Breast Lift Dallas - Mastopexy - Plano Texas
Enhancing your appearance with a breast lift
It is common for women to experience changes in the shape, consistency and firmness of their their breasts over time.
These changes are due, in part, to:
- Childbirth
- Breastfeeding
- Weight gain or loss
- Age
- Gravity
- Genetics
Over the last thirty years, plastic surgeons have developed specific techniques to combat the effects of age and childbirth on the appearance of a woman’s breasts and in the past couple of years we’ve refined them to have less and less visible incisions. The procedure known as mastopexy, or the ‘breast lift’ reconstructs the breast in such a way that excess fat and skin is removed, thus tightening the tissues of the breast, giving it a ‘lifted’ appearance, which restores the breast appearance back to that of your pre-pregnancy, youthful breast contours. The mastopexy will also address the tissue surrounding the nipple, or areola, which oftentimes becomes stretched due to the same effects.
What it won’t do
There are specific breast surgeries that target specific issues with the breast. The mastopexy specifically addresses the sagging, drooping breast condition most associated with age and post-childbirth. The procedure works wonders, for sure, but it will not dramatically alter the size of your breasts or make them fuller and rounder at the top of the breast. Oftentimes, I will suggest a breast augmentation or breast implants surgery in conjunction with the mastopexy in order to achieve the results you are looking for.
Is it right for me?
As with any cosmetic enhancement surgery, you should first consider your motivations for surgery to be sure that you’re choosing surgery for yourself and not to fulfill someone else’s’ desires or expectations of you or your body. It is a very personal matter and any decision for surgery should come after careful consideration of all the facts and emotions involved.
The breast lift may be a good option for you if you:
- Maintain good physical health and weight
- Don’t smoke
- Have realistic expectations
- Are bothered by the lack of fullness and shape of your breasts
- Perceive your nipples pointing downward or simply too low
- Have stretch marks from lack of elasticity
- Have uneven or asymmetrical breasts
What to expect during your consultation
In order to create the best possible results from your breast lift surgery, it is important that I consult with you to discuss your desires and expectations, as well as how breast lift surgery will impact your health, lifestyle and general well-being. It is a good idea to prepare by considering the following before your consultation:
- General medical history, including any genetic propensity for breast cancer, results of previous mammogram’s and any previous surgeries
- A detailed account of current prescription medications, supplements (vitamins or others) that you take
- Any use of tobacco or other drugs
- What are your motivations for surgery? What are your expectations?
At the consultation, my nurse and I will also:
- Evaluate your current health
- Examine the condition of your pre-operative breasts for size, shape and irregularities, including the extent of sagging and photograph your breasts
- Based on the information gathered, I will discuss your surgical options and recommend a course of treatment
- Disclose the risk of common complications associated with breast lift surgery and the use of anesthesia
- Cover what to do the day of surgery
- Cover post-operative care and recovery
Preparing for surgery
In the weeks before surgery, I’ll probably request:
- Further laboratory testing or medical evaluations
- Adjusting current prescriptions
- That you get a mammogram pre surgery to document any abnormalities in breast tissues to have as a baseline (if you’re over 35).
- That you avoid the consumption of alcohol, drugs and abstain from smoking for a certain period surrounding surgery
Finally, you and I will go over the options you may have regarding the location of your surgery. Typically, breast lift procedures are done on an outpatient basis, which means that the surgery can be performed in an accredited office-based surgical center, outpatient ambulatory surgical center or a hospital.
I’ll go over the options you may have regarding the location of your surgery. Typically, the breast reduction procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, which means that the surgery can be performed at Dallas Day Surgery Center of Texas (this is our facility at the DALLAS PLASTIC SURGERY INSTITUTE) or a hospital (I’m privileged at Presbyterian Dallas- Margot Perot Women’s Surgery Center, Baylor University Medical Center Dallas, Medical City Dallas, Baylor Regional Medical Center of Plano and The Medical Center of Plano).
Procedural Steps
What does the breast lift procedure look like?
There are many options available today to produce the best possible results of your breast lift surgery.
I use many of the described techniques (applied towards different anatomy) and will determine the techniques used for your procedure based on::
- Your natural cup size and shape
- The extent to which your breasts sag
- The condition of the skin and breast tissue including elasticity
- The condition of your nipples and areolas
Anesthesia
Typically, I do this with my patients under general anesthesia to have secure control of your airway. There are, however, some techniques in breast lift that can easily be done in the office under local anesthetic measures. Ask me about these and we’ll see if you’re a candidate for them.
The incision
Three options for locations of incisions:
- Circumference of the areola
- Circumference of the areola and straight down from the bottom of the areola to the breast crease
- Circumference of the areola, straight down from the breast crease and horizontally along the breast crease (I don’t use this one that much anymore since it has too many incisions.
Reshaping your breasts
Let the reshaping begin! The process is tailored to every individual’s needs, however these steps are common to most breast lift surgeries:
- The breast tissue beneath the skin is lifted and reshaped
- Any excess skin is removed to tighten the skin around the breast
- The nipple and areola are repositioned to match the proportion and scale of the newly reconstructed breast
Closing the incisions
Once the procedure has been completed, the incisions are closed with layered sutures and surgical skin glue, usually with tape (not glue) around the areola.
