Study of Scaring in Common Breast Procedures

AUSTIN, TX (PR Web Net) - Many women will have one of the following breast procedures at some point in their lifetime and scaring is one of the major concerns of these women.

Breast Reduction

The procedure does leave noticeable, permanent scars. (Poor healing and wider scars are more common in smokers.)
After surgery a small tube is placed in the breast to drain off blood and fluids for the first day or two.
Your surgeon will make every effort to make your scars as inconspicuous as possible. Still, it's important to remember that breast reduction scars are extensive and permanent.

Breast Lumpectomy

Your surgeon makes an incision large enough to remove both the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. The size of the margin is about 1 centimeter, or less than half an inch. The margin is taken to help ensure that all cancer cells are removed. Unlike after mastectomy, a drainage tube is not necessary after lumpectomy.
Lumpectomy and radiation treatment are for early-stage breast cancer and has its pros and cons. Your preferences and concerns play a large role in determining the right choice for you. Lumpectomy is not a choice for any other stage of breast cancer.

Breast Reconstruction

As with any surgery, smokers should be advised that nicotine can delay healing, resulting in conspicuous scars and prolonged recovery. Occasionally, these complications are severe enough to require a second operation.
After your surgery you are likely to feel tired and sore for a week or two after reconstruction. Most of your discomfort can be controlled by medication prescribed by your doctor.
Depending on the extent of your surgery, you'll probably be released from the hospital in two to five days. Many reconstruction options require a surgical drain to remove excess fluids from surgical sites immediately following the operation, but these are removed within the first week or two after surgery. Most stitches are removed in a week to 10 days.
After surgery, the breast mound is restored. Scars are permanent, but will fade with time. The nipple and areola are reconstructed at a later date.

Breast Augmentation

Scars are a part of the breast augmentation process. You will have one, whether it's around the areola, under the arm, or under the breast. In some cases, hypertropic or keloid scars may form. A keloid scar is a red and raised area, which can be uncomfortable and restrictive, depending on the part of the body on which it's located, as well as the size of the scar. Keloid scarring is the result of the build up of collagen in the area, making the scar larger than the actual size of the wound. In other words, the scar extends outside of the actual wound. A hypertropic scar is one that grows overly thick, but remains confined to the limits of the wound.

Most doctors will recommend that you stop smoking to reduce scaring and complications from surgery. Breast lift patients have even more reason to stop smoking. Lack of oxygen to the tissues can cause death of healthy tissue. Due to the multiple incisions made for breast lifts regardless of whether it includes reduction or not, you will certainly not want to compromise the level of oxygen that is supplied to those tissues.

Breast reductions combined with breast lift will result in at least two scars and drainage tubes, whereas most simple breast augmentation require no drains.

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