Will Breast Reduction Surgery Remove Stretch Marks?
San Francisco, CA-In addition to discomfort, women with large heavy breasts who are seeking breast reduction surgery, also may have unsightly stretch marks. Stretch marks, also called striae, form within the middle layer of the skin, known as the dermis. They are initially red, pink or purple but usually fade with time to white or silver and become much less noticeable. As disturbing as they may be, they do not pose any health issues.
Where Are The Stretch Marks Located?
Women who are planning to have breast reduction surgery, many times will ask if the surgery will remove the stretch marks on their breasts. In some cases, it will, but it depends on where the stretch marks are located, only the skin removed with stretch marks will be improved. There will be scars from the surgery, however all will fade with time from red to faint silver, similar to a tummy tuck procedure as far as removing many stretch marks as the skin is tightened and loose skin is excised.
Creams for Stretch Marks Are Not Effective
There are not any miracle products to erase stretch marks. There are many creams advertised for stretch mark removal, but for them to work, it would need to penetrate the epidermis and get into the subcutaneous layer, so you may only see some minor improvement. Sometimes, the stretch marks can be improved and lightened with lasers.
Factors that Cause Stretch Marks
Stretch marks can be caused by; pregnancy and some birth control methods that cause hormonal changes, also weight gain, when the skin gets stretched. In addition, corticosteroid creams and lotions may be the cause, even oral or systemic steroids. There are some medical conditions such as adrenal gland disorders, Cushing’s syndrome (a hormonal disorder caused by high levels of cortisol) and some connective tissues disorders are attributed to the formation of stretch marks.
Dehydration and lack of exercise can be a reason for development of stretch marks on the breasts. Anything that causes rapid changes in the size of the breasts can mean the sudden development of stretch marks, not only for women but also noted for some men if they develop gynecomastia (male breasts).
The Mayo Clinic states that stretch marks can be hereditary; if your Mother has them you may get them too. Accelerated growth for teenagers with developing breasts may lead to stretch marks. Also, according to the Mayo Clinic, there is not any way to prevent stretch marks other than maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding excessive weight gain.
Breast Surgery May Help
Some women report that, after breast augmentation surgery, stretch marks don’t seem to be as bad. Breast implants can make the stretch marks appear less obvious, however, having an implant that is too large may put too much stress on the skin that already has loss of elasticity and may cause sagging.
Schedule A Consultation
The different types of reduction mammoplasty surgery will remove stretch marks within the area of excised skin. See the pictures to see the differences. During your consultation with Dr. Delgado who is a breast surgery specialist, he will explain what type of breast reduction surgery he recommends for you and the possibility of removal of some stretch marks.