The breast lift is unique in that scarring from incisions are, indeed, noticeable on the surface of the breast due to the nature of the procedure. Even though these scar lines will not fade completely, they will become flush and fade significantly over time.
See the results
Although you will notice immediate results, your tissues will continue to recover even further as swelling subsides and scars begin to fade, and you will find that your results will continue to unfold over time.
Important facts about the safety and risks of mastopexy:
Ultimately, the decision to undergo the breast lift procedure is yours alone. After careful consideration of both the risks and benefits of surgery, you’ll have to weigh the risks against the potential benefits to make an informed decision that you can live with. You and I should go over all potential risks of surgery and please know that I’ll be available to answer any and all of your questions.
Here is a listing of some of the risks associated with mastopexy surgery:
- Adverse scarring
- Excessive bleeding (hematoma)
- Infection
- Complications associated with scar healing, including pain associated with surgery
- Potential loss of breast sensation, which can be either permanent or temporary
- Capsular contracture, which is the hardening of scar tissue surrounding the implant itself (if an implant is used)
- Potential risks of anesthesia use
- Blood clots
- Possibility of loss of part or all of nipple and/or areola
Other considerations:
- Diagnostic procedures such as mammography and ultrasound can be impaired if not done at a facility with the proper techniques to adequately visualize breast tissue
- In addition, if you plan on becoming pregnant after your surgery, it is important to know that pregnancy and childbirth may have adverse effects on the results of your breast reduction. The effects of breast reduction on breast feeding have been studied over and over again. Although most studies have pretty conclusively determined that it is not related and the incisions are not going through the main ducts that carry milk to the nipple; it is still a consideration that no mother can ignore. I’ve found that many are so disabled by their large breasts that most just want the reduction and will live with the improved quality of life and apply that towards carrying their children will less carrying ‘load’ in front of them. The science that is out there supports NO ADVERSE EFFECTS on breast feeding. If you aren’t able to breast feed after a breast reduction it not necessarily due to the breast surgery you’ve had. Even if you were able to breast feed for a previous child.
Where will my surgery be performed?
Typically, breast lift procedures are done on an outpatient basis, which means that the surgery can be performed in an accredited office-based surgical center, outpatient ambulatory surgical center or a hospital.
I’ll go over the options you may have regarding the location of your surgery. Typically, the breast reduction procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, which means that the surgery can be performed at Dallas Day Surgery Center of Texas (this is our facility at the DALLAS PLASTIC SURGERY INSTITUTE) or a hospital (I’m privileged at Presbyterian Dallas- Margot Perot Women’s Surgery Center, Baylor University Medical Center Dallas, Medical City Dallas, Baylor Regional Medical Center of Plano and The Medical Center of Plano).
When you go home
After any surgery, it is important to closely monitor how you feel, especially directly after surgery. Varying degrees of pain are certainly to be expected, however, if you experience any kind of tightness or shortness of breath, pains deep in your chest or an irregular heart beat you should go to the ER immediately. To avoid complications, it is of paramount importance that you strictly follow your doctor’s post-surgical instructions and be cautious!
My recovery
Recovery from a Breast Lift or Mastopexy is a very individualized process, but there are some common effects one can expect. Bruising and swelling are, of course, normal but pretty uncommon. Recovery time is different for everyone, but a minimum of 3-5 days of resting with very little physical activity is recommended. Typically, my patients are so pleased with their recovery that they don’t even finish a bottle of 30 pain pills. When I was doing the techniques I learned in residency there were more complaints of pain than now. At this point, using variations in techniques and merging concepts from several techniques, not only are my results better but my patients are healing incredibly quickly. Because I’m pretty exclusively doing breast surgeries in my reconstructive practice, I’m focusing on both of these goals so naturally I get closer every time I make a change.
In addition, observance of 10 -14 days without strenuous physical exercise is essential, in order for the incisions to heal and swelling to reduce. Limiting your fluid intake to only drinking for thirst and mild exercise such as easy walking is recommended. Finally, it is important that no heavy lifting and no lifting above the head be performed from 4-6 weeks after surgery.
Here are some important questions to ask before surgery:
- Where will I recover directly after surgery?
- Will I be prescribed any post-surgery medications? (antibiotic, pain pill, 5 day steroid pack)
- How often do my bandages need to be changed and when will they be removed permanently? (they won’t, usually I apply skin glue and ointment can be applied twice daily around the areola, but no dressings will be needed)
- When will the stitches be removed? (I try to avoid this by using all absorbable sutures so we won’t need to be getting them out of such a sensitive area!)
- How soon will I need to return for a follow-up visit? (1-2 weeks)
The results will be long-lasting
The results of your breast lift surgery will be long-lasting. You will once again find it easier to wear certain styles of clothing and swim wear, especially as the first few months pass and the swelling reduces and the scarring begins to fade.
