Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
The mastectomy scar: how it looks and changes over time | CION Cancer Clinics
Most mastectomy scars are a single line across the chest, sometimes reaching towards the armpit. At first the scar is red or dark, raised and tight. Over many months it usually becomes flatter, softer and paler, though it never disappears entirely. This page explains how the scar changes, where it sits after each operation, how to look after it, and which changes need a call to your team. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- What does a mastectomy scar look like as it heals?
- How does the scar change over time?
- Where will the scar be after each kind of operation?
- How can you help the scar heal well?
- Scar words, in plain language
- Four beliefs about the scar, and what is true
- Which changes are normal, and which need a call?
- Common questions about the mastectomy scar
The short answer
What does a mastectomy scar look like as it heals?
Most mastectomy scars are a single line across the chest, running sideways or slightly upwards towards the armpit. At first the line is red or dark, raised and tight. Over many months it usually becomes flatter, softer and paler, though it does not disappear.
Why scars differ so much between women
The length and position depend on the operation, the size of the breast and whether lymph nodes or reconstruction were involved. Skin colour matters too. On brown skin, a healing scar often looks darker than the skin around it before it fades, and some women form thicker scars than others.
How long it takes to settle
Healing on the surface happens early, but the scar keeps changing underneath for a long time. Most women find it looks very different, and much calmer, once many months have passed. Judging it in the first weeks gives a far worse picture than the final result.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot show you how your own scar will look. Your surgeon can tell you where the cut will be and roughly how long it will be, before the operation. Ask.
Stage by stage
How does the scar change over time?
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The first days
The wound is covered by a dressing, glue or tape. Underneath, the edges are held together by stitches that are often dissolvable. The area is swollen, bruised and may feel numb.
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The first weeks
The wound closes and the dressing comes off. The scar is pink, red or dark, and can feel tight or itchy as it knits. Small scabs fall off on their own. Do not pick them.
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The following months
The scar may look thicker or more raised for a while. This is the body still building and remodelling the tissue underneath. Gentle care and time usually help it settle.
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Much later
For most women the scar becomes a flat, pale or silvery line that is soft to touch. Some numbness around it may remain. If radiotherapy followed surgery, the skin nearby can stay firmer or darker for longer.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistWhere it sits
Where will the scar be after each kind of operation?
These are the usual positions. Your own surgeon may plan a slightly different line to suit your body and the cancer.
Simple or modified radical mastectomy
A longer line across the chest where the breast was, often reaching towards the armpit when lymph nodes are removed through the same cut.
Skin-sparing mastectomy
A shorter scar, often around where the nipple was, because most of the breast skin is kept for reconstruction.
Nipple-sparing mastectomy
The cut is hidden where possible, such as in the fold under the breast or at the side, so it is less visible in clothing.
Reconstruction from your own tissue
As well as the breast scar, there is a second scar where tissue was taken, such as a long line low across the tummy or on the back.
Drain and node marks
A small round mark where each drain came out, and sometimes a separate short scar in the armpit if nodes were removed through their own cut.
Looking after it
How can you help the scar heal well?
Keep the wound clean and dry until your team says it has healed. After that, simple daily care helps the scar become softer and flatter.
Moisturise and massage, once healed
When the wound is fully closed with no scabs, gently massaging the scar with a plain, unscented moisturiser can soften it and ease tightness. Ask the nurse or physiotherapist to show you how. Do not massage an open or weeping wound.
Protect it from the sun
New scars darken easily in sunlight. Cover the area with clothing when you are outdoors, particularly during the hottest part of the day.
Ask before home remedies
Turmeric pastes, oils and herbal creams are often suggested by relatives. On a healing wound, they can cause irritation or infection. Check with your team before putting anything on the scar.
Silicone gels and sheets
Some surgeons suggest silicone gel or sheets for a thick or raised scar. They do not suit an unhealed wound, and the evidence for how much they help varies. Ask whether they are worth trying for you.
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Words you may hear
Scar words, in plain language
- Hypertrophic scar
- A scar that is raised and thick but stays within the line of the cut. It often improves with time.
