How To Minimize Your Breast Augmentation Scar Tissue
Breast augmentation is fast becoming one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery as more than 30% of the women in the country are unhappy with their current breast size. While cosmetic surgery is not considered medically necessary is most instances, nonetheless it does require a licensed surgeon with experience and skill to navigate the human body, re-sculpting it to the desired shape. Many women have concerns around what type of breast augmentation scar tissue they may be left with after the surgery.
Breast Augmentation Scars: What To Expect
The type of breast augmentation scar you have depends on the method of entry your surgeon uses. There are three common points of entry for this surgery: around the areola, under the breast, or under the arm. Most surgeons choose the under the breast method because it is closest to the point of resting for implants and if it heals well, it is hardly noticeable.
The skill of your surgeon will directly affect how much scarring you have, no matter the entry point. This is why it is very important to choose a surgeon who is well versed in sculpting breasts and implanting new pieces, since you want to have as few scars as possible. Smaller scars also mean less recovery time, which is vitally important in today’s fast paced world.
Types of Breast Augmentation Scarring
Since it is inevitable that you will have some form of scarring, understanding the types of scars that occur most often with these forms of surgery will help you prepare both physically and psychologically for your recovery. Scars are formed from collagen used to fill any wound in the body. The more excess collagen the body uses, the thicker and more noticeable the scar becomes. As you can imagine, larger wounds produce more collagen so they are more noticeable. This is why many surgeons try to perform the procedure with as few cuts as possible, to reduce scarring and recovery times.
The two main types of scarring that occur with any breast augmentation surgery are hypertropic and keloid scars. Keloid scars the most common type of scar to arise from this type of surgery, but the type depends highly on the procedure used and, of course, the skill of the surgeon. Keloid scars are an extreme build up of collagen that causes a raised bump. This scar extends beyond the wound, where as normal wounds usually have an indentation where the wound occurred.
Hypertropic scars are more rare because of the type of incision used to make, but they are much more noticeable due to being much thicker than keloid scars. These are much more noticeable, so when speaking of scarring with your surgeon, ask what types the incision he plans on making in your body are known to make. Keloid scars are much easier to conceal than hypertropic scars.
The Road To Recovery
Because your procedure produces scarring, this does not mean you have to live with it day in and day out. The amount of scarring that remains after the surgery will depend on your overall health and your genetic make up. There are things you can do to help minimize the appearance of scars and protect your body while you recover from the surgery.
If you are a smoker, you should reconsider lighting up in the days after your surgery, because this can reduce your body’s ability to heal properly, which in turn can increase the scarring you experience with your procedure.
Aside from this, applying sunscreen regularly to the scar can help diminish the appearance of scarring. The chemicals contained in the sunscreen help reduce further damage to the skin and start the healing process so that any scars that have formed will be much smaller. Daily application of sunscreen areas of the body that do not get much sun, like under the breast, is very important to help aid the process of recovery.
Excessive Scarring
If you do experience excessive scarring to the point it makes you uncomfortable not only aesthetic-wise but physically, you may want to seek medical treatment in helping remove the scar tissue. Small treatments that consist of injecting liquid into the scar tissue can help break it down relatively easily, but if you have severe scarring, excision may be the only option.This procedure will completely remove all of the scar tissue and create a fresh wound that will need to be healed again.
As with any cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation is nothing to be taken lightly. Choosing your surgeon wisely will determine how much scar tissue you have, so speak with your surgeon about what to expect. You will also need to take your medical history into account, as well as the type of incision your surgeon plans on making, so that you can better understand how breast augmentation scars occur, and what you can do to minimize their effects during your recovery.
Breast Augmentation Laser Scar Treatment
As we have discussed, scars are inevitable but will likely fade greatly over time, usually a year or so. If you are still unhappy with your breast augmentation scar after a year then you discuss with your doctor undergoing laser scar treatment. There are many different types of laser scar treatment but they all function roughly the same and that is the laser light will vaporize a light layer of skin across the top of the scar. It may take many treatments to fade your breast augmentation scar or it could only take one. It depends on the person.
Other Breast Augmentation Scar Treatments
If you are not open to the idea of laser scar treatment then you have some other options as well including cryosurgery and chemical injections that are designed to soften and fade the scar tissues. The viability of these breast augmentation scar treatments is up for debate so we would suggest that you discuss with your doctor and see which treatment they recommend. They have inevitably seen someone in your situation before and could give you some good advice.
