What sort of scarring could you see from breast augmentation?

One of the most common questions that women ask before getting breast augmentation is, "Will there be scarring, and if so, what will it look like?" Because breast enhancement is a surgical procedure, scarring is an inevitable part of the procedure. That said, there are lots of ways to reduce scarring and make it less noticeable.

Looking at the answers to some of the most popular questions about breast augmentation scarring might help to give you peace of mind that your final results can look very smooth and natural.

Where will my breast augmentation scars be located?

The location of your breast implant scars will be determined by the placement of the incisions that your plastic surgeon will make in order to place your implants inside the breast pocket. One of the most common incision techniques is called the inframammary incision. This technique creates two incisions that follow the natural curve underneath your breasts. Thus, scarring can be easily hidden beneath a bikini top.

The periareolar incision creates a semi-circular incision tracing the lower half of your areolas, which can camouflage scarring even further. There is also the transaxillary incision, placed in your underarm area, so there will be no scarring at all on your breasts. This technique, however, requires more surgical skill and finesse and can be slightly less accurate when it comes to the placement of your implants.

What will my scars look like?

Throughout your breast enhancement recovery process, it's important to remember that scars can take up to 18 months to fully heal and mature. So you might notice that your scars seem to be getting worse before they look better. Most breast augmentation scars will appear red or pink and slightly raised until they begin to heal and become less noticeable over time. The rate at which your scars will heal can also depend on factors like your age, genetics, skin tone and exposure to the sun.

How can I minimize scarring after plastic surgery?

The good news is that there are lots of things you can do before and after plastic surgeon to help accelerate healing and minimize the appearance of your scars. These include:

• Avoiding smoking for several weeks before and after your procedure
• Staying out of the sun and wearing sunscreen
• Eating nutritious foods and drinking plenty of water during recovery
• Following your plastic surgeon's physical activity guidelines after breast augmentation

What are my scar treatment options?

If you do develop more pronounced scars or want to reduce their appearance even further, there are also a number of scar treatment options you can try. Just make sure you talk to your plastic surgeon before trying any of these treatments, as you need to make sure your incisions have fully healed first:

• Taking vitamin E supplements or applying topical vitamin E to healed incisions
• Silicone sheeting
• Topical cortisone cream
• Laser skin resurfacing

In the hands of a skilled plastic surgeon, breast augmentation scars can be very easily hidden and should heal nicely over time – yet another reason why it is so important to choose a qualified plastic surgeon for your procedure.