- Keloid
- A scar that keeps growing beyond the original cut. It is more common on darker skin, and can be treated by a specialist.
- Dog ear
- A small fold of extra skin at one end of the scar, often near the armpit. It can be tidied later if it does not flatten.
- Dissolvable stitches
- Stitches under the skin that the body absorbs, so they do not need removing.
Commonly believed
Four beliefs about the scar, and what is true
"A thick or dark scar means the operation went badly."
How a scar looks mostly reflects your skin and how your body heals, not the quality of the cancer operation. Many scars look thick for a while and then settle. A thick scar can also be treated later if it bothers you.
"Any lump in the scar means the cancer has come back."
Most lumps in or near a scar are knots of healing tissue, a stitch, or a small pocket of fluid. A new lump should always be checked by your team, but it is far more often harmless than not.
"Nothing can be done about a scar once it has formed."
Painful, tight or raised scars can often be improved. Options include massage, silicone, steroid injections from a specialist, or a small revision operation, once the scar has fully matured.
"Getting the scar wet will make it open up."
Once your team says the wound has healed, washing gently with water and mild soap is safe and keeps the skin clean. Pat it dry rather than rubbing. Until then, follow the washing advice you were given at discharge.
Normal or not
Which changes are normal, and which need a call?
Usually normal healing
Call your team the same day
Pink or dark line that slowly fades
Redness spreading outward from the scar, with heat
Itching and tightness as it knits
The wound opening, or pus coming out
A little clear fluid in the early days
A bad smell, or fever and shivering
Numbness around the scar
A new, firm lump months after healing
Questions we are asked
Common questions about the mastectomy scar
Will my scar ever go away completely?
No scar disappears completely, but most fade a great deal. For many women it becomes a thin, pale line that is hard to notice under clothing. How far it fades depends on your skin, the operation, and whether radiotherapy followed.
Why is my scar so itchy?
Itching is common while a scar heals, as nerves and skin repair themselves. Once the wound is closed, a plain moisturiser and loose cotton clothing usually help. Avoid scratching. Tell your team if the itch comes with a rash, spreading redness or fluid.
When can I put cream on the scar?
Only once the wound is fully closed, with no scabs, gaps or weeping. Your nurse will tell you when that is. Start with a plain, unscented moisturiser, and check with the team before using anything medicated or herbal.
Does radiotherapy change how the scar looks?
It can. The treated skin may darken, feel firmer or become drier, and the scar can stay more noticeable for longer. These changes usually settle slowly after treatment. Your radiation team will tell you how to care for the skin during and after the course.
My scar feels tight when I lift my arm. Is that normal?
Some tightness is common, especially near the armpit. Regular arm exercises and scar massage, once healed, usually help. A tight, rope-like band running down the arm is a different problem called cording, which a physiotherapist can treat.
Can a scar be made less visible later?
Often, yes. Once the scar has fully matured, which takes many months, a specialist can suggest options such as silicone treatment, injections or a small revision operation. A tattoo artist experienced with scars is another route some women choose.
Can I wear a normal bra over the scar?
In the early weeks, a soft bra without wires is more comfortable and does not rub the scar. Your team will tell you when you can wear other bras. A mastectomy bra holds a prosthesis in place and is designed to sit gently on the healing area.
Will the scar hurt for a long time?
Most pain from the wound fades in the early weeks. Some women notice twinges, burning or odd sensations around the scar for longer as nerves heal. If pain persists or gets worse, tell your team, because nerve pain can be treated.
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Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
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Dr. Vinay Mamidala
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Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
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Sources
- NHS — Scars
- NHS — Keloids
- American Cancer Society — Mastectomy
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for breast cancer
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Your First Look at the Chest After MastectomyWhat to expect when the dressing first comes offWound, Stitches and ScarsWound care after any cancer operationShoulder Stiffness and Cording After MastectomyWhen tightness is more than the scarChest Wall Recurrence After MastectomyWhich lumps near the scar need checking
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Concerned about how a scar is healing?
Call the helpline and describe what you are seeing. We will tell you whether it can wait for your clinic visit. One helpline serves every CION centre.