Breast Surgery Blood Clot Symptoms
Blood clots are a very real issue that you should be aware of if you are considering any kind of surgical procedure and breast augmentation surgery is no different. The severity of a blood clot can vary wildly and many times people have blood clots that end up dissolving on their own and doing no damage at all but if the clot does happen to lodge in a smaller vein or artery then it can cause some serious damage up to and including stroke or death.
Symptoms of a Blood Clot
The symptoms will vary dramatically depending on where the clot finally comes to rest. As it travels through your blood stream you will not likely feel any significant effect until it lodges somewhere that it can restrict the blood flow significantly. The effects will vary by organ but some of these listed below are things to look out for:
- With atrial fibrillation, in which no symptoms occur until a thrombus embolizes.
- If the clot embolizes to an artery located in the brain then the symptoms will be that of stroke.
- If the affected artery supplies blood to the bowels, then symptoms may include abdominal pain and blood in your stool.
- If a leg or arm is affected, then the blood clot or deep venous thrombosis will function like a dam and block the blood flow returning to your heart. This often causes inflammation of the vein, aka thrombophlebitis. Som eof the more common symptoms will include swelling, redness and discoloration, warmth to the touch, and possibly pain that may range from mild to severe.
- The major complication of a DVT occurs when the clot breaks off and makes its way to the lung, causing what is known as a pulmonary embolism. Common symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath and this is a potentially life threatening issue depending upon the extent of the lung tissue that loses blood supply. If you suffer from these symptoms, do NOT wait to see if you get better, see your doctor immediately and hit the emergency room if necessary.
When to Seek Medical Care
If you have recently had surgery and you experience ANY of the symptoms above then you should consider seeing a doctor immediately. When we say immediately we really mean right now as in emergency room type visits. You are far better off to see a doctor and not need to than to not see one and really need it. Blood clots can be extremely debillitating and can very easily cost you your life.
Your doctor can quickly surmise what type of care you may need and will prescribe the right course of treatment. Treatment can range from warm compresses to surgery depending on what type and where the clot is located.
Breast Augmentation Problems
Anyone considering breast augmentation surgery would be very wise to do some research around what some of the typical breast augmentation problems that they might encounter either during or after surgery. The good news is that the vast majority of women who undergo breast augmentation surgery encounter very few issues and report being extremely happy and satisfied with their implants for many years following surgery.
Your surgeon is the best resource for good information around any breast implant problems you may encounter but this article may give you some ideas or concerns you can bring up to him if you are considering surgery or give you some idea of what you may be facing if you have already had surgery.
Common Breast Augmentation Problems
Capsular Contracture: Just about any woman who undergoes implant surgery will have some degree of capsular contracture, it’s the amount and severity of it that can be problematic. CC is basically scar tissue that forms around the implant as your body heals and adjusts to foreign objects being inside. The capsule (scar tissue) can become too tight around the implant and create issues ranging from discomfort to extreme pain and deformity of the breast implant.
This issue can be severe enough that the implant will actually need to be removed and if you are suffereing from capsular contracture, it will not fix itself. The severity of the contracture may range from a mild inconvenience to a severe amount of pain and they tend to get more severe over time so you should consult your doctor immediately if you think you may be suffering from capsular contracture.
Implant Rupture: Breast implants are encased in a silicone outer layer that has the potential to rupture or tear. Typically if your implant ruptures then it is fairly obvious as you will suffer from a decent amount of deflation. The change in your breast appearance can happen almost immediately or it can take place slowly over time but if you do have a rupture then eventually your implant will change size dramatically. Saline implants will typically deflate almost instantly while silicone implants can take years to fully deflate.
Surgery will be required to replace or remove the implant as it cannot be repaired but most insurance companies will not pay for this procedure but most experts agree that a ruptured implant needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Saline implants will not do much harm to your body as saline is a natural fluid but silicone implants are still being studied to determine the effect so consult your surgeon as soon as possible if you suspect that you might have a rupture.
Breast Implant Infection: Infection is a very real risk anytime surgery is involved so you need to make sure you follow your doctors instructions exactly post surgery. Breast implant infections will have many of the same symptoms that a normal infection will have including high fever, swelling, redness and severe pain. If left untreated, like any infection, the outcome can be as severe as the loss of your life so it’s nothing to mess around with, see your doctor immediately.
You can see in the image that this is a severe infection that has resulted in extreme swelling of the breast. If you suffer anything even remotely similar then do not hesitate and see your doctor immediately. While not guaranteed, most infections will rear their heads in the weeks just following your surgery while you are still recovering from the process but not always. Be vigilant and be aware and do not hesitate to see your surgeon if you think you might have an issue.
