Whenever breast lift incisions are required for a surgery, scars are an inevitability.
The good news is that, when it comes to breast lift scars, they will fade with time, and you can minimize their appearance yourself by taking good care of your incision site.
If you are curious about what type of visible minimal scarring you should expect after your breast lift surgery, read on for more information, and don’t forget to check out our amazing breast lift before and after pictures.
Breast Lifts Explained
Before we discuss breast lift scarring, let’s briefly go over what a breast lift is, as this procedure can sometimes be confused with breast augmentation.
A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, is a cosmetic surgery that aims to reverse the effects of drooping, sagging breasts. Most drooping breasts are caused by aging, but some women may experience drooping or sagging as a result of pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss.
No matter the cause, a breast lift can raise the breasts and tighten the breast tissue. The procedure will also remove excess skin tissue and may sometimes involve an alteration of the areolas. By contrast, breast augmentation uses implants or fat from the patient’s own body to increase the size of the breasts and change their shape.
A breast lift shares a few things with a breast reduction. A breast reduction includes a lift as a part of the procedure, as a breast reduction aims at significantly reducing the size of the breasts. During the breast reduction, tissue is removed which then necessitates a lift afterward in order to reposition the breast after the breast reduction.
What to Expect From Breast Lift Scars
After a breast lift, most patients will have at least two scars (one on each side). Many patients will have four scars, and some patients will have more than this.
Basically, there are three incision pattern options available to patients.
First, if only a small amount of skin and tissue needs to be adjusted, your surgeon can simply make an incision around the edge of each areola. These scars are barely noticeable when healed.
Another incision pattern that may be used is the lollipop incision pattern. This surgery involves one scar on each breast around the areola and another that goes from the bottom of each areola down to the crease. Finally, an anchor incision pattern is basically the lollipop pattern with an additional incision made along the crease line of each breast.
Now, let’s take a look at what to expect in terms of breast lift scarring over time.
Breast Lift Scarring Timeline
Breast lift scars 3 weeks after surgery
Just three weeks after surgery, your incision sites will still be healing. They will be pink and may still be tender and swollen. The only things you can do at this point to minimize scar appearance are to continue following your doctor’s postoperative instructions.
Breast lift scars after 6 months
After six months, your lift results will be apparent, but you’ll still have some residual swelling. Your scar tissue should be flat and slightly faded. Continue on with your scar-minimizing practices. This is around the time when you should be finally out of your supportive surgical bra garments (if you haven’t already been allowed to discontinue using them).
Breast lift scars after one year
Scar tissue after 12 months (one year) should be faded significantly, and your final results should be visible.
You should still continue to use scar massage and/or silicone patches or creams (in accordance with your surgeon’s instructions). Even a year after surgery, you can continue to minimize breast lift scars appearance.
Breast lift scars after 2 years
Most patients with two year-old breast lift observe that the scars are pale pink, mauve, or purple in color.
Over time, these scars tend to fade further. After three or four years, they should be even less noticeable. Additionally, most breast scars gradually flatten out over time.
Tips for Minimizing Scars After Breast Lift Surgery
As your breast scars heal, there are things you can do to minimize their appearance:
- Follow your surgeon’s postoperative care instructions closely
- Avoid vigorous activity directly after plastic surgery (and for several weeks)
- Be sure you don’t place any tension on your chest during recovery
- Use scar minimizing creams and silicone patches (as directed)
- Try massaging your hypertrophic scars (check with your surgeon first)
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid smoking and alcohol
Breast Lift Scars FAQ
How many breast lift surgery scars will I have?
This depends on what type of surgery you and your surgeon decide upon.
A concentric lift will require an incision around each areola. A lollipop lift will entail the same areola incisions and one incision that runs from the bottom of the areola to the breast crease on each breast. An anchor lift is a lollipop lift with an additional incision along the under-breast crease on each side.
How effective are breast lifts after 40?
Getting a breast lift after 40 is actually quite normal. In fact, most women don’t experience sagging breasts until their late 30s or 40s unless it is an inherent issue they’ve had since puberty.
Does breast lift scars go away?
No, but over time, your breast surgery scars will fade, and most breast scars are hardly noticeable to begin with (especially those around the areola). In most cases, vertical breast scars are the most difficult to conceal (with lollipop or anchor lifts) as they cannot be hidden around the areolas or within the crease.
How long does a breast lift scar usually last?
You will technically have breast scars for the rest of your life, but they will fade with time. After a few years, many patients don’t even notice their breast scars anymore. The recovery process typically shows significant improvement within 6-12 months, with continued fading over several years.
What can make breast lift scars worse?
Sun exposure during the healing process can make the scars worse. Additionally, any kind of irritation will darken scar tissue buildup and make the scars worse. Not wearing a supportive bra during breast lift recovery can also lead to more noticeable scars and extensive scarring.
Is there a way to get rid of scars?
There are professional scar removal treatments available, however it is best to follow your surgeon’s instructions immediately after surgery to avoid any need for removal treatments. Proper wound care and steps to promote healing can minimize scarring from the start and reduce future treatment needs.
Do breast lift scars ever heal?
Breast scars never completely go away, but they will lighten and flatten over time. Right after surgery, the scars will appear brighter, thinner, and more raised. Gradually, they should fade to a light shade, slightly darker than your natural skin tone, with a hint of pink or brown.
How do you get rid of a keloid scars on your breast?
Laser treatment has proven effective in reducing itchiness and fading keloids. Pulsed-dye laser therapy is typically administered over several sessions, spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart. Your doctor may also recommend combining laser therapy with cortisone injections for enhanced results or until they are completely healed.
What is the best age for a breast lift?
The ideal age varies, but most candidates are between 30-50 years old when breast sagging becomes more pronounced. Whether you choose a crescent lift, donut breast lift, or procedure involving the entire areola depends on individual anatomy rather than age alone.
When can I start using scar gels after breast lift?
The material is breathable, helping to prevent scar tissue from becoming sweaty and irritated, and can actually reduce the itching associated with scars. It should only be used once the wound has fully healed, typically after 2-3 weeks.
Book Your Consultation Today!
Knowing you’ll have surgical scars from your surgical procedure shouldn’t hold you back from the breast lift procedure. You can analyze breast lift before and after photos to see amazing results.
If you have been mulling over a breast lift but still aren’t sure if you’d be a good candidate, contact our office today to book a one-on-one consultation with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Smita Ramanadham.