Patients often ask where the periareolar incision will be placed
and what the scar will look like. I tell all patients that everyone will have a
scar, but how visible the scar is depends on several factors. The periareolar
incision is typically placed on the inferior (bottom) half of the areola. The
areola tends to be a relatively privileged area for scarring. That is, it is
rare for keloid scars to develop on the areolar skin.
For the first three weeks after surgery,
steri-strips are placed on the incision. After three weeks, the steri-strips
are removed. At that point I tell patients that they can place lotion on the
incisions provided it is the same lotion they use on the rest of their body
skin. Patients should not use Vitamin E cream, capsules, etc. on their
incisions. After six weeks, if the incisions show signs of a thick or
hypertrophic scar, patients can use silicone gel sheeting to flatten out the
scar.
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