Breast Implant Ripples: This issue is much more common with saline breast implants although it can happen with silicone implants as well. The issue is more cosmetic than anything but it can be devastating as most women get their implants to improve the appearance of their breasts. Revision surgery will need to be completed in order to fix this issue if you do end up encountering this breast implant problem.
What causes this issue is attributed to the woman having a small amount of natural breast tissue to begin with or possibly having thinner skin than normal. It isn’t really a fault of the woman or the surgeon and is simply one of those things that may happen when it comes to implants. It is widely accepted that implants under the muscle will be less susceptible to rippling than those placed over the muscle but consult your doctor for more information.
Other Breast Augmentation Problems
Some of the issues above are what are considered localized augmentation problems that will be apparent in or around the breast implant but there are many studies and opinions out there concerning whether women with implants suffer from a higher rate of other diseases or issues. Opinions vary wildly and no conclusive evidence has been produced that shows women with implants have any higher rate of disease or malady than women without them with one exception.
A study by scientists from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has concluded that women with leaking silicone gel implants are more likely to develop fibromyalgia or other painful diseases than women with breast implants that were not leaking. More details about this study and it’s results can be found here. Silicone breast implants are still currently authorized for use in the US by the FDA though but just understand the risks and as always, consult your doctor for any specific questions you might have.
Breast Reduction Risks
If you are considering reduction surgery then you no doubt will have questions concerning breast reduction risks and that is perfectly normal. The best kind of patient is an educated patient and you are wise to do your research before you visit your doctor so you can discuss some of your concerns rather than be spoon fed whatever he or she wants to tell you. This article will discuss some of the more common breast reduction surgery risks but we encourage you to speak to your doctor about any and all concerns you might have.
Breast Reduction Surgery Risks
One of the main drawbacks to having any type of cosmetic surgery to remove extra skin is that is leaves scars. One good thing about having breast reduction surgery is that the scars can be hidden by wearing a bra. The scars that are left are located around the nipple area and along the crease underneath the breast. It can take years, but the scars do fade after surgery. There are some techniques on the market to help eliminate the scar underneath the breast, but many of these are in the stages of development. Many women can accept the scars given the new quality of life they feel when they have this surgery.
Another drawback is numbness. Numbness in the breast is uncommon, but it can still occur. It is more likely that the sensation in your nipples will be better because the nerves that go to your nipples will no longer be stretched out because of the weight of the breasts.
Nipple loss can also occur which is very tragic. This can happen because either one or both nipples will lose the blood circulation and die. If this happens there will then be an open wound which will require care. Eventually the wound will close on its own, or you may have to have surgery to close it. The nipple can then be recreated either with your own skin, or by tattooing on a nipple. The loss of a nipple is most likely to occur in women who smoke, but it can occur in anybody. If you are a smoker, you should quit at least two weeks before you have your operation to reduce your risk of losing a nipple.
Bleeding, infection, asymmetry, fluid collections and healing problems could allow happen after your surgery. If you’re a healthy young person then your risk of this happening is reduced. However, the procedure of having a breast reduction requires that the circulation to the breast is compromised which could cause healing problems. This happens because circulation is needed the most when the tissues are healing after surgery.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your final cup size can’t be guaranteed. This is because cup size in not standardized. Before you decide to have a breast reduction surgery you should have a detailed talk with your surgeon to let him or her know what your desired cup size is. Explaining what you want your cup size to be in comparison to your current cup size is often very helpful.
Breast Reduction Surgery Recovery
After your surgery your breast will be wrapped up in gauze, with a tighter bandage for added support and protection. You could have small tubes that are coming out of the incisions to help get rid of any extra fluid. You will also be prescribed medication and it is very important that you take them as your doctor tells you to do so. You will require somebody to drive you home, and you may even need help around the house for about three days. It is okay to apply a moisturizer if you have dry skin, but you will need to make sure you keep your suture area dry.
After about two days your bandages will be taken off, and you will continue to wear a surgical bra for several weeks. You will need to wear this bra all the time, until the swelling and the bruises go away. Your stitches will be removed in about two weeks.
You can resume light activities around the house, but you may be instructed to avoid sex. This is because sexual arousal could cause your incisions to swell up. Heavy activity should be avoided for about six weeks. This is to make sure your scars heal properly. Some women have reporting having shooting pains during menstruation for a few months after they have surgery. You can also expect to have some numbness which is caused by the swelling. This normally goes away after the first week, but it can sometimes last for up to a year.
The long term results for most women are good. They have no chronic pain or discomfort, their bodies are proportioned better and their clothes fit properly. Future breastfeeding may not be possible because a lot of the milk ducts are removed during the surgery.
