FYI Cosmetics

A Breast Lift or Mastopexy is a very common cosmetic surgical procedure that more and more women are undergoing in order to change the way they look. Throughout a woman’s lifetime, there are many phases and changes that are experienced; all of which have an effect on the look and feel of the face and body. Pregnancy, nursing, weight gain, weight loss, diet, exercise, illness, gravity—all of these factors can affect the outward appearance of the body and as the years pass, women find that as their skin loses elasticity, the gravitational pull causes the breasts to lose their shape and firmness which eventually leads to sagging; this is where the breast lift can help.

A breast lift is a very common surgical procedure that many women undergo in order to lift and reshape their breasts. While this procedure has the capability to give you a natural, firm look, it is important for all prospective patients to remember that the results are not permanent. Gravity and skin laxticity will always have an effect on our bodies; therefore while a breast lift alone will provide results, those results will not be permanent. Because of this, women will oftentimes combine a breast lift with implant surgery in order to get longer lasting results.

Depending on the degree of ptosis or sagging you are experiencing, your breast lift procedure can differ slightly. The degrees of sagging are split into three different categories: mild ptosis, moderate ptosis or advanced ptosis. Mild ptosis is experienced when the nipples have dropped to the level of the breast crease; moderate ptosis is experienced when the nipples have dropped below the level of the breast crease and advanced ptosis is experienced when the nipples are pointing towards the floor. Depending on the severity of sagging the surgeon will alter the incision made during the procedure and will remove different sections and amounts of skin from the breast.

During your breast lift procedure the surgeon will make an anchor shaped incision which will extend down from the nipple and along the underside of the breast. Once the incision is made, the excess tissue and skin that is causing the breast to sag will be extracted. Once this stage is completed, the nipple will then be relocated by moving the areola to a higher position and the skin surrounding the areola will be brought down toward the incision and sutured. Once the breast lift is complete, the skin will be stitched around the areola as well as in a vertical line that extends down from the nipple to the underside of the breast. Your surgeon is specifically trained to make your scars as inconspicuous as possible, but it is important to remember that the scars will be permanent.

Pain, discomfort, bruising and swelling are all post surgery factors that will be experienced when undergoing a breast lift. The bruising will fade within a week or so, but the swelling can last for several months; many patients will not see full results of their procedure until the swelling has subsided. After a breast lift, patients will experience firmer, more natural looking breasts that can give them the look and the comfort they desire.

When you ask a woman if you could change one thing on yourself what would it be? A great majority will stated they would like to have larger breasts. Breast enhancement surgery can encompass a variety of different procedures for a patient depending on their goal. These surgeries can enlarge, lift, reduce or reconstruct after a trauma or catastrophic illness.

Breast augmentation is a procedure to make the breasts larger and or fuller. Implants or fat transfer can achieve this goal. The surgery will restore volume that may have been lost after weight loss or pregnancy or to make a fuller appearance that did not occur during the normal growth process. Augmentation can also be performed in combination with reconstructive surgery after a trauma or a catastrophic illness such as cancer.

The augmentation is accomplished by inserting implants either submuscularlly or subpectorally. Both of these terms refer to the implants being placed under the chest muscle. A submuscular augmentation gives a more natural appearance with less risk of the implant being noticed under the skin. An alternative to this is to insert the implant subglandularly or above the chest muscle. A subglandular augmentation is often completed for women with a fair amount of breast tissue already and can be done alone or as part of a breast lift.

There are four techniques available to the surgeon and patient for insertion of the implant. The inframammory crease is when the incision made is placed under the fold of the breast. An areolar incison is when an incision is made around the nipple. Transaxillary incisions are made within the crease of the underarm. The transumbilical breast augmentation is also known as a TUBA. The TUBA has the incision made inside the belly button. The implants are then guided up through the abdomen with a scope type instrument and placed above the muscle.

The breasts are made larger with implants. Implants are made of silicone or saline. Silicone implants are filled with a silicone gel. These gel filled devices tend to be more costly however, they can have a more realistic look and feel to them. Saline implants are inserted as an empty shell then filled to the desired size with sterilized normal saline prior to the completion of the surgery. Both silicone and saline implants come in several sizes and shapes for a customized fit that is agreed upon by both the patient and the surgeon prior to the surgery.

A breast lift or mastopexy is a procedure that raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin, reshaping and tightening the surrounding tissue. Lifts are usually indicated after childbirth, weight loss or aging. To achieve the desired look, the surgeon elevates the breast on the chest wall by removing tissue and then repositioning the nipple and areola. Scarring can be minimal depending on how much needs to be lifted and the style used. The types of breast lifts include a crescent, donut or keyhole lift. A breast lift can be done alone, or in conjunction with an augmentation for added fullness.

Breast reconstruction may be done after illness or injury where the breast tissue was removed, as in the case of a cancer. The surgeon recreates or makes a new breast with implants or fat injections into the areas. Depending on the removal surgery this may also involve rebuilding a nipple and areola to restore the body to a more “normal” state.

There are several reasons for having a breast augmentation. Consulting with a qualified cosmetic surgeon will help you to determine which augmentation procedure is right for you.