Scarring After Breast Lift

    SCOTTSDALE, AZ, October 08, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The surgical procedure for a breast lift is an interesting one, though its description could make you think it would leave horrible scars. Remarkably, it leaves few scars and even those tend to fade to near invisibility over time. Several breast lift surgical procedures have been developed, and each offers advantages and disadvantages. Each procedure involves different incisions that determine location, extent and prominence of scarring.

Seeing is believing
While written descriptions of the procedures make it difficult to get a realistic picture of the scars that may result (it sounds worse than it is), seeing photos of pre-and post-breast lift surgeries make it clear that scarring ranges from minimal to nearly invisible once completely healed.

After surgery
Considering how they might look immediately after surgery, and for several months following, you might think they'll never improve. Expect them to be reddish and swollen, initially. In time they will fade to thin white lines. Products, such as cortisone creams or silicone sheeting used during recovery, can help reduce scarring even more effectively.

Good skin care before and after the surgery will help minimize scarring, as will maintaining good health, consistent weight, a good diet, and other breast health measures. Skin care treatments are far superior to those that were available as recently as 10 years ago, and, now, many are medical grade-something that few could afford in the past. Sunscreens, moisturizers, and avoiding exposure to the sun and harsh environments will help maintain the elasticity your skin needs to keep its lovely shape. Increased elasticity reduces stress on the incisions, which, in turn, keep the scars as invisible a possible.

Quit smoking
Smoking is destructive to just about every part of the body, including your breasts, and can impede the healing that would, otherwise, diminish the scars. One of the effects of smoking is vasoconstriction-narrowing of the blood vessels. Vasoconstriction reduces blood flow that is essential to healing, which can result in slower healing and more noticeable scars due to poor circulation. Smoking can also increase your risk of complications from surgery.

Smoking can cause breasts to sag earlier than non-smoker's breasts, and can cause sagging even after a breast lift. Also, because smoking contributes to sagging, the incision site can stretch, expanding the scar.

Minimal scarring
Those scars that do remain will be in inconspicuous places. The most prominent ones will be under the breast on the lower side and along the bra band line (in the fold where the breast meets the chest) where they are not likely to be seen. Those around the areola will be along the edge where the areola meets the skin, and will blend in with the change in tissue texture. These are completely unnoticeable except to you and only because you know where they are.

Plastic surgery is as much an art as a science. Choosing a plastic surgeon is vital to a successful breast lift. Be sure to look for a plastic surgeon who has training and credentials specific to plastic surgery, and verify these.

Please visit the website of Arizona cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Paul Angelchik, for more information, or to schedule a personalized evaluation in the Phoenix, Glendale, Chandler or Scottsdale, Arizona areas.

Website: http://www.doctorangelchik.com

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