CONSULTANT PLASTIC SURGEON
BREAST LIFT
What is breast lift surgery?
Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, raises the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour. Sometimes the areola becomes enlarged over time, and a breast lift will reduce this as well. If there is too little or too much breast volume, breast augmentation or breast reduction might be recommended in addition to a lift.
A breast lift can rejuvenate your figure with a breast profile that is more youthful and uplifted. A woman's breasts often change over time, losing their youthful shape and firmness. These changes and loss of skin elasticity can result from pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, ageing, gravity, and heredity.
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Breast lift surgery is often part of a mommy makeover surgery. Every year, thousands of women undergo successful breast lift surgery, experience no major problems, and are pleased with the results.
“Breast lift surgery is a highly individualized procedure. You should do it for yourself, not to fulfil someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image, especially those coming from social media. Choosing a procedure based on “what’s new” is never a medically sound decision. Hearing about a procedure on television, through an advertisement or online does not necessarily mean it is the best procedure for you”.
Who is a good candidate for breast lift surgery?
In general, you may be a good candidate for breast lift surgery If pregnancy, nursing, gravity, weight gain or loss, normal ageing, and heredity have taken a toll on the shape of your breasts, resulting in sagging or excess skin, the tissue surrounding the nipple or areola has become stretched, your breasts have a flatter, elongated shape or are pendulous, your nipples and areolas point downward, breast implants alone are unlikely to achieve the contour you desire, you are physically healthy and at a stable weight, nonsmoker or have stopped smoking recently and if you have realistic expectations.
What should I expect during a consultation for breast lift surgery?
During your initial consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss your cosmetic goals. Dr Ricardo will evaluate you as a candidate for breast lift surgery and clarify what approach is best for you. Alternative and additional treatments may be considered, once he understands your goals and medical condition. It is important to be completely honest during the consultation and be prepared to discuss your surgical goals, medical conditions, drug allergies, and medical treatments, current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use, previous surgeries, family history of breast cancer and results of any mammograms or previous biopsies
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Dr Ricardo will also evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors, examine your breasts, take photographs, discuss the approach to your surgery, including the type of procedure or combination of procedures and tell you whether your expectations are in line with typical results, discuss any risks or potential complications and share before-and-after photos of cases similar to yours.
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The success and safety of your breast lift surgery depend very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. It's very important to understand all aspects of your procedure. It's natural to feel some anxiety, whether it's excitement about your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don't be shy about discussing these feelings with Dr Ricardo
How should I prepare for breast lift surgery?
In preparing for breast lift surgery, you may be asked to get lab testing or a medical evaluation, get a baseline mammogram before surgery and another one after surgery to help detect any future changes in your breast tissue (if you're over forty years of age), take certain medications or adjust your current medications, stop smoking in advance of surgery and avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding.
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Your surgery will be performed in an accredited hospital and is usually performed on an outpatient basis unless you and Dr Ricardo have made other plans for your immediate postoperative recovery. You must arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you the first night following surgery.
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Dr Ricardo and the entire staff will provide thorough preoperative instructions and answer any questions you may have. The goal is to help you achieve the most beautiful and natural-looking results, as well as to make your surgical experience as easy, comfortable, and safe as possible.
What are the steps of a breast lift procedure?
Step 1 – Anaesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anaesthesia. Dr Ricardo will recommend the best choice for you.
Step 2 – The incision
Incision options include a circular pattern around the areola, a keyhole or racquet-shaped pattern with an incision around the areola and vertically down to the breast crease, L shape incision, or an inverted T or anchor-shaped incision pattern.
Step 3 – Reshaping the breasts
The underlying breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to improve breast contour and firmness. The nipple and areola are repositioned to a natural, more youthful height. If necessary, enlarged areolas are reduced by excising skin at the perimeter and excess breast skin is removed to compensate for a loss of elasticity.
"Internal Bra Technique": What patients need to know?
The inner bra concept has been around since the early eighties. It refers to a myriad of different surgical techniques. “Internal bra” is an umbrella term including techniques intended to strengthen the lower pole of the breast. The idea of this technique is twofold. Firstly, to reinforce the inframammary fold. And secondly, to strengthen the lower portion of the breast. In tandem, this provides a more supportive foundation for a breast implant. The most common technique used for the internal bra is additional suturing. Sutures create a more secure and stable breast fold and a stronger lower pole of the breast.
A rarer option used in more severe cases is the use of a surgical mesh that can be placed around the entire breast or around the lower pole of the breast to maintain shape and position. Recently, after good experience with human and animal dermal grafts in reconstructive breast surgery after cancer, plastic surgeons started using acellular grafts in the form of a support bra for cosmetic breast surgery. Known by the acronym ADM, Acellular Dermal Matrix eventually gets integrated into the body and may be completely replaced by the patient’s collagen resulting in a thick and stronger layer of tissue.
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Placing foreign materials in your body may increase the chance of infection, scarring, and deformity and, although the "Internal Bra Lift technique" with a surgical mesh looks like a miracle procedure and maybe an appealing concept to the patient who wants breasts to stay perky, there is no evidence that this procedure works and what is its complication rate. It might be indicated for extreme cases of cosmetic breast deformities or patients with breast reconstructions despite its use remains controversial.
Step 4 – Closing the incisions
After the breasts are reshaped and excess skin is removed, the remaining skin is tightened as the incisions are closed. Sutures are layered deep within the breast tissue to create and support the newly shaped breasts. Sutures, skin adhesives (glues), or tapes close the skin incisions. Some incision lines resulting from breast lift are concealed in the natural breast contours. Incision lines are permanent, but in most cases will fade and significantly improve over time.
Step 5 – See the results
The results of your breast lift surgery are immediately visible. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade. Satisfaction with your new image should continue to grow as you recover.
What should I expect during my breast lift recovery?
When your breast lift procedure is complete, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions. An elastic bandage or support bra may be worn to minimize swelling and support the breasts as they heal.
You will be given specific instructions on how to care for the surgical site, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow up with Dr Ricardo. Remember to always follow his instructions to ensure the success of your surgery.​
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The surgical incisions mustn't be subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Sutures will be removed when it is appropriate. You should be ready to return to work and normal activity after 5-7 days. However, you must realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies based on what your surgery entails.
What results should I expect after my breast lift surgery?
Satisfaction with your new image should continue to grow as you recover from surgery. The final results of your breast lift will appear over the next few months as breast shape and position continue to settle. Incision lines are permanent but will continue to fade over time.
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The results of will are long-lasting. Over time, your breasts can continue to change due to ageing and gravity. You'll be able to retain your new look longer if you maintain your weight and keep a healthy lifestyle.
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Many women desire the smallest scar possible. However, Dr Ricardo will recommend the incisions which best suit your anatomy. You should listen to him and do not diminish your result by demanding an incision that will not be appropriate for you. Dr Ricardo makes every effort to hide and minimize scars, with the goal of achieving the desired results with the shortest possible scar.