What kind of scarring can I expect after a breast augmentation?
One of the most common questions that get asked in a breast augmentation consultation is, ‘what kind of scarring can I expect?’ A breast augmentation is a surgical procedure and, like any other surgical procedure, involves incisions and therefore scarring is an inevitable consequence.
The good news is that for most patients, breast augmentation scarring will eventually become very thin, flat and be positioned to be as least noticeable as possible.
Location of breast augmentation scars
There are a number of approaches Mr Alan Park can take in regard to the incisions he makes. During a breast augmentation procedure, implants are placed inside the breast pocket, and the most common incisions to make is the inframammary incision.
An incision is made in the natural curve underneath the breast. This incision is preferred because scarring is usually well hidden once healed.
Another incision is the periareolar incision where the incision is made around the edge areolas; again, when fully healed, this scar is usually well camouflaged. A less popular incision is the transaxillary incision, which is made under the arms, but this can allow for less accuracy in placing the implants.
How will my scars heal?
The most important thing to realise about breast augmentation scarring is that it can take over a year for your scars to fully mature. At first, they will appear pink and slightly raised and, over time, they will flatten and fade.
Certain factors will influence how you heal, including your age and skin tone. You can help with scar healing by not exposing the wound area to the sun. Mr Park always advises his breast augmentation patients to stop smoking in advance of their procedure and for a period afterwards. This is because nicotine is a vasoconstrictor and reduces the amount of oxygenated blood that will reach the wound, an invaluable part of the healing process. Adopting a healthy and nutritious diet and drinking lots of water during your recovery is also important.
Keloid scarring is a type of scar where collagen is overproduced and the scar will often appear very red, swollen and larger than the original incision. During your consultation, Mr Park will ask about how you’ve healed in the past when the skin has been injured to assess whether you’re at risk of keloid scarring. If your scar isn’t healing as expected there are measures that Mr Park can take to help.
If you would like more breast augmentation advice, call 01926 436341 to arrange a consultation with Mr Alan Park.
