Where the scars go
- Around the areola: a ring at the edge of the darker skin, the shortest scar, for a small lift.
- Lollipop: the ring plus a line straight down to the crease.
- Anchor: the lollipop plus a curved line in the crease under the breast, for a bigger lift.
The more the breast has dropped, the more skin has to come away, and the longer the scar. A surgeon may be able to use a shorter scar than you expect; ask what they'd suggest and why.
How they heal
For the first weeks the scars look red or dark and feel firm or lumpy. Over the next six to twelve months they fade from red to pale, and they keep softening and thinning for up to two years. They don't vanish. Someone close to you, or anyone seeing you topless on a beach, would notice them.
When scars heal badly
Some people's scars stretch, and some stay thick, red and itchy for a long time. A wound can also open where the lines meet under the breast and take weeks to close, which leaves a wider scar. If you've had thick or raised scars before, tell the surgeon at the consultation.
What helps
- Not smoking: stop at least six weeks before, and stay stopped while you heal
- Wearing the support bra as you're told, so the scars aren't pulled
- Asking your surgeon when you can start massaging them, and with what
Scars and implants
If implants go in at the same time, ask whether they'd add a scar; often they can go in through the lift's own cuts. Implants alone, without a lift, use one shorter cut next to or below the breast, but they can't lift a breast that has dropped a lot.
Questions people ask
Do breast lift scars go away?
No. They fade and soften over one to two years but are permanent.
Which breast lift has the smallest scar?
A lift around the areola only, but it suits small lifts. Most lifts need the vertical line too.
How long do breast lift scars take to fade?
They fade from red to pale over six to twelve months and keep softening and thinning for up to two years.
Will people see my breast lift scars?
Normal bras and bikini tops usually cover them. Anyone who sees you topless may notice them.