Your breast will remain smaller for a longer period of time if you had not had the surgery. However, gravity does still do its job and your breast will sag again. The size of your breast can also change over time due to weight loss or gain, or if you take hormones or become pregnant.
Breast Reduction Complications
Any surgery that you undertake is going to have it’s share of complications and risks and breast reduction surgery is no different so you should know what Breast Reduction complications you may face. As with any surgery we would definitely recommend that you consult your surgeon to get your questions answered and discuss any concerns with breast reduction surgery complications that you may still have after you do your own research.
Breast Reduction Surgery Anesthesia
One of the most daunting challenges of any surgery is the anesthesia. Some people have experienced allergic reactions to anesthesia so be on the lookout for difficult breathing, rashes, heart rate changes, skin hives, shortness of breath, anxiety, dizziness, fainting, nausea, vomiting or similar symptoms. This reaction will generally take place at the hospital so you should be in good hands but symptoms may arise even after you have been released so be aware of any of these symptoms and report them to your doctor immediately.
Sensitivity Changes
Many women who undergo breast reduction surgery report a change of sensation level in their nipples. It can work both ways though as some women report decreased sensitivity while others report an increase in sensitivity. Some women have reported numbness in the nipple or breast area post surgery as well. These symptoms are often temporary as the nerves that were severed during surgery heal. While these symptoms may be temporary and fairly common, you should always report them to your surgeon immediately.
Breast Reduction Scars
Breast Reduction scars are a very real possibility following surgery and you should be aware of what you are facing on this issue. In most cases, the scars will heal nicely and fade over time but there are things you can do to help the situation and there are other complications that you may face as well.
Your doctor will likely prescribe you a regimen of Steri-Strips and we recommend that you follow the post surgery recovery regimen exactly. The key to proper recovery and the best experience is to be a good patient and follow the directions. This can often reduce the amount of breast reduction complications that you may experience following your surgery.
Wound Healing
It is very important that you follow the directions post surgery to avoid any issues with your stitches opening up and the incisions that were made tearing open. This can set your recovery time back dramatically and will greatly increase the likelihood that you will have issues with scar tissue or scars that will not fade.
Your doctor will direct you on proper incision care and will likely direct you to leave Steri-strips on your incisions until you return on a follow up visit to have your sutures removed. If you do experience a tear in your wounds, keep the area as clean as possible and get to your doctor as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of your wound then you may have to undergo surgery again or you may simply have to be stitched up to continue healing.
Breast Symmetry
Many women report disappointment that their breasts are not perfectly symmetrical following surgery but you should know going into the surgery that there is a very real possibility that your breasts will not match exactly. The skill level of your surgeon will play a large part in your happiness here as the better they are then the more likely they will produce results that you are happy with. The best thing you can do to make sure this isn’t one of the breast reduction complications that you face, is to check for references. Review photographs of previous patients and see how they look after everything has settled in.
Breast Tissue Necrosis
It is possible that you will experience varying degrees of tissue necrosis. This happens when the fat around the incision area dies from lack of blood flow and becomes necrotic. This can spread throughout the breast if unchecked and if you experience anything like this then you need to report it to your surgeon immediately. Watch for tissue degradation, bruising and odd textures under the skin.
If you smoke or have a history of circulatory problems or diabetes then you face a higher risk than normal but you should know that this is very uncommon and is only experienced by a small percentage of women. Discuss this with your doctor if you have any of the aforementioned conditions.
Breast Reduction Surgery Infection
As with any surgery the risk of infection is very real and is not something to be dismissed. Symptoms will usually show up in the first few days after you are released from the hospital so you need to remain vigilant and watch for the symptoms. These can include fever, swelling, redness in the tissue, discharge around the suture and a very high temperature localized in the breast area.
You can reduce your chance of infection by making sure you take ALL of the antibiotics that your doctor prescribes for you and that you keep the wound area clean both before and after surgery. Prior to surgery you can help reduce the risk by washing your upper torso area and hands with anti-bacterial soap for a few days prior to surgery, this will reduce the chance of any staph bacteria that you may be carrying making it into the wound.
After surgery you simply need to follow the doctors directions which will typically be to keep the wounds clean and covered with steri-strips until they are fully healed.
Blood Clots
Another very real breast reduction complication that you might face is the formation of blood clots following surgery. Blood clots can form around wound areas and if they break off and go floating through your bloodstream into your heart or lungs then you can have a very serious issue on your hands. A blockage can send you into cardiac arrest or a coma, either of which can be very life threatening.
If you are prone to blood clots then discuss this with your surgeon and they can advise you more on the topic.
