Minimizing scars after breast augmentation is something all patients should consider. Here are some factors that can have an effect on scarring and how to heal with the best result.
Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in Canada. When performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon, it can be a great solution if:
- You’re unhappy with the current size, shape, or symmetry of your breasts
- Your breasts are underdeveloped or not proportionate to your body
- Breastfeeding has caused some changes
- Age and gravity have taken a toll on your breasts
- You’ve experienced significant weight loss
Breast Augmentation in Edmonton
The breast augmentation procedure at our Edmonton clinic is a safe and effective way to help you achieve all your desired shape. Dr. Ladak can assess your medical history and aesthetic goals to help determine whether this is the right procedure for you.
4 Factors That Affect Scarring During Breast Augmentation
Making the decision to have breast augmentation surgery requires many considerations, one of the most important being scarring.While scarring is natural during any surgery, there are best practices to minimize their appearance, including:
- Your health
- Your surgeon
- Choice of incision site
- Aftercare
Your Health
One of the biggest factors in a smooth recovery after a surgery is your health. While it might seem odd to suggest that eating healthy foods and exercising regularly before your surgery is a great way to minimize scarring, in truth a healthy body is a resilient body and will recover faster and heal better.
We strongly recommend you stop smoking before your procedure. Smoking increases procedure risks and in some cases may bar you from a procedure at all.
Some people bruise or scar more easily than others. If you are one of these people, you may need to resign yourself to some visible scarring, even if you follow every piece of advice completely. There is no shame in having a scar. Consult with your surgeon if you are concerned this might be you.
Older women can have excellent results from breast augmentation surgery, but there are considerations to be aware of. As skin ages, sagging and stretching are natural due to collagen breakdown and other factors. It can also take longer to heal in some cases. A longer healing time doesn’t automatically mean you will have a bigger scar, but it is something to consider. On the bright side, depending on the incision site you choose it may be easier to hide a scar in skin creases or folds you’ve developed naturally during the aging process.
Pregnancy is a major change to the body and can cause skin to stretch, which could make scars more visible. In addition, breastfeeding could cause sagging or other effects that offset the breast augmentation surgery itself, and the surgery could likewise impact your ability to breastfeed well. If you think you would like to have children after your surgery, please consider factors like incision placement closely.
Your Surgeon
Once you’ve decided to have breast augmentation surgery and are taking all the steps necessary to be as healthy as possible, the next decision you make that can impact your scarring is your choice of surgeon.
- A knowledgeable, certified plastic surgeon can:
- Address any concerns you have about scarring
- Ensure any incisions they make are discreet
- Give you the right post-op instructions to look after your skin and minimize scarring
- Answer all your questions about the procedure, including the expected size of your scar
Your Choice of Incision Site
Different incision sites have different scar possibilities and it’s important to consult with your plastic surgeon to decide on the best incision site for your overall goals.
Here are four potential incision sites and their pros and cons to help you make the best choice:
Armpit
Pros:
- Creases in the armpit can hide the scar.
Cons:
- Silicone implants require a longer incision and may be hard to hide in small armpits.
- A scar may be visible in sleeveless tops.
Breast Fold
Pros:
- A deep breast fold can hide the scar.
Cons:
- Scarring will be on the breast.
- A scar on a breast without a deep fold might be easier to see.
Areola
Pros:
- Areolar tissue may hide the scarring.
Cons:
- Any visible scarring is at the breast’s focal point.
Umbilical
Pros:
- No scar on the breast.
Cons:
- This method is only available for saline implants, not silicone gel.
Aftercare
Most people assume that scarring is a result of doing something wrong after the surgery. While this can be true, as noted often pre-surgery factors impact scarring just as much or more. That doesn’t mean you should shirk on your aftercare, however. It can impact your scarring and your health and healing time in general.
Your surgeon will give you post-op instructions, often designed to minimize scarring and promote healing.
- If you didn’t stop smoking before surgery you need to now. Smoking will delay healing and leave you with a worse scar.
- Limit or stop your consumption of alcohol, which is a dehydrant. Keeping properly hydrated is important to healing.
- A compression bra helps keep tissues in place and minimize swelling while you heal. Follow your surgeon’s instructions for how long and when to wear yours.
- Limit strain on your sutures by sleeping in a propped position.
- For the first 48 hours post-op, please have someone available to lift or reach for things.
- Do not lift your arms over your head for a few weeks after the surgery. If you have young children, arrange for childcare to limit this activity and reduce strain on the incision area.
- Contact your surgeon immediately if you have excessive swelling or bleeding or suspect infection. Follow all instructions given to minimize risk of infection, which can worsen scars in addition to being a serious health complication.
- Avoid strenuous workouts for the first month, and all exercise for the first several days. Don’t resume upper body exercises until you are cleared to. Raising your blood pressure through exercise could impact healing.
- Avoid hot tubs, swimming pools and going in the ocean. Also avoid the sun so that your scars can heal properly.
- Driving can strain your incision site when you turn the wheel or your torso, so you may need to avoid it until the surgeon clears you to do so.
Other Potential Post-Op Treatments
In order to minimize your scars after a breast augmentation procedure, you can discuss with your surgeon how the following might be helpful:
- Silicone bandage sheets or paper strips
- Self massage after the scar has healed
- Cortisone creams or injections
- Topical Vitamin E after the scar has healed
- Laser treatment a year or more after surgery
Call Today
To find out more about what can be done to minimize the appearance of scars after your breast augmentation surgery, contact Dr. Ladak at 780-407-6691 or book a consultation.
