What Will Your Scars Look Like After a Breast Lift? A Realistic Look at Healing

If you’re thinking about getting a breast lift, it’s natural to have a few concerns. Realistically, scars are probably near the top of that list. Nobody wants to feel self-conscious about their body, especially after going through surgery, when the goal is most certainly to help you feel more confident. Sherif Wilson is one of the UK’s top Plastic surgeons with a speciality in breast reconstruction. Here, he will talk about what breast lift scars or mastopexy scars, might look like and the kind of things you can expect as they heal.

Types of Breast Lift Scars: What You Might See

How your scars will look depends mainly on the type of breast lift you’re getting. Different techniques leave different types of scars, so understanding these can help set your expectations.

Crescent Lift Scars:

If you only need a minor lift, your surgeon might use a crescent incision, which is made along the top edge of the areola. The scar usually hides well along the natural line between your areola and the surrounding skin, so it’s pretty subtle.

Peri-Areolar (Donut) Lift Scars:

For a more moderate lift, there’s the peri-areolar technique. This involves making a circular incision around the areola. The resulting scar tends to blend in nicely with the border of the areola, making it less obvious.

Vertical (Lollipop) Lift Scars:

This technique is quite common and involves two incisions—one around the areola and another straight down from the bottom of the areola to the breast crease. The result is a lollipop-shaped scar, hence the name. It’s more noticeable than the others but still fairly discreet.

Inverted T (Anchor) Lift Scars:

If you’re going for a more significant lift, the inverted T or anchor lift might best for you. This method involves three incisions: one around the areola, one down to the breast crease, and another along the breast fold. The scars are more extensive but necessary to achieve the desired shape and lift.

Breast Lift Scarring: The Journey of Healing

Healing from a breast lift is a journey, and like any journey, it’s different for everyone. But there are some general stages that most people go through, so here’s a rundown of what you might experience.

1. The Early Days (Weeks 1-3):

What You’ll See: Right after surgery, your scars will be fresh, think red, slightly swollen, and raised. This is completely normal. Your surgeon will cover them with dressings, and you might have some surgical tape or glue holding everything in place.

What to Do: Follow your surgeon’s care instructions closely. Keep the area clean and dry, and try not to overdo it with physical activity. Some doctors might prescribe topical treatments to keep infections at bay and promote healing.

2. The First Few Months (Months 1-3):

What You’ll See: As weeks turn into months, you’ll notice the redness starting to fade, and the scars will begin to flatten out a bit. They’re still visible, but they’re starting to calm down.

What to Do: This is a good time to start using scar treatments like silicone gel sheets or creams, as your surgeon recommends. These can help soften the scars and speed up the healing process. And don’t forget sunscreen, UV rays can darken scars, so protect your skin when you’re out and about.

3. The Long Haul (Months 3-12):

What You’ll See: Over the next several months, your scars will continue to fade as they heal. They’ll get lighter, smoother, and less noticeable. By the end of the year, most scars have faded to fine lines that are easy to overlook.

What to Do: Patience is key here. Keep up with any scar treatments your surgeon suggests, and focus on overall skin health. Staying hydrated, eating well, and avoiding smoking can all help your body heal better.

4. The End Game (1 Year and Beyond):

What You’ll See: By the time a year has passed, most of the healing is done. Your scars should be much lighter and thinner, blending in more with the surrounding skin. Of course, everyone heals differently, so some scars might be more prominent than others.

What to Do: Even after the first year, you can still work on improving your scars’ appearance. Keep moisturising, avoid sun exposure as much as possible, and continue with any treatments that seem to be working well.

Minimising Breast Lift Scars: What You Can Do

While scars are a natural part of the healing process, there are ways to help them fade more effectively.

Silicone Gel or Sheets: These are often recommended for reducing scar thickness and making them softer and smoother over time.

Laser Treatments: Some people opt for laser therapy to reduce the redness and make scars less noticeable, especially in the early stages of healing.

Microneedling: This technique stimulates collagen production, which can help smooth out scar tissue.

Steroid Injections: If your scars are raised or thickened, steroid injections might be an option to flatten and soften them.

Embracing Your Breast Lift Scars: A Realistic Perspective

It’s important to go into this with realistic expectations. Yes, you’ll have scars, but they’re a natural part of the process. With time and proper care, they can fade significantly. Many people find that the emotional and physical benefits of a breast lift far outweigh the concern about scars.

Remember, your healing journey is uniquely yours. If you’re worried about how your scars are progressing, talk to your surgeon—they can offer guidance and reassurance, helping you feel more confident along the way. In the end, with a little patience and care, you can enjoy the results of your breast lift with scars that tell a story of your transformation rather than detracting from it.

Breast Lifts in Bristol, Gloucester, Newport and Bath

As a lead breast consultant for the NHS in Bristol, Mr Wilson is one of the UK’s most well-respected plastic surgeons and also sees patients in Gloucester, Bath and Newport.

His goal is always to provide compassionate and effective care and advice, helping patients achieve the breast shape they are happy with.

If you are considering a breast lift, always consult with a qualified surgeon to explore the best approach for your individual needs. With the right treatment, you will achieve a natural look that suits your body, along with minimal scarring and improved recovery time. 

Breast Lift Scars – Before and After Images 

These before and after images are from some of Mr Wilson’s great lift surgeries and are a good indication of the kind of scars you should expect from breast lift surgery. During a consultation, Mr Wilson will be able to show you further images of scarring and provide you with realistic expectations from your surgery. 

This lovely patient had a bilateral mastopexy to restore the breasts to a more youthful appearance following weight loss and having children. This has also reduced the degree of asymmetry she presented with. An excellent result!

Low-hanging breasts can cause discomfort, rashes, and lead to low self-esteem. A lift can help by improving firmness and overall shape, either with or without a reduction or implants. This patient was incredibly pleased with her results with minimal scarring. 

This patient underwent a lift and enlargement, which many surgeons will opt to do as two separate procedures, meaning a longer recovery time and the added expense of a second hospital stay. Mr Wilson is highly skilled in performing the combination procedure of augmentation mastopexy, meaning this can be achieved in one surgery without compromising the quality of the result. As you can see the scarring from this procedure is minimal and the patient was very pleased with the outcome.