Breast Augmentation Scarring: Expectations and Treatments

Breast augmentation surgery is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the United States. In 2021, nearly 365,000 of these surgeries were performed in the U.S., placing breast augmentation in the top five most common cosmetic procedures.¹

Minimized scarring is crucial for patient satisfaction in any body-altering surgery.¹ Surgeons work hard to reduce scar visibility through advanced techniques and postsurgical care recommendations. Unwanted scarring can negatively impact a patient's mental health, self-confidence and body image.²

Learn more about the types, causes, treatments and more for breast augmentation surgery scarring.

Does Breast Augmentation Surgery Cause Scars?

Yes, breast augmentation surgery causes scars, which can vary depending on factors such as incision type, the patient's healing process and postoperative care. For any surgery that damages skin down to the dermis level, a scar is often an unavoidable result.²

Numerous factors contribute to the appearance and size of a scar, including:²

• Age of patient
• Incision type
• Skin type
• Location of scar on body
• Postsurgical care of scar

Understanding Incision Types in Breast Augmentation

A patient’s goals for their breast augmentation, along with the surgeon’s incision type, will affect the appearance and degree of scarring. Some common incision types that plastic surgeons use for breast augmentation include:³

• Inframammary incision. An inframammary incision hides the scar in the inframammary fold, where the bottom of the breast meets the chest wall. This is a popular choice for a traditional breast augmentation that doesn’t include a reduction or a breast lift.
• Lollipop or anchor incisions. A lollipop incision runs around the areola and down the breast, stopping below the nipple. This approach is often used in breast lifts and breast reductions because it allows for ease of nipple positioning. The anchor incision is similar but extends past the base of the incision into an anchor-like shape as it branches into the inframammary fold.
• Periareolar incision. A periareolar incision runs around the nipple and blends into the surrounding tissue. This is especially useful for breast implant placement and replacement surgery.
• Transaxillary incision. A transaxillary incision is located in the armpit crease, creating the most hidden scar type. However, it’s not as versatile for breast implant placement and may not be possible in all augmentations.

Breast Augmentation Scar Types and Their Healing Time

The type of scar a patient will have after breast augmentation surgery depends on the type of incision the surgeon uses, how well the patient cares for their scars after surgery and their body’s own healing process.²

By following the surgeon’s orders, avoiding unnecessary strain or exercise until cleared and practicing healthy aftercare, scars will heal by flattening out and fading from red to pink in the first two to three months. After six to 12 months, scars should be completely healed, meaning they will be flat and faint.⁴

Scars that don’t heal in the usual pattern may become one of the following types:⁵

• Keloid scars. These undesirable scars occur when tissue thickens and grows beyond its initial boundaries. Surgeons strive to prevent this type of scarring.
• Hypertrophic scars. These raised, red scars can develop in the weeks following surgery, thickening for months before they start to improve.

To minimize the chances of developing either type of scar, it's important to follow the surgeon’s aftercare recommendations.⁵

How to Minimize or Get Rid of Breast Scars

The surgeon will provide aftercare instructions that help promote the healing process and minimize scar irritation.⁵

Things patients may be instructed to do

Surgeons may recommend these tips to care for breast augmentation scars:⁴

• Apply scar creams daily — one to protect against bacteria and reduce scar tissue by keeping the skin moist, and another to reduce redness and pigmentation issues.
• Do gentle self-massage for about 10 minutes per day to help flatten the scar (but avoid vigorous professional massage until the surgeon gives approval).
• Apply sunblock to any visible areas before going in the sun.
• Eating healthy foods with a diet high in protein after surgery is important for healing wounds and fighting infection.⁶

Things patients may be instructed to avoid

Surgeons may also suggest these don'ts when it comes to breast scars:⁴

• Getting sunlight on the wound site
• Scrubbing or exfoliating the surgical site for several weeks
• Lifting arms above shoulders for up to a month after surgery
• Lifting anything that weighs more than 5 pounds for up to a month after surgery
• Scratching incisions
• Using vitamin E cream on scars — it can actually make them worse
• Smoking for a month before the procedure and while scars are healing

Treatments to Reduce Breast Scarring

For people who want to minimize potential scarring or who have developed a hypertrophic or keloid scar, there are treatments to consider that offer varying degrees of success:

• Cryosurgery. This process uses liquid nitrogen to cool the tissue to subzero temperatures, potentially reducing tissue volume. It can also cause additional scarring, so discussing options thoroughly with a healthcare team is important.⁷
• Laser treatments. Non-ablative laser therapy can stimulate tissue to produce more collagen and elastin, which can smooth scar texture. The most common laser used for scars is the pulsed dye laser. Side effects can include blistering, crusting, scarring and — in darker skin types — hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin).⁸
• Silicone gel sheets. A simple and non-invasive way to treat hypertrophic scars is to apply these sheets, preferably early in the healing process (around two weeks after surgery). They should be applied daily for up to six months after surgery.⁹
• Corticosteroid injections. Best for small hypertrophic scars, these injections can be quite painful. A corticosteroid tape or plaster is sometimes used as an alternative since it's almost as effective and causes less pain. Corticosteroids can have side effects, including thinning or atrophy of the skin, capillary dilation and hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin), to name a few.¹⁰

Cosmetic surgeons will do their best to minimize scarring after a breast augmentation. However, diligent postsurgical care can greatly improve the results.

Financing Breast Augmentation With the CareCredit Credit Card

Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for breast augmentation surgery and related expenses not covered by health insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Jordan Rosenfeld has been freelance writing for 21 years about finances, health, education and more. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, PayPal, The Washington Post and more.