Post-Surgical Aesthetic Discomfort in Patients of Color

Hypertrophic scars and keloids are common on Black skin after surgery, according to a recent report published in Annales de Chirurgie Plastique Esthétique.

Researchers aimed to analyze gynecomastia and adipomastia management and identify the scarring peculiarities in Black people using a descriptive retrospective study that included 43 cases of gynecomastia and 5 cases of adipomastia. Following surgery, hydrocortisone was administered for 3 days, along with the application of shea butter on the scar. Epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, and the treatment data were evaluated.

Patients were seen for aesthetic discomfort, particularly in bilateral lesions and a fear of breast cancer. Morpho-types 3 and 4 were the most frequent, seen in 75% of patients. Researchers also noted the presence of retro-areolar fibrosis. Etiology was dominated by idiopathic causes and surgery was performed in 85% of the cases.

The authors wrote, “Surgical difficulties on black skin are not only technical, but also scarring” such as hypertrophy and keloids. To improve aesthetic results, the authors suggested delaying surgical management until after a patient is 30 years old and “the prevention of unsightly scars.”

Reference
Amavi AKA, Dossouvi T, Adabra K, Sakiye KA, Tengue K. Gynécomastie et adipomastie sur peau noire : particularités clinique et chirurgicale [Gynaecomastia and adipomastia on black skin: Clinical and surgical particularity]. Ann Chir Plast Esthet. 2022;S0294-1260(21)00117-5. doi:10.1016/j.anplas.2021.11.003