Scars after any surgery are normal and expected. When it comes to cosmetic surgery, such as types of breast surgery, it’s important to know that you will end up with a scar but that there are ways to manage this. Although you’ll never completely get rid of your mammoplasty breast augmentation scars, they should fade with the help of good postoperative wound care.
A/Prof Mark Magnusson is eager to help his patients care for their incision sites. Good incision care will help to reduce (but not get rid of) the appearance of scars after breast augmentation mammoplasty surgery. For more information, contact our team in the Gold Coast and Toowoomba.
Types of Breast Surgeries
There are several types of breast surgery types, and each of these can be performed with different techniques. Each surgery type will result in different outcomes and scarring. Also, take into account that each person’s body may respond differently to surgery based on their health and genetics. As a result, there is a great deal of variation in terms of scarring.
Breast lift or mastopexy surgery involves the removal of skin and tissue to reshape the breasts. Breast reduction mammoplasty aims to reduce the breasts’ size. They may be performed for cosmetic or health-related reasons.
Breast augmentation mammoplasty surgery is perhaps the most common breast surgery. It generally involves using implants to augment or enlarge the breasts. There are also other forms of breast surgery, such as breast reconstruction, breast revision, and tuberous breast surgeries. These may all involve different techniques.
The amount of scarring you’ll be left with will depend on the type of surgery you get. Due to the wide range of variation when it comes to mammoplasty breast augmentation scars, it’s important to manage your expectations. Speaking to a qualified breast surgeon can help you have achievable goals for your mammoplasty breast augmentation scars.
Tips for Scar Management
It’s important to know that scars typically take a long time to fade and mature. Even after your surgical wounds have healed and you’re back to everyday life, your scars will likely not yet have faded to their final appearance. Tips to help scar maturation include:
1. Choose a qualified surgeon
Many factors influence the appearance of scars after surgery, and one of these is the skill of your surgeon. This means the first thing to do if you’re concerned about surgical scars is to choose a surgeon who cares about your goals and is qualified. You should make sure the surgeon has the required experience and skill to perform the procedure, such as our own Dr Magnusson.
2. Follow aftercare instructions
Following the guidance of your surgeon not only helps with general recovery but also scar formation. You will need to take care of your incision sites by keeping them clean and dry and reporting any concerning symptoms to your surgeon. You might also need to:
- Quit smoking, as this impacts your body’s healing ability
- Avoid exercise for several weeks to avoid strain on your body
- Avoid sun exposure to the incision sites
- Continue to use and apply surgical tape to the scars for a couple of months following surgery
These instructions, as well as any others your surgeon gives you, will aid your healing and scar maturation.
3. Maintain good general health
One of the most important things you can do to help your body heal from surgery is to stay generally healthy. Scarring is part of your body’s natural healing response, which means the healthier you are, the better your body will be able to mend itself. Therefore, you should be conscious of the food you are consuming, making sure that you’re eating healthy and staying hydrated. Getting enough rest and sleep is also important.
4. Use scar creams
After following the above tips, if you’re looking for further treatment for mammoplasty breast augmentation scars, you could try scar creams. There are a variety of scar creams out there for you to choose from. However, you can only try these if your wounds have already healed.
Incision Placement
The incision placement during your surgery will also affect the look of your scars. The placement options usually include the armpit, breast fold, or areola.
Discussing the placement of your scars will be an important part of your consultation process. Dr Magnusson will explain your options and help you understand what scarring you can expect from each. He can then guide you in making an educated decision about where to place your scars, with consideration for your health, surgical risks, and aesthetic outcomes.
The Risk of Poor Scarring
There are many things that can impact scar formation. Certain people may be more prone to larger scars, due to factors such as:
- Genetics
- Lifestyle choices such as sun exposure
- General health
- Surgery type
- Surgical techniques
- Post-operative incision care
As a result of the above factors, there is a risk of poor scarring. Sometimes scars may become raised or large, and this is not always avoidable. It’s important to be aware of this, as well as other factors and risks, prior to getting surgery. To learn more about the risks of breast surgery, and more details on the surgery process itself, visit our main procedure page.
In the case of poor scarring, a past breast surgery patient might be a candidate for scar revision. Revising a scar with an additional procedure can often be performed under a local anaesthetic. If you’re concerned that you have large or poorly formed scars, you can discuss this revision option with Dr Magnusson.
Reasons to Choose A/Prof Mark Magnusson for Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty in Gold Coast & Toowoomba
If you’re concerned about the risk of mammoplasty breast augmentation scars, you can speak about this with your surgeon. Choosing a qualified surgeon will help make sure that you have the necessary information about your breast procedure. It can also help you prepare for the aftercare and scar management techniques you can employ to reduce your mammoplasty breast augmentation scars.
A/Prof Mark Magnusson takes time to consult with his patients to ensure that they understand the risks and have realistic goals. He can talk you through the process of surgery recovery and scar management so that you can properly prepare. Book your consultation to learn more about mammoplasty breast augmentation scars in the Gold Coast and Toowoomba.