BREAST SCAR REVISION
Conveniently located to serve Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Los Angeles, NYC, and Miami.
Breast scar revision procedures can address breast surgery scars that are more prominent than you expected, cause you to feel self-conscious, or are a source of physical discomfort. Board-certified cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. Jason Emer is renowned providers of breast scar revision in Beverly Hills who use advanced non-surgical and/or surgical techniques to minimize the appearance of irregular breast scars.
WHAT IS BREAST SCAR REVISION?
Breast scar revision treatments are intended to make post-op marks from a previous breast surgery less noticeable. Achieving optimal results may involve minimally invasive techniques, minor surgery, or a combination of surgical and non-surgical procedures. Scar revision treatments cannot completely get rid of breast surgery scars but can provide significant aesthetic improvements.
Scarring is to be expected after any surgery, as scar tissue formation is an inevitable and important part of the body’s natural healing process. When breast surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, the initial raised, reddish appearance of your incision sites will fade and flatten considerably over time.
For most patients, “normal” breast scars do not detract from the enhanced breast position and contours accomplished with cosmetic breast surgery. However, there are various factors that can lead to severe breast scars and the need for breast scar revision to feel more confident and more comfortable in your body.
At our medical practice in Beverly Hills, breast scar revision treatments are available to patients concerned about post-op marks that:
- Are dark and/or otherwise discolored
- Are wider than anticipated
- Are raised (hypertrophic)
- Are itchy, feel tight, or are painful
- Have distorted the shape of the breast
RIGHT FOR YOU?
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR BREAST SCAR REVISION?
If you want to reduce the appearance of scars from a previous breast enhancement procedure, you may be a candidate for breast scar revision. Scar revision can be a good option for women who are dissatisfied with the extent of post-surgery marks after undergoing one or more of the following surgeries:
- Breast augmentation with saline implants
- Breast augmentation with silicone implants
- Breast lift (mastopexy)
- Breast reduction (reduction mammaplasty)
Breast surgery scars can fade considerably in the first year to two years after your procedure. It is not recommended to undergo breast scar revision until your post-op marks have matured.
It is important that candidates have an accurate concept of what can be accomplished with breast scar revision. There is no way to completely eliminate scars from a prior breast surgery, and treatment outcomes vary. However, many patients achieve dramatic results under the care of our doctors.
Certain medical and/or dermatological conditions can limit the extent of scar reduction that is possible for a patient, as well as complicate treatment. Patients with a history of keloid scars, for instance, may require extensive pre- and post-treatment care in order to benefit from breast scar revision.
PROCEDURE DETAILS
WHY ARE MY BREAST SURGERY SCARS SO NOTICEABLE?
Factors that can contribute to the formation of large, wide, raised, painful, or discolored breast surgery scars include:
The surgeon’s placement of the incisions for a particular surgery can differ from one patient to the next based on the extent of tissue removal and/or remodeling required. In some cases, discreet incisions can be made in the underarm area, while other incision techniques require multiple incisions on each breast and cannot be concealed.
The greater the size and number of incisions, the more involved the healing process can be, which increases the risk of abnormal scarring. Your treatment goals and anatomy will affect whether you need one, two, or three incisions per breast.
Minor breast tissue modifications can often be accomplished without the need for multiple incisions. Larger incisions and/or more than one incision per breast will be necessary for more complex and intensive breast surgery procedures.
Dr. Emer and the plastic surgeon can then begin the process of re-shaping the thighs and lifting the buttocks. This typically involves a combination of liposuction, skin excision, tissue repositioning, and skin tightening with internal heating. Fat transfer to the buttocks may also be included.
PROCEDURE DETAILS
WHAT IS THE BEST SCAR TREATMENT AFTER BREAST SURGERY?
If you are planning to undergo breast surgery or are recovering from breast surgery, there are several aftercare therapies and at-home treatments that can support proper healing to minimize scarring. The best way to avoid the need for breast scar revision is to follow all of your aftercare instructions closely, so you can avoid delaying or disrupting the body’s wound-repair processes.
If you have already had breast surgery, are unhappy with the appearance of your scars, and a year or more has passed since your procedure, you can schedule a consultation with one of our doctors to find out the best breast scar treatment for you.
Breast scar revision treatments must be carefully tailored to the patient based on factors like the degree of scar tissue formation, whether the patient has a history of keloids or other conditions that complicate the body’s wound healing process, the patient’s desired outcome, and other considerations.
