View breast reduction short scar technique before and after photos by real past patients of best plastic surgeons.
A breast reduction procedure called the short scar technique or vertical technique, is becoming more popular and requires a shorter incision, which reduces scar length. Prior to this technique, a breast reduction procedure may have produced long horizontal scars or even box-shaped scars, but the presence of these types of scars is significantly reduced when the short scar technique is performed.
Speak with your doctor to learn more details about the type of technique that would be used for the procedure. There is no breast lift procedure that will leave the beast without a scar. Even breast augmentation surgery, which results in an increased volume and therefore a lift, will result in a scar.
The final result of the scar will be determined by the way each person heals, as some patients despite a good plastic surgery repair will heal with thick and very apparent scars. A detailed history of previous surgery and evaluation of the resultant scars will give you and your plastic surgeon, an idea of the type of scar that will result.
“Short scar” breast reductions often refer to the vertical technique in which an inframammary horizontal scar is eliminated. This technique is extremely operator dependent so that the “ideal” candidate is different depending on the level of skill of the surgeon.
“Scarless” breast reduction can refer to one of two techniques
1. liposuction alone
2. a recirculation of the Passot procedure where the breast has only a horizontal scar located at the inframammary fold and then the nipple is exteriorized through the skin flap.
“Anchor” breast reduction refers generically to any breast reduction where you have a vertical and horizontal scar along with the scar around your nipple areolar complex.
Crease incision allows better skin tailoring!
Vertical lifts are “all the rage” now that more and more surgeons have begun to learn these techniques of partial or modified breast lifting. The problem with this and other “newer” procedures is that surgeons become enamored with the “pros” of such less-scar procedures, and try to apply these techniques to more and more patients, some of whom may not be appropriate for short-scar or no-crease scar techniques.
(It’s the old “I’ve got this new hammer, and everything suddenly becomes a nail!” attitude.)
Remember that while vertical lifts are perfectly good operations for some patients, they do NOT fill the bill for all situations, particularly since skin tailoring in one dimension only can be achieved with vertical lifts or lollipop lifts.
Skin tailoring in two dimensions (horizontal AND vertical) requires the addition of another scar in the perpendicular direction from the vertical scar–hence, the short or long crease scar. The length of the crease scar essentially determines the degree of skin tailoring medially and laterally, and making this too short makes the center of the breast axis short, whereas medially and laterally the excess skin sags (still), so the breast looks flattened on the bottom, or boxy in shape. Over time this softens and stretches to round out a bit, but here again is a limitation that either is acceptable or not. (Often not, and re-do surgery is the only solution)
If someone offered you a “no-scar” lift would you think it is a good idea? Or would you understand it for the “baloney” it truly is? If you need skin tailoring in more than one dimension, you should understand that “avoiding scars” may in fact be “adding residual laxity” and the need for a revision later to “fix” the inadequately-treated loose skin. This is NOT baloney, but is a question of judgment, not one of skill in execution of a specific technique (though that too plays a role).
In short, I would suggest that you not try to “fit” a desired technique to the surgeon’s recommendations or even allow this to influence your choice of surgeon. Rather, your surgeon (if experienced and ABPS-certified) has the training, expertise, and numerous similar patients from which he or she has gained significant knowledge you do not possess.
Follow your surgeon’s advice. Those who would advocate a vertical lift only should be willing to show you numerous patients with similar anatomy for whom this proved to be an adequate choice, and provide information about the cost of additional surgery (and how often it occurs) for “the minority” of cases in which an additional scar later proved to be necessary!
