Breast Lift Scars: Appearance and Healing Time

What do breast lift scars look like?

The exact shape and location of breast lift scarring differs depending on the surgical technique involved. Generally speaking, the incisions made during a breast lift procedure are thin, which helps to make them less obvious. 

The incisions will begin to close and heal just one to two weeks after surgery. Once they have fully closed, you will typically have a raised line along the edges of the incision. The scars will initially be a purple or red colour but will fade to pink and ultimately end up as white or flesh-coloured. They’ll also flatten out in texture. The breast lift scar healing process takes time and it can be one year or more after surgery until the lines lighten and fade significantly. 

Due to the placement of the incision lines, breast lift scars are easy to hide under bras, bikinis and low-cut tops. Scars around the areola tend to be the easiest to conceal and horizontal scars along the breast crease are usually less visible than vertical incisions on the breasts. 

Surgical techniques used to minimise scarring

As part of your breast lift consultation, your surgeon will discuss the most appropriate surgical technique to achieve the best possible result while minimising scarring. They’ll also show you pictures of what the scarring will look like. You can then decide how comfortable you are with the procedure and whether other techniques might be preferable.  

We also have many ‘been there and done it’ experts – our Enhance Boob Buddies – who are happy to share their first-hand experiences of breast lift scarring and give you their honest advice. 

Crescent lift

This technique is usually performed in conjunction with breast augmentation and is only suitable for women with minimal sagging. It requires a relatively small incision made near the edge of the areola. Although it leads to the least extensive scarring of all the surgical lifting procedures, it is limited in its effectiveness.  

Lollipop lift

In this case, the surgeon must make an incision on the breasts themselves, running down from the areola to the bottom of the breast. There is also an incision line around the areola. That creates more significant scarring in the shape of a lollipop, hence the name. 

Anchor lift

The anchor lift is the most appropriate breast lift technique for women with significant sagging. In addition to the incision lines in the lollipop lift, the surgeon also makes a horizontal incision across the width of the bottom of the breast. That helps to create greater reshaping and lifting while minimising the visible scarring as the horizontal lines are ‘hidden’ under the breast folds. 

Breast lift scar healing timeline

Breast lift scar healing is a process that takes time. Your scars will generally look their worst around two months after surgery before fading to a thin white or skin-coloured line by the one-year mark.   

One to two weeks after surgery

The incisions will still appear as a faint line as the healing process is still in its infancy. The body will be in the process of laying down collagen and increasing blood supply. The scar will have little strength at this point, which is why it’s so important to avoid strenuous activity that can increase tension and reduce the scar quality.    

One to two months after surgery

After about a month, your scars will look red or pinkish as the body replicates cells to heal itself. They may also be slightly raised and more dense than they were. By six to eight weeks, the scars will usually look their worst, as the increased blood flow to the area and excess collagen makes them appear dense and dark red or even purple.  

Three months and more after surgery

The healing process is nearly complete and your scars will begin to fade and lighten in colour. The scarring will continue to fade over a year or more, and although breast lift scars will not go away, they will become significantly less prominent. 

How to reduce breast lift scars

Your choice of surgeon and the technique they use will influence the appearance of breast lift scars, but you also have an important role to play. By following your post-care guidelines and attending all your follow-up appointments, you’ll benefit from scars that fade quickly so you can enjoy the results of your procedure. 

The steps you can take to reduce the appearance of your scars include:

• Staying hydrated
• Wearing sunscreen whenever the scars are exposed to the sun
• Applying silicone gel after your scars have healed to reduce their size and colour
• Massaging the scar to decrease inflammation and flatten it out
• Wearing a supportive bra, particularly when exercising
• Eating a healthy diet to promote tissue healing
• Avoiding alcohol and smoking which hinder the healing process

Read more: How to reduce scars after breast reduction surgery

Miminise breast lift scars with the right choice of surgeon  

At Enhance Medical, our experienced, GMC-registered and licensed surgeons minimise the appearance of breast lift scars by choosing the most appropriate surgical technique and strategically selecting their incision points. We also offer comprehensive surgery aftercare to enhance the healing and recovery process.Find out more about breast surgery and a breast lift at Enhance Medical and book your free consultation with our team.