Scar formation is a normal part of the healing process, but how your body scars depends on several factors such as age, genetics, location on the body and skin color.

There are several options to help minimize scarring: stop smoking 3 weeks before and after surgery; eat a nutritious diet; use silicon sheet or tape; as well as intensive treatments such as steroid injections or laser scar removal.  For many chest reconstruction top surgery patients, it is really important for you to avoid having your arms over your shoulders for as much as 3 weeks after surgery, in order to have the very thinnest, flattest scars you can have.

Your doctor will provide you with personalized recommendations following your surgery.