Top Tips to Minimize Breast Lift Scars
A breast lift can restore your confidence, alleviate back pain, and take years off your appearance—that’s why breast lift scars are such a concern. No one wants to spend the time and money to make their breasts look better, only to end up with unsightly scarring. The good news is, breast lifts entail minimal scarring anyway, and most patients report that scars fade within one year of the surgery.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to entirely eliminate scarring. There’s always a chance of it with any surgery that requires incisions, but The Landings Surgical Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is here to explain what you can do at home to minimize the appearance of post-operative breast lift scarring.
Aftercare at a Glance
- Rest and avoid running, jumping, or strenuous exercise. The force of gravity and motion of your own body could aggravate the closures and cause more pronounced scarring.
- Attend all follow-up appointments. Your doctor needs to evaluate the healing process to make sure that your incisions heal properly.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol. Both interrupt the healing process and can make the appearance of scars worse.
- Wear your surgical bra, not an underwire bra. A compressive band is a great way to give your breasts the support they need while the tissues heal.
- Practice scar massages. To stimulate blood flow and circulation for the healing process, gently massage your scars once the doctor gives you clearance to do so.
We will provide a breast lift recovery plan with ways you can limit the formation of scar tissue and camouflage unavoidable scarring, but you can lay the groundwork for successful healing now. Keep scrolling for more details on steps you can take at home.
Rest and avoid running, jumping, or strenuous exercise.
Breasts bounce. They just do. If you find yourself itching to get back to your normal fitness routine or workout schedule, resist the urge. Any lateral pressure or force of gravity on your breasts will cause scar tissue to widen and become inflamed.
Stay on top of follow-up appointments.
For the first few months after breast lift surgery, expect swelling, bruises, and soreness.
You’ll have several follow-ups after surgery when your doctor will examine your condition and rate of healing. It’s important that you never miss a follow-up, because your doctor will be able to tell over the course of your recovery if you’re healing properly or need intervention to help the process along.
Avoid smoking and alcohol.
Tobacco and alcohol both lower the body’s immunity and interrupt the wound healing process because they are vasoconstrictors. As a result of using tobacco or alcohol, your skin won’t receive the nutrients it needs to stimulate healing. Before your breast lift, you were told to stop smoking and consuming alcohol. It’s advice you should stick with if you want to promote your skin’s natural healing response and limit your breast lift scars.
Wear your surgical bra, not an underwire.
In the same way that you don’t want to put unnecessary strain on your breasts through exercise, you also don’t want them to have the burden of their own weight during the healing process. Any strain on the surgery sites can cause additional damage that may lead to greater scarring. Surgical bras are designed to compress the area without injuring you, for maximum support.
Practice scar massages.
Once your scars are pink around the edges and completely healed—closed wounds with no drainage—you can begin gently massaging the affected tissues. The idea is to “move” the scar around so that the tissue doesn’t have a chance to set.
Book Your Consultation to Learn More
Extreme scarring after a breast lift is very rare. Our experienced, compassionate doctors can alleviate all of your concerns and help you find confidence greater in your appearance. Contact our office in Halifax, Nova Scotia, serving Prince Edward Island and nearby areas, today. Call 1-902-492-2007 or send us a message to schedule your consultation appointment.
