How can my surgeon reduce scarring from breast reduction surgery?

Different surgical techniques and post-operative care can help reduce severe scarring following a breast reduction. Plastic and reconstructive surgeon and Sharecare Advisory Board member Stuart Linder, MD explains.

Transcript

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One big concern that patients have after undergoing a breast reduction surgery is severe scarring.

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There are different techniques as well as post-operative management skills and methods

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to reduce that scarring. First of all, let's talk about the surgery itself. Scarring can be reduced by surgical technique

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by the board-certified plastic surgeon. We want to make every effort possible to reduce tension when we close the flaps.

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So it's important when you're seeking a plastic surgeon for your breast reduction or breast lift that you look at before and after photos-- as many

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as you can to see what type of scars that doctor has produced on his patients. Surgical technique is extremely important.

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When we close these incisions, we need to close it without tension. That means using deep sutures. Also, I have learned through my 17 years in practice--

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I use as few skin sutures as possible because we don't want track marks on the skin. So it's deep subdermal suturing that's

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technique, a traumatic closure, and after the patient has had the surgery and is healed, I use 3M one inch Steri-Strips

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for six weeks. There are other agents that have been useful. BioCorneum is a silicone liquid scar treatment that has also

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been shown to be effective. I like to use that after six to eight weeks