Breast lift scars typically start as red or pink, raised lines that flatten and fade to thin, white or flesh-colored marks over 1-2 years, often hidden under clothing, forming patterns like an anchor, lollipop, or crescent depending on the technique. While initially prominent, proper healing usually makes them discreet, though individual healing varies.
The Appearance of Breast Lift Scars
While the incision(s) is thin, the breast lift scars will be very noticeable, with a red, raised appearance. As the wound heals, the scar will fade to pink and eventually turn white, as well as flatten out so it is no longer raised.
After 8-12 weeks, the final results of Breast Lift surgery are more or less apparent. Your surgeon may recommend that you continue to wear a supportive bra for up to 6 months after surgery. All scarring is permanent but will continue to fade as time goes by.
Breast lift scars depend on the incision pattern used. Depending on the technique, most patients have scars around the areola, vertically down to the breast crease, or along the inframammary fold.
Two small incisions are made in each breast to remove excess skin and reshape the breast. One incision is made around the areola, like a donut lift, and then another from the bottom of the areola to the crease below. The incisions (and therefore scars) resemble the shape of a lollipop, hence its namesake.
Breast Lift Cons (Drawbacks)
One of the primary drawbacks is the potential for visible scars, which will result wherever a breast lift incision needs to be made. Breast lift scars typically fade and flatten out over time but may still be noticeable, depending on the individual's healing process.
Use Silicone Scar Sheets or Gels
Silicone sheets or scar gels help improve the appearance of scars following a breast lift. They hydrate the scar tissue and can make the scar less noticeable. Apply the silicone directly on the scar regularly.
However, there will be swelling and bruising after surgery, which is normal. At about six to 12 weeks after surgery, the breasts will settle into position and become fully healed, and you will be able to see your final breast lift results.
Breast Lift Scar Basics
Several factors influence how scars develop, including genetics, skin type, and surgical techniques. With a breast lift, the location and size of scars depend on the type of incision used: Periareolar Incision: Around the edge of the areola, ideal for minor lifts.
Overall, there's no single best age for a breast lift. Once you're 18 years old, breasts are fully developed, so young women can consider breast lift surgery. Patients in their 50s to 70s with good overall health experience great results with breast lift surgery.
If you want to restore the symmetry, texture, and youthful position of your breasts, a lift procedure can be an ideal option. The biggest benefit of this procedure is that the results will look totally natural since the procedure tightens the skin without adding artificial breast volume.
The "45 55 breast rule" refers to a widely studied aesthetic ideal where the breast volume is split with 45% in the upper pole (above the nipple) and 55% in the lower pole (below the nipple), creating a naturally sloped, teardrop shape rather than a round, full look. This ratio, established by plastic surgeon research, is consistently rated as most attractive by men, women, and surgeons across different demographics, supporting its use as a benchmark in breast augmentation for natural-looking results.
Tellis utilizes the Scarless Breast Lift technique, employing internal sutures to reposition the breast tissue without the need for external incisions. This results in minimal recovery time and no visible scars around the areola or beneath the breast.
FINAL VERDICT: DON'T WORRY ABOUT BREAST LIFT SCARS
In reality, however, these scars are barely visible and rarely present any discomfort to our patients. Most of the time, scars fade away almost completely within a year or two, and our patients stop noticing them.
After breast lift surgery, your breasts will look generally more youthful, attractive and perky. Over time, the appearance of your breasts change as gravity, pregnancy, weight fluctuations and aging take place.
How to Keep Your Breast Lift Results Looking Great
For some, this is an immediate turn-off to the procedure. However, in this article, we hope to enlighten readers on several points regarding this line of thinking: Not all breast lifts will have noticeable scarring. Breast lift scars will fade over time and become less noticeable.
If you were to envision the overall look of the incision, it resembles an anchor, which is the nickname for this approach. A significant amount of tissue can be removed and the breast can be lifted more dramatically on the chest, with the horizontal scar essentially hiding in the crease below the breast.
You will certainly experience some moderate pain and discomfort after breast lift surgery. This should be the worst during the first one to three days post-op.
Try silicone scar sheets.
Silicone scar sheets can make scars flatter and less red. They can also help to reduce collagen production to keep scars smoother. Finally, silicone hydrates scars for proper healing.
It is important to regularly wear a bra after your breast lift surgery has healed, and your compression bra is no longer required. This is particularly important in situations involving a lot of movement or strain, such as lifting weights. A soft cup bra to wear in bed can also help prevent drooping.
The results of a breast lift are long-lasting, but over time, your breasts may experience some sagging again. Most patients see results last for at least 10 to 15 years, but individual results can vary. Some patients also choose to make small changes after a few years simply to maintain the results.
The use of silicone gel sheeting may help prevent the development of hypertrophic scars and improve their appearance,34 pressure dressings may aid with scar maturation, and scar massage or pulsed-dye lasers may provide symptomatic relief with itching.
For the men surveyed, 74% felt that scarring was more important than the overall shape in clothing (26%). 65.6% of the women surveyed thought that scars were not important after breast cancer surgery whilst 72.5% of men thought scars were important.
Many consider silicone-based gels to be the best treatment for minimizing scars. Many scar-softening creams are available, though they haven't been clinically tested or proven to be more effective than basic body creams. Scar-softening cream does help keep the area flexible and hydrated.