Making the decision to undergo breast augmentation means you need to come to terms with the fact that there will be some scarring.
Everyone scars differently though and there are a few factors that play a role in this.
Factors that Affect Breast Implant Scars
Age. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen and the skin becomes thinner too. Younger skin heals better because it’s more elastic but older patients will need to provide their skin with extra assistance to reduce the appearance of scarring.
Skin tone. The colour of your skin will also make a difference to the visibility of your scars. Darker skin tends to blend better with scars, while patients will lighter skin will generally develop more noticeable scars.
Incision. The size and the depth of your breast augmentation incision will also determine how visible your scar is.
Top Tips for Reducing Breast Augmentation Scars
Avoid alcohol. Since alcohol affects blood clotting, it’s better to stop drinking until you’re completely healed after your surgery.
Avoid smoking. Tobacco affects your immune system, which means that your body will take slightly longer to heal.
Watch what you eat. The more vitamins and minerals you can give your body, the better it will heal. Reducing your sodium intake will also help reduce bloating, which could damage the incision and cause additional scarring.
Stay hydrated. You should be drinking three litres of water a day after your surgery. It will not only keep your body functioning but accelerate the healing process too.
Get some rest. Sleeping is one of the best ways to speed up your recovery and ensure your skin heals properly.
Stay out of the sun. Protect your skin by staying out of direct sunlight, which can make your scars a lot worse. Always wear a high SPF sunscreen after your surgery too.
Minimise activity. You will need to wait at least 6 weeks before you will be able to exercise. Being too active too soon could affect your scars.
Dr Justin Perron is specialised in breast surgery and will be able to provide you with additional aftercare tips that will help reduce scarring.
Additional Scar Treatment Options
Over and above your surgeon’s aftercare instructions, there are a few other products that you can use to reduce scarring.
Silicone sheets. These sheets act as a band-aid and keep your wound soft and hydrated. They also provide the wound with additional stability, which alleviates some of the tension that creates scars.
Laser therapy. Laser skin resurfacing is another way to reduce the appearance of your breast implant scars but this will need to be done after your breasts have healed.
Cortisone injections. While cortisone is generally used to treat redness and itching, it can also be used to flatten breast implant scars.
Micro-needling. This is a popular anti-ageing treatment that can also be used to reduce the visibility of scars. Micro-needling works to increase collagen production and make scars less visible.
Comments are closed.