Breast Reduction Dissatisfaction
There is a very real possibility that you simply may not be happy with your breast reduction surgery. I don’t know if this would be considered a complication but many would consider it to be. The problem usually centers around an unrealistic expectation of what your breasts will look like following surgery.
The surgery can make a dramatic difference in appearance and your overall health and the way you feel but it’s not a miracle surgery and it has limits. In many cases you may find that you don’t like the shape or size following surgery and it’s not uncommon to see many breast reduction patients subsequently undergoing breast implant surgery to change the shape or size.
Most patients undergoing breast reduction surgery however, are ecstatic with the results and disappointment only seems to be an issue with a very small percentage of patients. Discuss what your expectations are in detail with your doctor before you undergo surgery. This will typically greatly improve the odds that you are satisfied with your breast reduction surgery.
Breast Implant Problems
If you are considering breast implant surgery then it is only natural that you would have some concern around any breast implant problems that you might expect to encounter once the surgery is complete. The good news is that most women experience very few breast implant problems post surgery but you should be educated about the potential issues that you may run into.
Common Breast Implant Problems
Below we will share some basic information about some of the more common breast implant problems that women report after surgery. It is important that you cover this with your doctor as they can much more accurately prepare you for the risks associated with breast implant surgery and the issues that you may face post surgery.
Implant Deflation/Rupture
Breast implants are not impervious to rupture and it is possible for them to lose their shape and size due to the saline fluid inside leaking out of the implant and into your body. This deflation will cause the affected breast to lose size and shape over time and the appearance will change dramatically compared to the other breast. Deflation can occur rapidly or can occur very slowly over the course of several months, even years, it just depends on the nature of the leak that is created in the breast implant. A leak can form for a variety of reasons, it may be overfilled, pinched, nicked by a surgical instrument etc. In order to fix a ruptured and deflated breast implant, it will require surgery to remove or replace the breast implant.
Capsular Contracture
Capsular contracture occurs when scar tissue is formed inside the breast around the implant itself. This is your body’s natural defense against a foreign object and can be quite painful if the scar tissue begins to contract around your breast implant. A certain amount of scar tissue around the breast pocket is normal, but it can become a problem when the scar tissue begins to contract or tighten and puts pressure on the implant and/or the breast tissue around the implant. Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the contracture and can range from mild firmness and pain to severe pain and distortion of the breast itself. Additional surgery will be required if your contracture is severe enough to warrant it.
Severe Pain
In most cases, the only pain that you will feel will be during the recovery period when you are healing from your breast enhancement surgery. You should be aware though that it is possible that a nerve may be pinched during surgery or possibly by scar tissue that naturally forms in the breast pocket after surgery. This pinched nerve can create pain ranging from moderate discomfort to severe pain that will require you to undergo additional surgeries to fix. Bear in mind that this is not common, but it is a risk associated with breast implant surgery.
Infection
Another of the breast implant problems that you should be aware of is the risk of infection. Infection will typically raise its head in the weeks right after surgery as you are healing but you should know that it is possible that an infection can happen at any time in the months and years following breast implant surgery. This is a risk associated with having a foreign object inside your body.
If your infection cannot be dealt with via antibiotics then you will have to undergo another surgery to remove the breast implant and deal with the infection. Once the infection has been brought under control, then it would be possible to have your implant replaced. Again, this is not common, but is one of the breast implant problems that your doctor will share with you pre-surgery.
Changes in Nipple Sensation
Another one of the breast implant problems that you should be aware of is that you may have a change of sensation in your nipples. The odd thing is that it could go either way, some women report a loss of sensation in their nipples while others report that their nipples become much more sensitive after surgery. The changes may be temporary or they may remain and be permanent.
Necrosis
Necrosis is another issue you may have with your breast implants and it is the formation of dead tissue around the breast implant. This dead tissue may prevent would healing and in some cases can require surgical correction to remove the dead tissue or the breast implant may have to be removed. Scar tissue and deformity may occur due to necrosis and can impact the appearance of your breasts.
Breast Implant Problems Conclusions
It would be easy to become discouraged when you read all of the potential issues that could go wrong. It is important that you are an educated patient and that you are aware that any or all of these issues could happen to you but your doctor can provide you with statistical norms that will give you a better idea of how common each issue is.
At the end of the day, most women that undergo breast enhancement surgery do not encounter any of the more extreme breast implant problems that we have listed here and the majority of them report little to no issues with their implants even years later after the surgery. Your doctor will cover all of the potential breast implant problems because they want you to be able to make an educated decision and not be shocked or surprised IF something were to go wrong.
If you want more information on any of these breast implant problems we have listed here, then consult your doctor and they can provide as much information on the topic as you could ever want.