28 Aug How Women with Darker Skin Tones Can Lighten Breast Augmentation Scarring
Breast augmentation, the enhancement of breasts via breast implant placement, has long been one of the most popular procedures for women of any skin tone. It remains one of the most requested surgical procedures at Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center. Any type of breast augmentation is going to require an incision, which means scarring. These incision lengths and locations vary person to person with the most common incision being in the crease of the breasts. A saline implant may require a shorter incision since saline implants are filled after their final placement (while a silicone implant is pre-filled and requires a longer incision). The good news is that the breast crease is already a great camouflage for scarring—but there are things you can do after your surgery to speed up healing and lighten scarring.
Those with darker skin tones have a bigger change of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (darkening) and keloiding (raised scarring) regardless of the trauma. This shouldn’t keep someone from seeking out breast augmentation but, rather, closely consider the skill and reputation of the surgeon. Looking at before and after galleries is a great help. You already know that breast augmentation will make you look and feel your best, but what about scarring? If you tend to keloid, make sure to tell your doctor about this. Your surgeon may be able to choose a better incision site, such as the armpit (known as the trans-axillary site). More unorthodox incision placement, like the armpit and bellybutton, is traditionally done on saline implants.
Beautiful Breast Results
In the first three months after the surgery, breasts move into the “drop and fluff” phase, which is exactly what it sounds like. This makes them more natural looking, but can cause more pronounced scarring for inframammary and peri-areolar incisions. Breasts have weight, which can cause some incision sites to widen. Plus, the skin on and around the breast can be subjected to tension, which can lead to subpar healing. Armpit skin is thicker with more sebaceous glands, and trauma heals better in such environments.
However, sometimes an incision under the breast or around the areola is a must, even for those with darker skin tones. If there will be a visible scar, know that there are a variety of in-office and at-home treatments that can help with healing. This is one of the reasons Dr. Parson offers both surgical and non-surgical treatments. A doctor-recommended scar gel is usually the first line of treatment for every patient and it can be applied as soon as your doctor gives the go-ahead (shortly after healing). This gel creates a tension to help keep the scar contained and flat. Usually, this gel is applied twice daily by every patient. If your scar will be exposed to UV rays, perhaps in a swimsuit, it is paramount to put sunscreen on this area post-healing, too. A medical-grade sunscreen is best. However, you will be wearing a special compression bra for a few weeks after your surgery, which means there should be no UV exposure. Wearing this bra as your surgeon prescribes is critical to a successful healing process.
In-Office Treatments
Bear in mind that healing and scar reduction takes time. The scar you see right after surgery is nothing like what it will look like in a few weeks or months. Once the site has healed, you may be a good candidate for laser skin rejuvenation. Today’s lasers are suitable for all skin tones and types. This wasn’t always the case, as lasers a few years ago could not be used on darker skin tones because they had the potential to cause hypopigementation. Good options include fractional laser resurfacing and vascular lasers.
Chemical peels can also be a fantastic option for scarring, but are only appropriate after several weeks of healing. There is also microneedling, which is a form of collagen induction therapy that was initially developed to help veterans with severe war trauma over 120 years ago. All of these in-office options can help reduce scarring, prevent or stop keloiding, and appropriately lighten the incision site. Are you ready to learn more about how to get the best breast augmentation results possible? Schedule a consult with Dr. Parson by calling the office or, for the fastest response, complete the online contact form now.