A breast lift leaves a scar around the areola, and in most cases a vertical scar running down to the breast fold, with a scar along the fold itself where more skin has to come out. They are red and raised at around three months and pale and flat in most patients by twelve.
Scars are the trade in this operation, because a lift works by removing skin. There is no lift that tightens the breast without them.
The three patterns
| Pattern | Where the scars sit | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Periareolar (doughnut) | A ring around the areola only | Very minor lifts and areola reduction; limited in what it can achieve |
| Vertical (lollipop) | Around the areola, then down to the fold | Moderate lifts with reasonable skin quality |
| Anchor (inverted T) | Around the areola, down to the fold, then along the fold | Larger lifts, poor skin quality, most patients after major weight loss |
The scar in the fold is hidden by a bra and by most swimwear. The vertical scar is the one you see in a mirror. Which pattern you need is decided by how much skin has to be removed and by the quality of that skin, not by preference — a periareolar lift used beyond its limits flattens the breast and widens the areola.
What happens over twelve months
| When | What the scar looks like |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1–6 | Covered by dressings; surrounding skin bruised and swollen |
| Week 6 | Dressings off; pink, flat to slightly raised |
| Month 3 | Reddest and firmest. This is the low point and it is normal |
| Month 6 | Colour fading, softening under the fingers |
| Month 12 | Pale and flat in most patients; final review with Dr Kumar |
The scar care protocol
Scar care here follows a set protocol rather than being left to chance. Prineo and Micropore go on at surgery and stay for six weeks, and a pressure garment is worn for the same six weeks. After that Dr Kumar’s nurses take you through silicone and massage and review the scars at every visit through to twelve months. The full recovery timeline is here.
What makes a scar worse
- Going back to exercise early. Tension across a healing scar widens it — the commonest cause of a poor scar.
- Nicotine. It impairs wound healing directly. Dr Kumar asks for complete abstinence from all nicotine, not just smoking, for six weeks before and after surgery.
- Sun on a new scar. Keep it covered for the first year.
- Skin type. Some people form thicker scars regardless of technique; a personal or family history of keloid is worth raising before surgery.
- Wound problems. A wound that separates or becomes infected leaves a wider scar.
The areola scar behaves differently
The scar around the areola usually fades best, because it sits at a colour border. Its risk is not colour but stretch: the areola can widen over the first year, particularly where a periareolar technique has been pushed hard or the skin is poor. Where that matters to you, say so, because it influences which pattern is chosen.
Common questions
Can the scars be removed? No. They can be helped to fade, and a widened scar can sometimes be revised after twelve months, but a lift always leaves a permanent scar.
Are lift scars worse than reduction scars? They are the same patterns. Breast reduction scars.
Is there a scarless breast lift? No. Devices and threads marketed for lifting do not remove skin, and a breast that needs skin removed will not be corrected by them.
Do scars differ after weight loss? Often. Skin quality after major weight loss usually means more skin has to come out, so an anchor pattern is more common — see breast lift after major weight loss.
Will they show in a bikini? The fold and vertical scars sit within the breast and are covered by most swimwear. Sheer or plunging styles may show the vertical scar.
Next step
Scars are the part of this operation worth discussing in person, with your own anatomy in front of you. Bring a GP referral to a consultation, or ask Dr Kumar’s nurses what to expect first — 1300 267 726. More about breast lift surgery.
The initial consultation with Dr Kumar is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 where you have a GP referral. Surgical fees are quoted individually after your consultation, in a written itemised quote.
All surgery carries risks, and individual results will vary. Read more about the risks of surgery here. A GP referral is required to see Dr Kumar.
Dr Rohit Kumar (MED0001630444) Registered medical practitioner, specialist plastic surgeon (specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery).