Depending on the characteristics of your breast scars, you may not require surgical intervention to accomplish your cosmetic goals. Dr. Emer can deliver remarkable breast scar revision results using proprietary combinations of minimally invasive treatments like:
LASER SKIN RESURFACING
Dr. Emer can treat many discolored and/or irregularly textured scars with cosmetic laser devices. Laser skin treatments can remove the outermost layers of skin cells to lift pigmentation and stimulate cellular renewal processes, making scars less visible.
MEDICAL TATTOOING
If discoloration is your primary concern, medical tattooing may be recommended to camouflage your breast surgery scars.
STEROID INJECTIONS
Raised scars, such as keloid and hypertrophic scars, may necessitate steroid injections to reduce discomfort and provide aesthetic improvements. Steroid injections are often performed after surgical scar revision procedures to prevent new keloid scarring, as well.
PRP INJECTIONS
Platelets play a starring role in the body’s natural healing and regenerative processes, which is why platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is such a versatile medical and cosmetic treatment. PRP injections can accelerate and optimize cellular turnover to make breast scars less noticeable, particularly when used in combination with laser scar treatments and scar revision surgery.
MICRONEEDLING WITH RADIOFREQUENCY
Microneedling with radiofrequency (RF) is another way to make breast scars less prominent. During this treatment, the microneedling device creates tiny punctures in the skin and delivers RF heat to break down scar tissue and prompt the body to produce collagen and new, healthy skin cells.
CHEMICAL PEELS
Dr. Emer often incorporates chemical peels into scar revision treatments to provide collagen-stimulating benefits. Chemical peels like Enlighten and Cosmelan can also be used to prepare your skin for laser treatments and/or complement the effects of other minimally invasive scar reduction procedures.
BREAST SCAR REVISION SURGERY
If you have severe scarring, surgical breast scar revision is an option. This treatment can replace raised, enlarged, and discolored scars with flatter, thinner, and less visible marks. Surgical breast scar revision is typically the best approach to correcting breast scars that have distorted the breast shape.
YOUR BREAST SCAR REVISION CONSULTATION
Dr. Emer will determine the best treatment approach for your needs during your initial consultation. This appointment involves a physical examination of the breast scars you wish to treat, a discussion about your cosmetic goals, questions about your medical history and health, and an explanation of your treatment options. Any concerns or questions you have can also be raised at this time.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING BREAST SCAR REVISION SURGERY
Scar revision surgery is performed under anesthesia, so you will not experience any discomfort during the procedure. During your surgical breast scar revision, We will make an incision, so he can carefully excise discolored skin and scar tissue.
Next, we will use a layering technique to suture the underlying tissue, so the new incision site can heal properly, without being subjected to unnecessary tension. Sutures can then be placed to close the skin.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING BREAST SCAR REVISION SURGERY RECOVERY
Though complete healing will take several weeks, post-procedure discoloration, discomfort, and/or swelling will subside within a week or two. Light walking is advisable to promote healthy blood circulation, which will support the healing process. However, you should not reintroduce moderate or high intensity exercise until approved by us.
Engaging in activities that create tension at the incision sites, such as high impact cardio or lifting heavy weights, can negatively affect your results. Your follow-up appointments will include an assessment of your healing progress, so we can advise you when you can resume your normal routine without jeopardizing your treatment outcome.
BREAST SCAR REVISION AFTERCARE
Optimal breast scar revision results are possible when patients follow the aftercare instructions we provide. Whether your breast scar revision procedure was surgical or non-surgical, the treatment area will be sensitive and vulnerable to damage from UV radiation, abrasion (such as itching), forceful motion, and harsh skincare products.
Your personalized post-treatment instructions will include the information you need to properly care for your incision sites, correctly use approved topical scar reduction products, and minimize the risk of irregular scar tissue formation.
BREAST SCAR REVISION RESULTS
Breast scar revision can result in post-op marks that are:
- Smaller
- Flatter
- Smoother
- Thinner
- Closer in coloration to your natural skin tone
- No longer itchy or uncomfortable
Outcomes vary depending on the patient’s unique case and treatment plan. While a single surgical scar revision procedure can dramatically and permanently reduce breast scars, multiple minimally invasive scar revision treatments will likely be needed to successfully revise breast scars.