Can Breast Implants Cause Stretch Marks?

Having stretch marks is one of the common concerns when women opt for breast implants. So we thought of discussing these two inter-related topics together in this article.

Correlation of Breast Implants and Stretch Marks

It’s common to get stretch marks on your abdomen and breasts during pregnancy, so many women worry about the same thing happening after breast implants. Because the implants add a significant amount of volume to your breasts immediately, stretch marks are a valid concern.

Can Breast Implants Cause Stretch Marks?

Breast enlargement surgery is a popular cosmetic procedure that makes a woman’s breasts bigger and improves their shape. Many women undergo this surgery to feel more confident with their bodies. Breast implants are usually safe and successful, but one common concern of patients are stretch marks.

Stretch marks are usually caused by quick weight gain. When part of your body starts getting bigger, your skin might stretch as it tries to accommodate. The marks usually look pink, red, or white, but the size varies.

Luckily, it’s very rare for breast implants to cause severe stretch marks. Most cosmetic surgeons report that only a handful of their patients in years of their practice have had large and noticeable marks. The skin on the breasts is usually fairly elastic and can accommodate the implants without stretching or straining.

Smaller, fainter stretch marks are a little more common after breast implants. However, these usually fade within a year or two until they’re barely noticeable at all.

Larger stretch marks will fade at least partially over time, too. There are also some ways to prevent stretch marks from forming and to help them fade quickly if they’ve already formed. For the majority of people who have breast enlargement surgery, stretch marks are not an issue, and it’s typically not a reason to opt out of surgery.

Why Stretch Marks Form

The collagen in your skin helps it stay tight and healthy even after weight loss or gain. When your body grows rapidly, the amount of collagen your skin has in proportion to the size of your body decreases. Without a sufficient amount of collagen, the elastin fibers in your skin will weaken. This will cause your skin to stretch too much and develop marks.

For most people, breast implants do not cause your breasts to grow so large that your skin can’t accommodate.

Whether or not stretch marks will form depends on a few factors, though. Genetics is probably the most important consideration with stretch marks, and unfortunately, you can’t control your genes.

Some people naturally have thinner or weaker skin, which makes them more susceptible to developing stretch marks. If you got severe stretch marks during a pregnancy, you might be at a greater risk of gaining more after you get breast implants. If you know that your mother or grandmother has stretch marks, there’s a greater chance that you’ll get them after your implant surgery. However, even if you’re genetically predisposed, it’s still rare for them to be very large, dark, or noticeable.

The other important factor that could contribute to stretch marks is the size of the implants.

The larger the implants, the greater the chances are that you’ll get stretch marks. If you’re concerned about the possibility of stretch marks, mention it to your surgeon. He or she can evaluate your skin’s potential for stretch marks and give you advice about implant size.

How to Prevent Stretch Marks

If you’re worried about the possibility of getting stretch marks after breast implant surgery, you can try some treatments and lifestyle changes before your surgery to reduce your risk.

• Drinking lots of water is one of the best ways to prevent or minimize stretch marks.

Aim for at least eight cups of water per day to improve your skin’s elasticity.

• Eating foods with antioxidants can prevent stretch marks, too.

High antioxidant foods include blueberries, cranberries, acai berries, grapes, pecans, sweet potatoes, and dark green vegetables.

• Keeping your skin moisturized may also stop stretch marks from forming.

There are lots of over-the-counter creams and moisturizers that claim to prevent stretch marks. Many contain vitamin E, which is great for your skin. It’s unknown whether most of these creams are truly effective at preventing stretch marks, but some people have had good results.

• Staying active and following an exercise routine is another great way to prevent stretch marks.

Exercise improves your circulation, which helps with skin elasticity.

How to Remove Stretch Marks

If you do see dark, long stretch marks after your surgery, don’t worry. Time is the best treatment for stretch marks. Most will fade on their own within a year or two. However, you can try some home treatments to make them fade faster if you’re anxious to get rid of them.

In addition to potentially preventing stretch marks, vitamin E creams may also reduce or remove already-existing stretch marks. Cocoa butter and shea butter are also popular products. Many people have reported mixed results with these types of treatments, but it might be worth a try.

Castor oil is another home treatment that has made a big impact on stretch marks for some people. You can apply the oil directly to the stretch marks once or twice a day for at least a week.

Aloe vera is a very popular option, too. It’s a miracle plant for many skin conditions, and some people claim it has worked wonders for their stretch marks. You can apply the gel directly from the plant, or you can buy it in a tube from a drugstore. Before you go to sleep, apply a thick layer of the gel to your stretch marks and leave it on overnight. Rinse it off in the morning, and repeat this for a couple weeks.

Dr. Douglas S. Steinbrech is breast augmentation surgeon in New York and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons under the American Board of Medical Specialties. Dr. Steinbrech can enhance the look and feel of the breasts, and improve asymmetry proportionate to a woman’s frame. He also performs many other surgical and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. If you’re interested in breast implants or other cosmetic surgeries, you can learn more about Dr. Steinbrech here: https://www.drsteinbrech.com/

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We hope that these facts about breast implants were of help to your research including the tips on how to remove stretch marks!