The scar from a mastopexy or breast reduction will be the most visible part after surgery; that is why, at the Dr. Ana Torres Institute (Barcelona), our top priority is to improve the scar’s appearance so that it is virtually imperceptible.
First of all, it is important to know that healing depends on factors both within and outside the patient:
1) Intrinsic factors: These are the genetic factors that determine how we heal, since the outcome of healing depends on various types of cells, such as fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and immune cells.
Our genetics also determine how much collagen and elastin we produce, as well as our skin type (as you know, thin skin doesn’t heal the same way as thick skin, and fair skin doesn’t heal the same way as dark skin). As you can see, wound healing is a very complex process…
2) Extrinsic Factors: These are inherent in our genetic makeup; in other words, they are factors that can influence healing due to our habits: smoking, sun exposure, skin care, diet… In this case, it is possible to influence the outcome, since we can improve our habits before surgery.
This change in habits may well include:
– Follow a diet rich in nutrients that promote healing, such as vitamin C, turmeric, ginger… Or increase your protein intake in the weeks leading up to surgery.
– Quitting smoking before a mastopexy (breast lift) or breast reduction—a point on which plastic surgeons are in complete agreement.
– It is important to moisturize the skin after surgery, as only well-moisturized skin will be able to restore its functions. To this end, we recommend that, after two or three weeks of wearing “Steri-strips,” you begin using rosehip oil or silicone or polyurethane strips.
In any case, it’s important to know that surgical sutures have also improved significantly over time, so that now, with barbed sutures (Stratafix), we can help reduce tension on the skin 🙂
As you know, you can contact us with any questions you may have about healing after a mastopexy (breast lift in Barcelona) or breast reduction. If it’s important to you, it’s just as important to us that you achieve a great result from your procedure!
We hope you found this article helpful if you’re about to undergo surgery. Thanks for reading, and see you in the next post!
