Breast Augmentation and Scarring
Denver, Colorado
Dr. Slenkovich often receives questions about the possibility of developing a noticable scar from abreast augmentation surgery. If you are concerned about scarring, Dr. Slenkovich encourages you to discuss your concerns openly with him during the time of your breast augmentation consultation. However, you should also develop a realistic understanding of breast augmentation and scarring.
Breast Surgery and Scars
A scar is simply the area where your body has healed itself. When your skin is cut or wounded, your body produces an increased amount of collagen in that area in order to heal itself. That collagen changes the texture and color of your skin in that area and the result is a scar. Many scars are too small to be visible without close inspection, and occasionally a scar may be very noticeable either because of its size or color.
Over time most scars become difficult to see. The extent of your scars visibility depends on your skin tone and your body’s ability to heal itself. It is very likely that your breast augmentation scars will be barely visible. However, you should also understand that the size and shape of your scars is likely to change during the first year, while you are still healing.
Smoking, Scars, and Minimizing Visibility
If you smoke cigarettes you are at much higher risk for developing visible scarring. Because smoking prohibits proper blood flow, your body may not heal as well after your breast enlargment procedure. For this reason, if no other, you should stop smoking four weeks before your breast augmentation.
Other factors that can help reduce scarring after your breast augmentation include:
- Avoiding sun exposure to the incision area
- Keeping the incision moist to promote healing and prevent infection
- Using silicone sheeting or ScarGuard MD
- Getting peri-operative massage therapy treatments
Dr. Slenkovich also works to prevent visible scars by placing the breast implant incision under the breast, in the inframammary crease. By placing the incision in this location, the breast itself will cover any scar becuase of the natural placement and shape of the breast.
Please contact experienced breast augmentation plastic surgeon Dr. Slenkovich at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center today to learn more about preventing scarring after your procedure in Denver, Colorado.