Short scar technique before and after photos:
- 18 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr Thomas P. Sterry, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon
- 18 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Doctor Vishnu Rumalla, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon
- 18 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr Anthony Deboni, MD, Syracuse Plastic Surgeon
- 18 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr Kevin Dieffenbach, MD, Oahu Island Plastic Surgeon
- 20 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Doctor Kouros Azar, MD, Thousand Oaks Plastic Surgeon
- 20 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr Keith C. Neaman, MD, Salem Plastic Surgeon
- 20 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Doctor Jose Perez-Gurri, MD, FACS, Miami Plastic Surgeon
- 21 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Doctor Peter Hyans, MD, Summit Plastic Surgeon 735
- 21 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Steven A. Earle, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon
- 21 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Susan Lovelle, MD, Wichita Plastic Surgeon
- 22 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS, Orange County Plastic Surgeon (1)
- 22 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS, Orange County Plastic Surgeon (2)
- 22 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Jack Peterson, MD, Topeka Plastic Surgeon
- 23 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr Jennifer Capla, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon (1)
- 23 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr Jennifer Capla, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon (2)
- 23 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Justin P. Martin, MD, Dothan Plastic Surgeon
- 24 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Doctor Mohit Sood, DO, FACOS, Atlantic City Plastic Surgeon
- 24 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr Allen D. Rosen, MD, Montclair Plastic Surgeon
- 25 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Michael P. Lynch, MD, Lexington Plastic Surgeon
- 26 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr Daniel Barrett, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
- 26 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Paul M. Steinwald, MD, Denver Plastic Surgeon
- 27 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr Richard G. Reish, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon
- 28 Year Old Patient Seeks Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr. Steven Vath, MD, Denver Plastic Surgeon
- 30 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr Onelio Garcia Jr, MD, FACS, Miami Plastic Surgeon
- 30 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Gary Lawton, MD, FACS, San Antonio Plastic Surgeon
- 31 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Doctor Anthony Barabas, MBBS, Cambridge Plastic Surgeon
- 32 Year Old Female Treated For Large Breasts With Doctor Matthew H. Steele, MD, Sioux City Plastic Surgeon
- 34 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr. Jeffrey Horowitz, MD, Bel Air Plastic Surgeon
- 34 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr Landon Pryor, MD, FACS, Rockford Plastic Surgeon
- 34 Yr Old Woman With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. William LoVerme, MD, Boston Plastic Surgeon
- 35 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr Andrew T. Cohen, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
- 36 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr Allen M. Doezie, MD, Orange County Plastic Surgeon
- 36 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr. William H. Gorman, MD, Austin Plastic Surgeon
- 36 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Doctor Landon Pryor, MD, FACS, Rockford Plastic Surgeon
- 36 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr Bradley L. Ashpole, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon
- 36 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Jarrod Daniel, MD, Portland Plastic Surgeon
- 37 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr. Manish Champaneria, MD, Portland Plastic Surgeon
- 37 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Stephen M. Chen, MD, Richmond Plastic Surgeon
- 39 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Doctor Keshav Magge, MD, Bethesda Plastic Surgeon
- 39 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr Kelly R. Kunkel, MD, Fort Worth Plastic Surgeon
- 39 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr. Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD, Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon
- 39 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Ellen A. Janetzke, MD, Bloomfield Hills Plastic Surgeon
- 40 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr Jonathan Fisher, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon
- 41 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Doctor Suzanne M. Quardt, MD, Palm Springs Plastic Surgeon
- 41 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Sharon Y. Giese, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon
- 42 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr. Asaf Yalif, MD, Roswell Plastic Surgeon
- 42 Yeard Old Female Treated For Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr Australia Fragoso-Baez, MD, Dominican Republic Plastic Surgeon
- 43 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. David Bogue, MD, Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
- 44 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr. Suzanne M. Quardt, MD, Palm Springs Plastic Surgeon
- 45 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction By Dr. Eddy Dona, MBBS, FRACS, Sydney Plastic Surgeon
- 45 Year Old Woman Treated With Short Scar Breast Reduction With Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD, Dominican Republic Plastic Surgeon
- 47 Year Old Female Breast Reduction Patient By Dr. Milind K. Ambe, MD, Orange County Plastic Surgeon
- 48 Year Old Woman Treated With Breast Reduction By Doctor Andrew T. Cohen, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
- 48 Year Old Woman Treated With Breast Reduction By Dr Susan D. Vasko, MD, FACS, Columbus Plastic Surgeon
- 49 Year Old Woman Treated With Breast Reduction By Doctor Ellen A. Janetzke, MD, Bloomfield Hills Plastic Surgeon
- 50 Year Old Woman Treated With Breast Reduction By Doctor German Newall, MD, Houston Plastic Surgeon
- 51 Year Old Woman Treated With Breast Reduction With Doctor Louis P. Bucky, MD, Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon
- 58 Year Old Woman Treated With Breast Reduction With Doctor Boris M. Ackerman, MD, Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
- 59-year-old Woman Treated With Breast Reduction And Implants. By Doctor Eric Swanson, MD, Kansas City Plastic Surgeon
- 61 Year Old Woman Treated With Breast Reduction With Dr. Michael C. Edwards, MD, FACS, Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
- 63 Year Old Woman Treated With Breast Reduction With Doctor Ellen A. Janetzke, MD, Bloomfield Hills Plastic Surgeon
- 69 Year Old Woman Treated With Breast Reduction With Doctor Douglas L. Forman, MD, Bethesda Plastic Surgeon
- Age 55, Height 5'3', Weight 144lbs. With Doctor Ellen A. Janetzke, MD, Bloomfield Hills Plastic Surgeon
- Breast Reduction - 32 Year Old Female, 3 Months Post-op By Doctor Scott Barr, MD, Sudbury Plastic Surgeon
- Breast Reduction - 53 Year Old Female, 4 Months Post-op With Doctor Scott Barr, MD, Sudbury Plastic Surgeon
- Breast Reduction Lift, 35 Year Old Woman With Doctor Robert Drielsma, MBBS, BSc, FRACS, Sydney Plastic Surgeon