Force required for wound closure and scar appearance.

I am reporting the first objective documentation of the correlation between the force required for wound-edge approximation (closure) and eventual scar width. Seven patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty were studied, and 234 measurements of force required for wound-edge approximation were made. At follow-up 1 year after surgery, the scar width was measured and the appearance was noted and photographed. A significant correlation was demonstrated between the force required for wound-edge approximation and scar width at every location but one. In addition, the scars were significantly wider near the midline of the breast than at the ends of the reduction mammaplasty incision. Neither color match (to surrounding skin) nor scar elevation (hypertrophy) were related to the force required for wound-edge approximation.