Can Derma Rolling Reduce Mastopexy or Breast Lift Scars?

Breast lift or mastopexy procedures are performed for drooping breast, which usually occurs to a woman who has had children. There are several factors why the breast tissues has diminished elasticity over time, which the end result will be a ptotic breast, this includes:

Aging
Peripartum enlargement
Postpartum involuntion

A true ptosis occurs when the nipple-areola complex descends to the level with or below
inframammary crease.

Mastopexy is a plastic surgery procedure used for raising sagging breast. It works by modifying and changing the contour, elevation and size of the breast. Some woman who desires restoration of her bust because of post-partum volume losses of milk-gland tissues and fat and or the occurrence of breast ptosis prefers to have mastopexy. But this surgical procedure has anaesthetic disadvantage which is the formation of surgical scar.

Thus, can microneedling or dermarolling therapy be used as treatment for mastopexy scars? Is microneedle safe for the breast implant? Will it be able to affect the implant underneath the breast? When is the best time to use microneedles after the surgery?

Dermarolling on Breast Lift Scars or Mastopexy Scars
Most plastic surgeons are unanimous in saying that microneedling treatment is effective in reducing scars. It may not totally remove the scars but it can definitely help lessen it. But
microneedling should not be considered earlier than 6 months after the mastopexy procedure.
Surgeon advices to seek consult with a certified plastic surgeon before doing any kind of
treatment procedure after the surgery.

Although, there are some plastic surgeons that are not against the use of microneedling treatment for mastopexy scars as long as; it is performed after one year of the surgical procedure. They believed that the skin needs at least a year to recover after the surgery. Microneedling can help in softening the mastopexy scars and help lighten the color.

Some plastic surgeons are also apprehensive in using dermarollers in a breast implant. They do not recommend it post-operatively because of the potential risk of skin infection after dermarolling. They worry that it may cause problems with the implant as it may get infected. Surgeons strongly advice not to do anything that may puncture the skin over the implant. A trivial skin infection may result to implant infection that will result to a cascade of operations such as removing the implant and then replacing it after few months.

Surgeons also agree that microneedles are too small that it will not have any effect on the implant underneath the skin.

Why Scars are Formed after Mastopexy Procedures?

Women who desire of mastopexy procedure wants to restore a youthful and full breast. However, one of the major concerns of this procedure is the formation of scar. The vertical and periareolar techniques leave scars on the breast mound. On most occasions, these scars are somewhat visible.

Thus women are put on a difficult choice on whether to trade a ptotic breast for a visible scarred breast.

Health Burden of Breast Ptosis

Breast ptosis occurs after breast feeding, weight loss and with aging. Mastopexy is a procedure use to elevate sagging breast, modify the contour and size without changing the volume of the
breast. Living with a breast ptosis is a health burden. In fact, studies have shown that the health burden of breast ptosis is comparable with unilateral mastectomy, bilateral mastectomy, breast hypertrophy and cleft lip and palate.

How to take care of your breast after mastopexy or breast lift surgery?

You have to remember that surgical scar caused by mastopexy will continue to remodel for one year after the surgery. During the course of skin remodeling, it is ideal that you do everything to protect the scars and help it to heal completely.

Here are some of the things that you can do to take care of your breast after the surgical procedure:

Protect your breast from too much sun
Use sunblock regularly
Keep your breast moisturized and well supported

During the year after mastopexy procedure, the scars will continue to lighten naturally and normalize in color, if it is well protected. Some plastic surgeon recommends microneedling and or laser treatment after one year of the surgical procedure. Microneedling can be a good option to soften the mastopexy scars and help fade the color.

It will also help if you can use platelet rich plasma or PRP together with microneedling to enhance the results of the mastopexy scars. PRP stimulates the release of growth factors which will help improve the appearance of the breast lift scars.

A bit of advice

Mastopexy scar is a consequence of having breast lift or mastopexy surgery. Although now you can opt for internal suture mastopexy which help reduce the incidence of mastopexy scars.

Anyhow, if you have a mastopexy scar, make sure that you wait for at least six months to one year before you use derma rollers in treating the scars. You have to give your skin at least a year

to heal completely.

In this time, there is still possibility that it will blend with the skin’s color so it will look naturally. After a year, you can use derma rollers together with Platelet rich plasma to improve the appearance of your scars.

Make sure that before you do any procedure, you inform your attending physician regarding your plan. This will help you in making the right choices. They could guide you in selecting the best option that suits your health condition.

Remember, that you have a different condition considering that you have a breast implant underneath. You have to weigh the pros and the cons first before deciding on anything.

Works Cited

Ahmed MS Ibrahim, MD,1,* Hani H Sinno, MD MEng,1,2,* Ali Izadpanah, MD MSc,2 Joshua Vorstenbosch, PhD,1 Tassos Dionisopoulos, MD,2 Mark K Markarian, MD MSPH,1 Bernard T Lee, MD, MBA,1 and Samuel J Lin, MD1. (2015). Mastopexy for breast ptosis: Utility outcomes of population preferences. Plast Surg (Oakv). , 103-107.

Raman Chaos Mahabir, MD MSc FRCSC and William A Zamboni, MD FACS. (2008). A new technique of internal suture mastopexy for mild to moderate breast ptosis. Can J Plast Surg. , 11-13.