolled high blood pressure), you may not be a good candidate for breast implant surgery.

If you are interested in breast augmentation and have a chronic, but well-controlled, health issue, don’t rule out surgery until you speak to an expert breast surgeon.

Make healthy choices:

In the months leading up to breast implant surgery, perhaps when you are just beginning to consider it, make sure you eat properly, maintain a healthy weight and exercise daily. Other lifestyle choices will affect your healing and potential for scars.

Specifically, you must avoid smoking. Smoking interferes with your body’s ability to heal and lengthens the healing process. This can mean thicker scars and other complications.

Time your breast implant surgery wisely:

Another important issue with regard to scars involves your plans for pregnancy. If you plan to have children in the future, you might want to wait until after you’ve finished with childbearing before considering breast augmentation surgery.

If you get breast implants, and later become pregnant, scars may grow as your skin stretches and you may experience sagging, which might affect or negate the results of your breast augmentation. Although you can’t always predict what the future might bring, this is something to keep in mind.

Follow additional preparation instructions:

Your surgeon may instruct you to stop taking or gradually reduce the dosage of specific supplements or medicines. You’ll be asked to avoid ibuprofen and aspirin in the weeks leading up to your surgery.

Follow Recovery Instructions to Avoid Excess Scarring

Many of your post surgery instructions are partly aimed at minimizing breast implant scars. For the quickest scar healing after breast augmentation be sure to:

  • Wear your compression bra as instructed by your physician. You will go home in a bandage and compression bra, which helps to hold your tissues in place during the first part of the healing process—and to minimize swelling which inevitably stretches the skin around your incisions.
  • Sleep in a propped position to limit swelling and strain on your sutures, as instructed during the early healing process.
  • Especially in your first few days after surgery, don’t reach for anything over your head or lift anything. During the first 48 hours, you will have a friend or relative with you to take care of these things. After that time, you must still avoid lifting and stretching for several weeks. You may need to arrange for childcare if you have young kids at home.
  • Care for your healing incision as instructed to prevent infection, which is a serious complication and will worsen scars. Your surgeon’s instructions will tell you what to watch for. If you suspect infection, have excess swelling or bleeding, contact your surgeon immediately.
  • If your surgeon requests it, limit your salt intake to keep swelling down for a short time after surgery.
  • No smoking, if applicable and avoid alcohol, which dehydrates you, can increase bleeding and delay scar healing.
  • If you return to work after a week or two, don’t strain yourself or your healing incisions. Adjust your work duties (or school routine) if they require lifting more than 5 pounds or reaching overhead, until your surgeon gives you the okay to return to normal activity.
  • Limit all exercise the first several days (don’t raise your blood pressure) and don’t go back to upper body exercise for a few weeks, until cleared.
  • Avoid strenuous workouts or activities for at least a month.
  • Avoid hot tubs, swimming pools and going in the ocean.
  • Don’t drive until your surgeon gives the okay to avoid pressure and strain on your incisions when you turn your torso or the steering wheel.
  • Stay out of the sun for the first several weeks so that scars can heal properly.

Treatments and Medications for Breast Implant Scars

  • Your breast augmentation surgeon may recommend paper tape or strips for your incisions, used for 1 – 2 months, to speed scar healing.

About 2 – 3 weeks after breast implant surgery, with your surgeon’s okay, you may use:

  • Silicone bandage sheets
  • Cortizone creams or injections
  • Topical Vit. E or oral supplements after your scars have healed
  • Self massage after the scars have initially healed. Ask your breast surgeon for the correct timing to begin massage.
  • Laser treatment, done a year or more after surgery, may be an option if a remaining breast implant scar is bothersome

Get Expert Advice about Breast Implant Scars and Healing

To find out how breast augmentation would affect you specifically, contact Cohen/Winters Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery in Bergen County, NJ. We can provide you with a personalized consultation about breast implant surgery. Simply contact us for an appointment.

breast surgeon NJ

Dr. Cohen

About Dr. Cohen

Dr. Cohen specializes in breast lifts, augmentations, revisions and reductions as well as breast cancer reconstructions. A long time dream of Dr. Cohen’s was to travel to developing countries and provide expert surgical care to those who have no other possible access to medical care. This became a reality in 2007 when she became a founding member and Vice President of ISMS Operation Kids.