Unsightly scars

I do not have the nice smooth, flat line like I have seen in pics, either. My scar hooks up towards my armpit, there is pleating (like the drawstring thing you spoke off), there are lumps and bumps. I have one spot that took a long time to heal and the skin is pleated around that area.

I am 6 months post mastectomy. I have not made a decision about recon. If I don't recon, I will probably have the scar tidied up a little.

But, it does change over time. If I were you, just wait a little, let all the swelling go down and then see what you have in a few months.

Everyone who sees my scars is impressed with how neat and straight they are and when I tell them who my BS was they say, "oh yes, she's the best in town"  Certainly mine look better now than they did right after, as I had two big lumps at my sternum and wrinkles and bumps all along the incision (from the several layers of disolvable stitches under the skin) and these little poochy things under my armpits that look like mini-boobs.  Everything else has gotten better but I still have the mini-boobs.  Sometimes they are fuller than other times, depending on the lymphedema, but when I asked my BS about them she kind of acted like yours -  said that I had some muscle and fat there and that if she redid that area it might come out worse.  I do wonder if she left tissue there on purpose because if I choose to get reconstruction later (which I don't plan on) they will need that tissue.  I've read some people say that on other threads.  So I guess I'm stuck with it, even if I'm not planning on needing it later. 

Also, I have a slight divot on one side - probably where the cancer was close to the chest wall and she had to take more tissue there.  It's minor.  I think in the end, I will be happy with the shape of things, but right now it all sucks - my chest still hurts and pulls and doesn't feel right even with full ROM and I feel like I have a rolled-up towel under each arm about half the time.  I get really tired of it.  And I REALLY hope it doesn't stay this way forever.

Sometimes I think it depends on the previous breast size and construction as to what things look like after surgery, but the surgeon makes a difference too - some are "artists" and some are less so.  Even though my incision is nice and straight, I'm still not happy with the current state of things.  So that's my whine for the day - hope it makes you feel less alone, even if it doesn't help otherwise.

Your note is really timely. I had a bilateral mastectomy 16 months ago. I'm VERY unhappy with the left side. It sounds exactly like you describe. My right looks pretty smooth. I have the "booblets" under both arms. Tomorrow morning I have surgery to fix the left side and the booblets. My plastic surgeon is supposedly very good. I'm not having reconstruction, I just want to be smooth. I feel like a monster when I look at the bad side.

Hugs to you, good luck, and I'll let you know how mine goes.

My surgery apparently went well. I'll see under the bandages on friday when the doc checks me out. It sure is a lot easier than the mastectomy!!!

Today I got most of the bandages off and I look MUCH better!!! My mom is surprised at how far around toward my back the incisions go, but the surgeon and I talked about that and I didn't care. I just wanted him to smooth me out in the best way possible. I scar beautifully, which is to say that they virtually disappear, so I'm not worried about them. I get my stitches out on tuesday morning. Will keep you posted.

Neck surgery a year ago left an unsightly scar that religious use of dermalmd scar serum everyday now for a year has almost completely disappeared. also had appendix removal 6 months ago and that scar is almost gone as well. don't expect immediate results, you have to use it for a year before you start feeling good about it.

Valentinazevallos - you pulled up a 7 y/o Thread that had not been posted on in 7 years.

You also did not make any mention of what your BC type is or any info that might be related to BC. So if you would fill out your Profile it would be helpful for anyone who might want to reply to you.