During a mastopexy to correct ptosis, the doctor makes one of three types of incisions through which access is achieved. At the end of the operation, the incisions are closed with stitches. In the future, scars will appear in these places. Their visibility depends not only on the skill of the surgeon, but also on the individual characteristics of the patient and on the seriousness with which the patient approaches the care of the operated area during the rehabilitation period.
It is completely impossible to avoid scars, but you can make them completely invisible to the eyes of others and even to the patient herself. In some cases, special post-operative treatment, such as laser resurfacing, may help. But in most cases, it is possible to get by solely by following the doctor’s instructions during recovery.
Where are the scars located?
To gain access to the operated area, the surgeon makes one of the following types of incisions:
- periareolar,
- vertical,
- T-shaped (or anchor).
A periareolar incision is made along the edge of the nipple areola. With vertical access, an incision is added from the lower edge of the areola to the fold under the breast. Finally, the T-cut combines both of the previous incisions, plus an additional incision is made in the crease itself. This combination looks like an anchor, which is why the technique received the second name “anchor access”.
The mammoplasty technique is selected by the surgeon based on the degree of ptosis that the patient suffers from. For minor ptosis and naturally small breasts, a periareolar incision is optimal. If the ptosis is more severe, a vertical method will be required. For the most significant degree of prolapse, the use of a T-shaped incision is indicated.
Degree of ptosis.
Breast lift with vertical scar
In most women, after childbirth and prolonged lactation, the breasts change shape, droop and lose attractiveness, and noticeable asymmetry appears. But not only breastfeeding is the cause of changes, add to this the elementary force of gravity (attraction), age-related skin changes, sharp and significant fluctuations in weight.
You can try to restore the former attractiveness and beautiful natural shape of the breasts with the help of plastic surgery - breast lift (mastopexy). Vertical mastopexy is performed under general anesthesia or sedation.
Depending on the degree of breast sagging and how low the nipple-areolar complex is located, the surgeon selects a mastopexy technique. In cases where the nipple is lowered below the inframammary fold by no more than 1 cm, the patient will be diagnosed with second degree ptosis, which is an indication for a vertical breast lift.
Degrees of breast drooping
Where are the incisions made?
During the operation, the surgeon makes vertical incisions perpendicular to the inframammary fold and around the edge of the areola in a circumferential manner. If necessary, the nipple-areolar complex is moved a few centimeters higher. At the final stage, a unloading cosmetic suture is applied, so in the future the postoperative vertical scar will become less noticeable and completely leveled, and the suture around the areola is subjected to natural pigmentation or camouflage, for example, with tattooing.
What if the patient plans to breastfeed?
If the patient plans to breastfeed in the future, then this will not be a contraindication to vertical mastopexy, since the mammary glands and ducts are not injured during the operation and functionality is fully preserved.
Are the results of mastopexy stable?
The results of mastopexy are stable over time, but in case of significant weight loss or hormonal changes during the next pregnancy and lactation, the size and shape of the breast may change. This important factor must be taken into account when planning the operation.
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What affects the appearance of scars?
How noticeable the scars will be after a breast lift primarily depends on the skill of the surgeon. The more experienced the doctor, the better the stitches will be placed and, accordingly, the less noticeable the scars.
But a doctor's qualifications alone are not enough. The severity of scars is also influenced by the individual characteristics of the patient herself. These include, for example, age. The older the patient, the lower the ability to regenerate. The production of collagen and other proteins necessary for tissue healing is significantly reduced, so the recovery rate and results will be slightly lower than in younger patients. In addition, some women have a natural tendency to form keloid scars, which also affects the appearance of the scars.
Finally, the severity of scars after surgery is also reflected in the care with which the patient approached breast care during the recovery period. Ignoring doctor's instructions, unfortunately, negatively affects the appearance of postoperative scars.
Are there any scars left after mammoplasty?
Women turn to a plastic surgeon not only to enlarge or reduce their breasts, correct asymmetry, or tighten the mammary gland. They want to see themselves and their lives differently. Therefore, after the patient has decided to undergo breast surgery, the first question she will have is about the stitches and the recovery period. Mammoplasty is a surgical procedure. And any surgical intervention implies scars and scars.
- How to minimize recovery time after mammoplasty?
- How long will there be scars on the chest? Which mammoplasty techniques will be the most comfortable?
How to properly care for your breasts so that the scars are invisible?
A breast lift will leave scars in any case, but it is up to the patient to make them less noticeable. To do this, you must follow the recommendations and prohibitions issued by the surgeon.
