Breast Lift: Scar Wars

The title is a mix of English and Turkish, a playful reference to popular culture to grab your attention. I decided to write this article after receiving a message from one of my patients. Last night, around 8 PM, a patient I had previously examined and planned surgery with sent me a WhatsApp message. The surgery we had planned was, of course, a breast lift, and we had discussed scars. My patient wanted lifted, perky breasts without any scars — bold and upright!!! Was a scarless surgery impossible? The typical scar starts around the nipple, extends vertically down the center of the breast, and continues along the inframammary fold, forming an inverted T-shape. After researching images online, my patient exclaimed, "Oh my God, these scars are unacceptable; they should remove this surgery from medical literature!" Is my patient right? I don't think so, but my opinion alone isn't sufficient or definitive.

What do patients who undergo breast lift surgery think about this? Before surgery, the breasts often appear flat against the chest wall and sagging. Patients' primary expectations are to correct this flatness and sagging while achieving a defined cleavage. When these goals are met after surgery, patients are generally very satisfied with the appearance of their breasts. But what about the scars? Scars are typically hidden along the natural anatomical lines of the breast, making them less noticeable. By the end of a year, well-healed scars become almost invisible. ALMOST INVISIBLE!! Women who have undergone breast lift surgery experience a significant boost in self-confidence in both their daily lives and private lives.