Breast reductions can provide a safe and highly effective means of reducing neck, back, and shoulder pain for women with larger breasts. If you’re someone who faces discomfort when exercising due to your breasts, bra straps leaving painful indentations, or just want to reduce size for aesthetic reasons, breast reduction is an ideal solution.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Sayed has extensive experience successfully reducing cup size and creating proportional areolas alongside ideal nipple placement. However, his patients often ask him if he can perform a “scarless” breast reduction.
The Truth Behind “Scarless” Surgery
To be clear, there is no such thing as a “scarless” surgery, and any surgeon who tells you otherwise is spreading misinformation. No matter the technique used, if you’re undergoing a procedure to modify your breasts (whether that’s a reduction, augmentation, a breast lift, implant rmoval, or anything else), an incision is necessary.
If there’s an incision, some scarring is inevitable. That’s why working with a board-certified surgeon is so critical. A skilled and expert surgeon like Dr. Sayed can both minimize incision size and provide you with all the necessary tools to help reduce scarring over time.
Thanks to advanced suturing techniques and with his masterful craftsmanship and artistry, Dr. Sayed can achieve incredibly fine-lined scar patterns. With each surgery, Dr. Sayed also does his best to use your natural anatomy to conceal visible scarring. If possible, he will place your incision under the fold of the breast, where it’s far more likely to heal discreetly and virtually unnoticeably.
Our responsibility as doctors is to help patients make fully informed decisions about their bodies and health. Alongside maintaining the highest possible levels of safety and care, our chief priority is to ensure you have a clear understanding and realistic expectations about what your results will look like.
Reducing Visible Scarring
While we can’t yet perform scarless procedures, there are many clinically proven means of reducing the appearance of surgical scars.
During your consultation, we’ll discuss all the factors that go into how the body scars and heals. One of the most significant indicators of how your scar will look is how you’ve scarred in the past. Some people are more prone to thicker scars. Your age and environment also play a significant role.
However, by carefully following all aftercare instructions and with a bit of luck, there’s a good chance you can achieve nearly invisible scarring.
The first line of defense begins at home. It’s critical to avoid direct sun exposure to the incision site. Starting a daily routine of applying a high-SPF sunscreen, along with vitamin E creams or other skin oils, can help maintain proper moisturization and aid healing as well.
For patients looking to take more proactive steps, we can discuss medical means of reducing scarring. A variety of prescription topicals, such as Retin-A, are available and encourage the growth of new skin cells. In the office, we can also provide patients with highly successful Fraxel laser treatments.
These treatments are particularly helpful for patients prone to thicker scarring, though anyone can benefit from this powerful technology. The patented Fraxel laser beam allows Dr. Sayed to use a fractionated beam to deliver bursts of energy onto the surface of the skin.
These small “wells” in the skin encourage the body’s natural healing process and increase the production of elastin and collagen. Dr. Sayed has helped many of his surgical patients reduce scarring by combining laser treatments with beneficial medical substances that provide deep nutrition and hydration to the skin. These include:
- Hyaluronic acid filler materials
- Botox®
- Steroid medications for some inflammatory skin conditions
- Topical medications for rosacea
- Hydroquinone-containing skincare products that can target pigmentation
- Other medications
Following just one session, you’ll see a substantial, but gradual, reduction in the appearance of your scar, along with improved overall quality and texture of the surrounding skin. For optimal results, Dr. Sayed may recommend follow-up treatments, depending on the scarring’s severity and your medical history.
If you’d like to learn more about breast reduction, scar management, or any of our other procedures, the next step is to get in touch with either our Newport Beach or La Jolla, CA, offices to schedule a virtual consultation.
Feel free to give us a call at 858-247-2933 or contact us online today. Our entire team greatly looks forward to talking with you more.