After breast lift surgery, special compression garments are put on the bust. It is strictly necessary to wear it, and around the clock. At first, you need to sleep only on your back, if possible in a reclining position (for this, use a high pillow or cushion under your back). For several months, visiting the gym, swimming pool, sauna, bathhouse, beach and solarium is prohibited. All types of physical activity, including housework, should be avoided.
It is advisable to give up bad habits for a month - alcohol, cigarettes. It is also recommended to avoid spicy foods. It is strongly recommended not to touch the chest unnecessarily, not to press on it, and to avoid any stress on the shoulder girdle area. Taking any medications, ointments, or medical procedures is possible only after consultation with a surgeon and his prescription. It is prohibited to choose your own medications.
Why do scars appear after mammoplasty?
Scars after breast surgery are caused by several factors:
1) Heredity . The most popular cause of scar formation, which the surgeon cannot influence. It is almost impossible to identify a genetic predisposition at the stage of preparation for surgery. If you feel like your skin is taking a long time to scar, be sure to tell your doctor.
2) Sloppy work of the surgeon. After mammoplasty, the plastic surgeon stitches up the incisions. If the specialist has insufficient experience, something may go wrong.
3) Poor quality suture material. Incorrectly selected threads can cause inflammation of the scar
4) Poor quality electrocoagulation. The process of “sealing” capillaries to stop bleeding can also cause scarring.
What to do if the scars are noticeable?
If the operation was performed by an experienced surgeon, and the patient was attentive in caring for herself and followed all the recommendations, then after the rehabilitation period, thin pale stripes remain on the skin, almost invisible to both others and the patient herself. But if for some reason the scars after a breast lift remain clearly visible, you can use some techniques to correct them.
Laser correction is an effective method of scar removal.
This includes, for example, hormonal injections, which are suitable for atrophic, hypertrophic and keloid scars. But their effect lasts for a year, no more. There are also silicone gels and patches. For a longer lasting effect, it makes sense to resort to laser resurfacing or chemical peeling, which give more pronounced results. It is not possible to completely get rid of scars, but you can make them almost invisible.
Finally, in the most difficult cases, you can resort to surgical correction, during which the old scar tissue is excised and a new suture is applied using a gentle technique. This method is effective for all types of scars.
Types of scars after mammoplasty
Scars after mammoplasty can be divided into three main types: 1) Normotrophic - the type of scars that remains after a successful operation. They have a light, barely noticeable appearance. They stretch well. 2) Hypertrophic - a type of scar that sometimes appears after surgery and should not worry the patient much. Most often it is temporary, the scars rise slightly above the skin level. 3) Keloid - scars that can be attributed to a complex healing process, but nevertheless, they are still temporary. With such scars, it is better to contact your doctor in advance. They protrude above the skin level and have irregularities.
How to avoid scars?
It is impossible to completely avoid traces of intervention. A breast lift leaves scars regardless of how well the stitches were placed. But the more experienced the surgeon, the more aesthetic the result will be.
The importance of the rehabilitation period cannot be underestimated. It is at this time that tissue healing occurs and scars form at the incision site. If you violate the surgeon’s instructions, use unauthorized means, ignore prohibitions, and so on, then the scars will be visible regardless of how well the operation was performed.
In most cases, if the recommendations are followed in combination with the skill of the surgeon, postoperative marks will be practically invisible. If this does happen, you can use existing methods for correcting scar tissue.
What types of seams are there?
Modern surgery has at its disposal various materials for fastening the edges of a postoperative wound to each other. The most common and reliable option is classic surgical sutures. They are made using a special needle and special thin but strong threads made of lavsan, vicryl, catgut and other materials. The tissues are sutured in layers, and a cosmetic suture is used for the skin. Thanks to a special technique, after the wound heals, a thin, barely noticeable line is formed, which is not noticeable at all. It is this technique that is used at the GALAXY Beauty Institute.
There are also fixation methods using surgical glue and metal staples, but they have not found use in plastic surgery because they do not provide sufficient reliability or aesthetics.
Indications for mastopexy
A breast lift is recommended for severe mastoptosis (prolapse and loss of firmness of the mammary glands). This condition is associated with aging of the body and a genetic predisposition to an early decrease in the elasticity of the skin. The rate of development of ptosis and its severity are influenced by the following factors:
- heredity;
- weight gain, then sudden loss;
- a large number of pregnancies (the more breast size changes during pregnancy, the greater the likelihood of sagging);
- smoking;
- poor quality bras;
- age.
A woman with congenital breast defects and nipple asymmetry may also need a lift. Breastfeeding does not significantly affect the development of mastoptosis.
