Breast Lift with or without Augmentation
Who is a candidate for breast lift surgery?
Age, hormones, significant weight loss and multiple pregnancies can all contribute to sagging breasts. Though your breasts may be of good size, they may droop (ptosis) and lack firmness or substance. Breasts may appear pendulous and nipples may point downward below the breast crease. To determine whether you need a breast lift, the location of the nipple relative to the inframammary fold (IMF) is the most important factor. When you have gland and/or the nipple below the IMF, then you may need a breast lift. A breast lift will reshape sagging breasts to a more naturally rounded shape and reposition the breast tissue and nipple to a more youthful height and projection.
How is breast lift surgery done?
A breast lift literally lifts sagging breasts without major removal of tissues and may or may not include placing implants. It will involve some removal of skin to allow the breast tissue to be repositioned. A variety of incisions are used to sculpt the breast tissue into a new shape. Incisions may be around the areola only, vertically from areola to the breast crease, or possibly extending horizontally at the breast crease. This is determined upon consultation.
For women who are also seeking to improve the shape, size, symmetry or proportion of their breasts, breast augmentation may be performed concurrently if desired. Breast augmentation enhances the size and shape of the breasts through the placement of implants. Implants are made of biocompatible material and have a smooth or textured silicone shell. The shell shape is usually round and smooth. The inside of the implant is filled with saline, silicone or cohesive silicone. Implants are usually placed below the muscle, (submuscular), but can be placed above the muscle, (subglandular). The decision as to the best implant location and incision placement for your procedure will be discussed as part of your physical exam and consultation with Dr. Peters.
Breast lifts—with or without augmentation are considered outpatient surgery, but you do have the option of staying a night in the hospital if needed. The surgery is typically done under general anesthesia.
Recuperation after Breast Lift Surgery
You will experience mild discomfort for the first few days. There will be some swelling and bruising the first couple weeks and you will be wearing a support bra. It will take 4-6 weeks before the appearance of the breasts are “normal”. Your internal stitches will dissolve. The incisions are covered with tissue glue which serves as a “clear” band-aid. This usually comes off by itself after 10-14 days. Most patients are back to work within a week. Scars will fade by 6 to 12 months.
Other Options
A word about financing…
Breast lifts and augmentations can be made very affordable through our partners at Capital One. Visit them at www.capitalonehealthcarefinance.com Yvette would be happy to answer any of your questions or assist you with the necessary paperwork.
Insurance Notes
A breast lift and/or augmentation are considered a purely aesthetic procedure and as such is not covered by insurance.
More information on financial planning and payment options
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Ask Dr. Peters about Breast Lift Surgery
I have heard that people’s implants get hard over time. Is that true?
You are referring to a condition called “capsular contracture.” This is a contraction of the natural internal scar tissue that surrounds the implant. Statistically, 4-10% of women experience this. Our practice has less than 1%. It is a small risk, but one that must be considered. Should capsular contracture occur and bring discomfort or distortion to the breast(s), a surgical procedure can be performed to correct the situation. In rare cases, the implants must be replaced or removed altogether. Saline implants have a lower incidence of capsular contracture than silicone gel implants. Placement of the implants below the muscle has been demonstrated to lower the rate of capsular contracture. Postoperative massage may also decrease contracture rate as well.
What is the link between autoimmune diseases, cancer and breast implants?
Despite all the publicity, the “FDA Breast Implant Consumer Handbook 2004” dispels any possible links between illness and silicone or saline implants. You can also visit breastimplantsafety.org for additional information.
Are there any guarantees that my implant won’t break or leak?
There are no guarantees, but there are warranties available. Research has shown that 4% of implants “deflate” within 7 years of the surgery. Implants are engineered to withstand considerable pressure or impact; however they are not considered lifetime devices. Following your procedure we will give you a serial number and warranty card from the implant manufacturer. The Mentor Company provides a lifetime warranty for the implants. You can also elect to purchase an extended warranty.
My breasts only droop a little bit. Can lifting weights lift my breasts?
Exercise, diet and creams will not change the lift in your breasts. A breast cannot contract to its original size without surgical intervention.
Can I have a breast lift and still breastfeed someday?
I would not recommend having a breast lift if you intend to have another child and breast feed. Although it is difficult to accurately predict the chance of breast feeding following breast lift procedures, there is certainly a risk.
What if my nipples are not at the same level?
Perfect symmetry in any surgery is not always attainable. Mother Nature does not even provide symmetry. However, both the nipples and the breasts should be close to mirror images of each other. Select your surgeon carefully and ask to see pictures of his work to insure you are in the most skilled hands.
Do you recommend implants with breast lifts?
Breast size is very subjective. Implants provide volume and assist in filling out the skin envelope; but if a patient is satisfied with their breast size and just wants more “perky” breasts, a lift is all that is necessary. If enough volume has been lost, an implant can create a more proportioned result. These patients may be MWL patients or those who simply have lost upper pole volume from involution of the gland. When combining the lift and augmentation procedures, however, the complexity is significantly increased. Although it is common to combine the procedures, the potential complications and revision rate is increased. The recuperation remains about the same.
What other procedures can you do along with breast enhancement/contouring to avoid multiple surgeries?
Most commonly the abdomen is addressed at the same time. For MWL patients, Brachioplasty (arm skin excision) is a common surgical combination. There is no particular surgery which is to be avoided, but time in the operating room would be the limiting factor.
How do you determine incision location?
Incision location is determined during consultation. It depends upon breast size, shape, degree of ptosis and elasticity of your skin. You cannot have a breast lift without incisions, but there are techniques we can discuss to minimize scarring.
