Scars After Breast Reconstruction: Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment

Scarring after breast reconstruction remains a critical area within reconstructive surgery, influencing cosmetic outcomes, patient satisfaction, and overall quality of life postoperatively. Both implant-based and autologous reconstruction procedures can result in scars not only on the breast but also at donor sites, often complicated by problems such as hypervascularity, hypertrophy, or hyperpigmentation. Despite improvements in surgical techniques, many patients still develop abnormal scars, and comprehensive protocols for prevention, assessment, and therapy are yet to be standardized. Current literature highlights that numerous factors—including surgical approach, postoperative management, and individual genetic predispositions—affect scar formation. Existing studies and clinical guidelines offer promising innovations, such as new suture materials, refined wound care, and emerging therapies; however, the available evidence remains limited and fragmented, pointing to ongoing debates and substantial gaps in the field.

This Research Topic aims to provide a cohesive view of prevention, assessment, and treatment strategies for scars following breast reconstruction. It will explore questions regarding optimal surgical and postoperative practices, the reliability of assessment tools, and the efficacy of both established and emerging therapies. Particular attention is given to research introducing novel surgical techniques, innovative suture materials, new technologies—including artificial intelligence in scar evaluation—and robust clinical trials on interventions for abnormal scars. We also encourage submissions on the biological mechanisms of scar formation, the impact of postoperative mechanical forces, and the advances in non-invasive therapeutic approaches such as laser treatments.

This Research Topic encompasses clinical, translational, and basic research focused on scars after breast reconstruction, but does not extend to scars from other breast surgeries or unrelated reconstructive procedures. To gather further insights into this field, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Innovations to minimize post-reconstruction scars
• Devices and materials developed for breast reconstruction wounds
• Best practices for postoperative scar management
• Patient-reported outcomes related to scar appearance and quality of life
• Applications of artificial intelligence in scar assessment
• Development and validation of new scar assessment tools
• Topical and pharmaceutical agents for treatment of abnormal scars
• Laser therapies and other energy-based treatment modalities
• Surgical scar revision techniques
• Tattooing and aesthetic interventions for scars

We accept all article types, including Original Research, Reviews, Clinical Trials, Case Reports, and Methods.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: scar, breast reconstruction, hypervascularity, hypertrophy, hyperpigmentation, prevention, assessment, treatment

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.