How To Reduce Scars After Breast Augmentation with Breast Implants
Breast augmentation with implants can increase the size of the breasts, make changes to the shape of the breasts and address other aesthetic details, such as symmetry.
With a wide variety of options, the procedure allows for highly personalised results, using different implant types, sizes, shapes and placements.
Experienced plastic surgeons can also use techniques during the procedure to influence the aesthetics of the results, such as minimising scarring or addressing any specific concerns that a patient has.
However, all procedures, including breast surgery, can leave scars to some degree. Essentially, any procedure that requires an incision can leave a scar – but there are many steps that can be taken to minimise the visibility of scars.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the basics on how to reduce scars after a breast augmentation with implants. If you’re ready to book your consultation for a breast augmentation, you can receive thorough, personalised advice on minimising scarring based on your individual needs and the steps of your procedure. You can contact our team at The Layt Clinic to book your consultation at our Southport, Gold Coast location or our Ballina, New South Wales location.
What is breast augmentation with implants?
Performed with breast implants, a breast augmentation can make changes to the size, shape and fullness of the breasts, depending on what each patient wants to achieve.
A breast augmentation can be performed with either silicone or saline implants, although silicone is generally the most common choice. Apart from the type of breast implant, patients can choose between a wide variety of sizes, as well as different shapes, projections and placements.
Depending on the specifics of the procedure, different types of incision patterns and placements can also be used – which, essentially, determines where scarring will appear.
There are a variety of reasons as to why a patient may choose to undergo the procedure – all of which are highly personal. A patient may simply want a cosmetic change in the appearance of their natural breasts or may want to add volume to the breasts following a loss of volume after weight loss, pregnancy or breastfeeding. Another reason that a patient may undergo a breast augmentation with implants is to reconstruct the breasts after a mastectomy or trauma.
Why does scarring occur after a breast augmentation?
Scarring is a natural part of the body’s healing process. When the skin is cut during surgery, the body produces collagen to heal the wound, which eventually causes a scar as the wound heals.
Although scarring is inevitable, experienced surgeons have refined techniques over the years to help minimise scarring as much as possible during surgery. This is just one of the reasons why it’s so important to carefully choose an experienced and qualified plastic surgeon to perform any surgical procedure, including breast augmentation.
How will scars look after a breast augmentation?
After a breast augmentation, scars can vary in size, colour, and texture based on factors like the patient’s genetics, skin type, and how well the wound heals. The appearance of scarring will also largely be based on the incision pattern used and where the incisions are placed.
In many cases, your surgeon can aim to place your incision in areas that make scarring less visible or hardly noticeable. Some examples include underneath the breast, along the breast crease, in the armpit, or around the edge of the areola.
Before your procedure, your surgeon will inform you where your incision will be placed and discuss any personal factors that can influence your healing after surgery. For example, some patients may have developed noticeable scars (such as keloid scars) after a previous surgery, which will be an important factor to discuss.
Steps you can take to minimise scarring after your breast augmentation
The first (and most important) step that will help you minimise scarring after a breast augmentation with implants as much as possible is to choose a highly experienced and adequately qualified plastic surgeon.
Experienced and qualified plastic surgeons know how to minimise scarring, using specialised techniques, suitable incision placements, and giving you the most effective instructions on wound care to reduce the visibility of scars.
Your instructions will generally include keeping the incision clean and dry to prevent infections, avoiding heavy lifting and strenuous activities to allow your body to rest, and wearing a post-surgical bra or compression garment to support the healing tissues and reduce strain on the incisions.
To further reduce scarring, your surgeon may recommend using topical treatments like silicone sheets or gels, and vitamin E oil once the incisions have fully healed. Scar-reducing creams can help by hydrating the skin and reducing the build-up of collagen.
Gently massaging the scar area (after receiving your surgeon’s approval) can also help, by encouraging circulation and breaking down scar tissue. Protecting your scars from sun exposure with a high-SPF sunscreen will also be essential to prevent darkening that can be caused by excessive exposure to UV rays.
If you still find that you want to reduce the visibility of scars after they have fully healed, you may then want to consider non-surgical skin treatments that can specifically target scar tissue.
Our non-surgical treatments can help minimise scars after surgery
At The Layt Clinic, we have a variety of non-surgical skin treatments that can help to further reduce the visibility of scars. We generally recommend that patients wait until surgical scars are more than six months old before considering these treatments, as incisions will need to be completely healed.
Skin needling and laser treatments can prompt the body to heal scar tissue further by causing precise and controlled micro-injuries to the area. Skin needling uses tiny, fine microneedles to puncture the scar tissue, only targeting the scar and avoiding surrounding tissue. Laser uses heat to trigger a similar reaction in the body, but with a different method that can also help to remove the outer layers of the skin.
You can find the type of treatment that can best suit your needs during a consultation, based on the condition of your scar, your personal preferences and the results you hope to achieve.
The Layt Clinic: Dr Craig Layt and Dr Paul Cheng
The Layt Clinic’s team consists of plastic surgeons Dr Craig Layt and Dr Paul Cheng. They perform a variety of procedures to a high standard and focus on each patient’s needs, including breast augmentation with implants.
Dr Craig Layt is a Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon who has been providing Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery services to the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers Regions for over 23 years.
Providing specialist service in the private sector at The Layt Clinic, Dr Paul Cheng is a Specialist Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgeon who extensively trained in New Zealand before relocating to the Gold Coast.
To earn their titles, both surgeons underwent years of extensive training and are members of key organisations within the field of plastic surgery.
Our team also includes registered nurses and aestheticians who can perform non-surgical treatments that minimise surgical scars.
If you’re considering undergoing a breast augmentation with implants, you will be able to discuss every aspect of your procedure, including scarring, during your consultation. You are welcome to contact our team and book your consultation at either our Southport, Gold Coast or Ballina, New South Wales locations.