Scar care after breast surgery can feel like a lot to think about, but most scars settle without treatment.
The care team can advise you on any that do not.
This page describes the usual healing pattern in general terms. The wider recovery picture is in the hub on life after breast cancer surgery.
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Wound healing time | Most wounds take about 2 to 3 weeks to heal. |
| Tingling or tightness | Usually gets better, but it can take a few weeks. |
| Scar strength at 4 to 5 weeks | The scar reaches approximately 60% of original skin strength. |
| Scar maturation at about 1 year | Strength peaks at around 80% of original skin strength. |
Sources: Cancer Research UK and a scar revision review in PMC; this information can change, so please check the sources for the latest.
The early weeks of wound healing
Cancer Research UK says that most people find their wounds take about 2 to 3 weeks to heal, and that the area may be bruised and swollen at first. It adds that this will get better and the scar will look lighter and flatter in time.
Tingling or tightness around the scar is also common in this period. Cancer Research UK notes that this usually gets better but can take a few weeks. That experience belongs to the wider picture of discomfort covered in the guide to pain after breast surgery, and the care team is the contact for any change that worries the person.
How scars mature over months
A review of scar revision published in the National Library of Medicine’s PMC archive describes the stages. It reports that by 4 to 5 weeks after surgery the scar reaches approximately 60% of the original skin strength. It adds that complete scar maturation does not occur until about 1 year after the operation, when scar strength reaches its peak at around 80% of original skin strength.
The NHS puts the time for visible fading in similar terms. It states that you cannot get rid of a scar but most scars fade over time, which can take up to 2 years or more. The Canadian Cancer Society says that after reconstruction scars may fade over time but might never go away completely.
Everyday protection and comfort
The NHS lists a few general steps for most scars. It says people can massage a healed scar with a water-based cream, and only once the wound is fully healed. It also advises keeping a scar covered in the sun, with clothing or a dressing, for at least 1 year. Before starting massage or choosing any product, it is sensible to check with the surgeon or breast care nurse, since instructions differ after different operations and depend on how the wound has healed.
The NHS adds that a pharmacist can talk through options such as silicone dressings or gels, and that skin camouflage creams and powders exist for people who want a scar to be less noticeable. A GP can refer a person for a skin camouflage appointment, where a trained professional colour matches the products. These are options described by a public health service, not recommendations for any particular product.
After radiation therapy the skin may behave differently, a topic covered in the guide to radiation therapy and breast reconstruction.
Clothing, bras and what affects healing
The American Cancer Society says scars will fade but will not go away completely, and that underwire or lace bras might feel uncomfortable if they press on the scars. It suggests asking the surgeon when regular bras can be worn and which type is best, so the choice is made with the care team and not by guesswork.
The same page explains that using tobacco narrows blood vessels and reduces the supply of blood, nutrients and oxygen to tissues, and that smoking can delay healing in any surgery and is linked to a higher chance of wound complications. It says this can cause more noticeable scars, poor healing and a longer recovery time, and that people may be asked to stop smoking before surgery. Anyone who smokes and wants support to stop can ask the healthcare team for help.
These points are about how well a wound heals, not about anything a person did wrong.
Raised or thickened scars
Not all scars follow the usual pattern. The NHS describes a hypertrophic scar as usually raised and firm but not growing bigger than the original wound, and says it usually fades and flattens over time. A keloid scar, by contrast, is usually raised, hard and smooth, grows bigger than the original wound, and does not usually flatten or fade without treatment.
The PMC review draws the same distinction, noting that keloid scars may appear slowly over months and will not regress spontaneously, while hypertrophic scars develop more quickly, over weeks, and may spontaneously regress over time. It states that keloid excision alone is associated with a high rate of recurrence, which is why keloids are treated with a combined approach and why anyone with a thickened, growing scar should be assessed rather than trying to manage it alone.
The NHS lists treatments that a GP may recommend or refer for, depending on the type of scar, including silicone dressings or gels, steroid injections or cream, cryotherapy, laser therapy and skin camouflage. The aim of treatment, it says, is to help improve how the scar looks.
When a scar needs attention
The NHS advises seeing a GP if a scar is painful or bothering a person, and asking for urgent help if a scar is swollen or painful, feels warm to the touch, or has pus coming out of it. These signs can point to a problem with the wound that is different from ordinary scar maturation, so they should go to the care team promptly.
The NHS also notes that a GP can refer a person for talking therapy if a scar is affecting their mental health. For many people, how a scar looks and feels is closely tied to body image, which is the focus of the guide to emotional wellbeing after mastectomy.
The PMC review adds that surgical scar revision is generally considered once the scar has matured, around a year after the operation, although earlier revision after 8 to 12 weeks in adults may be appropriate when scarring affects function. Decisions about scar care, treatment and revision belong with the reader’s own surgeon and care team, who know the details of the operation.
Frequently asked questions
How long until a breast surgery scar looks its best?
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Fading is gradual. Health services describe scar maturation as taking around a year, and visible fading can continue for up to two years or longer.
Do scars ever disappear completely?
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No. Scars usually fade and flatten but do not go away completely, according to cancer and health service information.
Is a thick, growing scar normal?
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A scar that grows beyond the original wound should be shown to a doctor, who can say what type it is.
Who should be asked before using a product on a scar?
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The surgeon, breast care nurse or pharmacist, since advice depends on the operation and on how well the wound has healed.
