Everything You Need to Know About Breast Reduction Scars: What to Expect, Healing Time and Aftercare

Breast reduction surgery is a transformative procedure designed to alleviate discomfort that is caused by large breasts, whilst also enhancing your body’s proportions.

Breast reduction surgery, also known as a reduction mammoplasty is a transformative aesthetic treatment that requires incisions to be made to reduce the weight and alter the shape of the breasts. As a result of this, scarring is inevitable and a natural part of the healing process. 

However, we know that the thought of scars may be concerning for patients and understand that their appearance can be a major factor that is deterring people from proceeding with this life altering treatment. In this blog, we’ll be walking you through all the fine details of breast reduction scars, from what to expect, how to manage the healing process, as well as the proper aftercare you can implement to significantly reduce their appearance over time.

The Appearance of Breast Reduction Scars – What Can You Expect Post-surgery? 

There are many factors which can alter the appearance of your breast reduction scars, but the main elements to consider are the size of the patient’s breasts and type of technique used for the surgery. 

Immediately after surgery, breast reduction scars will appear as a thin, raised line. Over time, these scars will begin to heal and start to flatten and fade, as a result becoming less noticeable. Darker skin tones and black skin are generally more prone to hyperpigmentation, hypertrophic scarring and keloid formation, however these conditions are common, but worth noting and raising to your surgeon if they appear post-surgery. 

The appearance of scars will vary from person to person, as a patient’s genetics and individual healing characteristics can play a huge role in the healing process. But, following your surgeon’s aftercare instructions can help ensure the best possible results for reducing the appearance of your breast reduction scars.

How is a Breast Reduction Performed?

There are multiple avenues in which a breast reduction can be performed, each of which involve different types of incisions to complete. As a result, you will see different types of scarring based on the type of technique chosen by your surgeon. 

Here at The Galen Clinic, our team of Aesthetic Surgeons will work with you to find the right procedure type based on your breasts’ size, shape and desired results, including what type of incisions are made and where they are placed, so as to reduce the appearance of scarring. 

Below are different examples for how a breast reduction performed:

Anchor or Wise Pattern Incision

Most commonly, this breast reduction procedure is performed on larger breast reduction cases, as your surgeon has a higher potential to remove a large amount of breast tissue through this incision technique. It involves circular incisions to be made around the areola, moving vertically straight down the lower breast, with a third incision line placed in the crease beneath the breast. 

This type of breast reduction surgery will result in breast reduction scars appearing as an ‘anchor’ shape where the cuts were made. 

Vertical or Lollipop Incision

Alternatively, in some cases you may be seen fit to omit the breast fold incision seeing only the areola and vertical line incision made. This type of breast reduction surgery is called ‘vertical scar’ or a lollipop incision and has more minimal breast reduction scars than the anchor technique. 

However, this treatment is only an option if your surgeon sees you as an eligible candidate for this procedure type and is only really available for those undergoing medium-sized reductions.

Peri-areolar or Donut Incision

This type of breast reduction is performed with one small circular incision around the areola. It is only really an option for patients undergoing smaller breast reductions and have sufficient skin elasticity that the surgeon can manipulate the shape and size of the breast with only this incision alone. 

The breast reduction scars for this technique are very minimal and can only be found around the nipple area. 

‘Scarless’ or Minimal Scarring 

This technique is an alternative breast reduction option that uses liposuction to extract and remove breast fat and tissue from the breasts. The process sees small incisions made in the breasts to feed through the thin liposuction cannular to alter the size of the breasts. 

Using this technique for breast reduction results in virtually no scarring or very minimal scarring. However, this is only suitable for individuals with very good skin elasticity and those seeking a smaller breast reduction. 

In order to minimise the appearance of scars further, here at The Galen Clinic we use a special surgical glue also known as tissue adhesive. This reduces the tension and inflammation as well as provides a waterproof seal which leads to faster healing and less pain and discomfort.

Healing Time for Breast Reduction Scars

Breast reduction scars can take several months to heal and up to a full year for the scars to appear faded. During the first few weeks after surgery, you can expect some swelling, redness, and sensitivity around the incision sites. This is a normal part of the healing process, and your surgeon will provide specific guidelines to help manage these symptoms.

Aftercare Tips for Minimising the Appearance of Scars

While scars from breast reduction surgery will fade significantly over time, it’s important to understand that they may not disappear entirely. With proper aftercare, you can enhance the healing process of scars, significantly diminishing their visibility over time.

Here are some tips to follow during your recovery:

• Adhering to your surgeon’s aftercare instructions, this includes wearing a compression bra or surgical garment to support the breasts and reduce tension on the incisions.
• Keep the incision sites clean and dry to prevent infection.
• After the incisions have fully healed, gently massage the scar tissue. This promotes blood circulation and will help soften the scar tissue. 
• Sun exposure can darken scars, making them more noticeable. Ensure you keep your breast protected and apply a high SPF sunscreen to the scars once they’re fully closed.
• A balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins can help your body repair tissues more effectively, leading to better scar outcomes.

If you are still concerned about your breast reduction scars once the healing process has concluded, there are alternative treatments you can take to minimise their appearance. For over the counter solutions, you can try scar creams, gels, bio-oil or silicone gel sheets which have been shown to help reduce the appearance of scars as they retain moisture and soften scars.

Alternatively, some patients choose to undergo laser therapy to address thickness, discolouration and texture of the scar tissue. Or microneedling is an option that stimulates collagen production around the scar, helping improve the texture and appearance of the skin.

Here at The Galen Clinic, we have an in-house dermatology department and lasers which can help treat scaring post surgery. 

Booking a Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction scars are a natural outcome of this transformative surgery, and a small trade-off for the significant physical and emotional benefits the procedure can bring. Many patients report increased comfort and enhanced body confidence after surgery, making the presence of scars less of a concern.

Looking to book your breast reduction surgery? Contact us today and take the first step towards an improved quality of life. Our team of specialist Plastic Surgeons are here to provide exceptional care, ensuring your breast reduction surgery is a comfortable and rewarding experience.