Top tips for scar treatment and healing after breast surgery
All operations leave scars - it’s part of the natural healing process.
However, there are some things you can do to help yourself heal as quickly, painlessly and as comfortably as possible after any breast surgery. Here’s what we suggest.
In our opinion, the best scar therapy uses a combination of compression clothing and silicone scar therapy strips or patches to help minimise raised scarring and to reduce redness and irritation.
Silicone patches help protect sensitive areas while they heal. Research suggests that the silicone creates a protective barrier over the scar, preventing the formation of excess scar tissue, and they can also help to relieve itching and discomfort and keep the area hydrated. Amoena’s gel sheets are washable, soft, flexible and self-adhesive.
Important: Some people are sensitive to silicone. It’s important to start using your patch slowly, building up the length of time you wear it gradually, monitoring for any irritation.
A comfortable, supportive, post-surgery bra that’s gentle on the skin can make a huge difference to how you feel after any kind of breast surgery.
Amoena’s post-surgery bras are designed to meet the needs of women immediately after their operation, both in hospital and at home. They have adjustable wide straps, pockets to hold a breast form and are made of a stretchy material which applies exactly the right compression over the cup area.
It’s really important that you protect your scars from the sun (and sunbeds) until around two years after surgery. This is because scar tissue can appear darker after sun damage, and is more prone to burn
About six weeks after your operation (and following medical advice) you should be able to start moisturising and massaging your scars. This helps to soften them, reducing discomfort. You should use a non-perfumed moisturiser.
You should always take the advice of your medical team before you restart exercise after breast surgery, because the area around your scar is very sensitive. Any physical activities should be resumed slowly and gradually.
This is hugely variable and depends on a number of different factors, including your medical history, your diet and your genetic predisposition to scarring.
In the first few months after your surgery your scar will usually be pink , but may change colour when you’re hot or cold.
It will continue to fade gradually over time. As a general rule, scarring tends to ‘settle’ around two years after an operation.
It’s not uncommon for people to experience pain near their surgical site for months (or even years) after many different types of breast surgery, including breast reconstruction, mastectomy, lumpectomy and lymph node removal.
It’s thought that this pain has a variety of causes, but it’s usually due to stretching or damage to nerves during surgery, or during the formation of scar tissue.
Always talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing pain like this.
However, there are some things you can do to help yourself heal as quickly, painlessly and as comfortably as possible after any breast surgery. Here’s what we suggest.
Scar therapy
In our opinion, the best scar therapy uses a combination of compression clothing and silicone scar therapy strips or patches to help minimise raised scarring and to reduce redness and irritation.
Silicone patches help protect sensitive areas while they heal. Research suggests that the silicone creates a protective barrier over the scar, preventing the formation of excess scar tissue, and they can also help to relieve itching and discomfort and keep the area hydrated. Amoena’s gel sheets are washable, soft, flexible and self-adhesive.
Important: Some people are sensitive to silicone. It’s important to start using your patch slowly, building up the length of time you wear it gradually, monitoring for any irritation.
Wear a post-surgery bra
A comfortable, supportive, post-surgery bra that’s gentle on the skin can make a huge difference to how you feel after any kind of breast surgery.
Amoena’s post-surgery bras are designed to meet the needs of women immediately after their operation, both in hospital and at home. They have adjustable wide straps, pockets to hold a breast form and are made of a stretchy material which applies exactly the right compression over the cup area.
Protect your scars from the sun
It’s really important that you protect your scars from the sun (and sunbeds) until around two years after surgery. This is because scar tissue can appear darker after sun damage, and is more prone to burn
Moisturise your scars
About six weeks after your operation (and following medical advice) you should be able to start moisturising and massaging your scars. This helps to soften them, reducing discomfort. You should use a non-perfumed moisturiser.
Avoid exercise until fully healed
You should always take the advice of your medical team before you restart exercise after breast surgery, because the area around your scar is very sensitive. Any physical activities should be resumed slowly and gradually.
Answers to some common questions about breast surgery scars
How long does it take a mastectomy scar to heal?
This is hugely variable and depends on a number of different factors, including your medical history, your diet and your genetic predisposition to scarring.
In the first few months after your surgery your scar will usually be pink , but may change colour when you’re hot or cold.
It will continue to fade gradually over time. As a general rule, scarring tends to ‘settle’ around two years after an operation.
Is it normal to have scar tissue pain after a mastectomy?
It’s not uncommon for people to experience pain near their surgical site for months (or even years) after many different types of breast surgery, including breast reconstruction, mastectomy, lumpectomy and lymph node removal.
It’s thought that this pain has a variety of causes, but it’s usually due to stretching or damage to nerves during surgery, or during the formation of scar tissue.
Always talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing pain like this.
