Actual Patient
Breast Lift
Breast lift surgery is designed to improve the shape of sagging breasts, helping to restore a more youthful, perky contour and breast shape. For some women, the changes in the breast shape are a result of pregnancy, weight changes, or simply time and gravity. For others, the breast shape has always tended to be droopy. By tightening the skin of the breast and repositioning the nipple to a higher location, the breast lift procedure can create a more attractive breast shape. It’s important to realize the difference between breast augmentation and breast lift. An augmentation uses an implant to increase the size and fullness of the breast. A breast lift does not use an implant. With a lift, the breast size stays approximately the same, but the breast gland is re-positioned above the level of the breast crease. A combination procedure of breast lift and breast implant can also be considered, particularly if the breasts have lost significant volume after pregnancy or weight loss, or if the round, full “implant look” is desired. Alternatively, if the breast size is a little on the large side, a size reduction can be performed at the time of the breast lift.
What kind of breast lifts does Fiala Aesthetics perform?
There are 3 main patterns of breast lift, depending on how much droop there is to correct. The one with the shortest scar is known as the “donut” lift, also called the Benelli or circumareolar lift. This design works for women who just need a minor degree of lift – about 1 – 1.5 inches, or who wish to have the areolar size reduced if it is overly large. In this operation, there is no scar down the front of the breast, or in the crease. This lift is commonly combined with a breast augmentation, for women that would like a small degree of elevation of the nipple-areola at the time of their augmentation. Since it has the smallest incision, it is also the mildest of the lifting operations.
For intermediate cases, a “vertical mastopexy” is performed. This permits a greater degree of elevation and tightening of the breast than the donut lift. In this situation, the incision still goes around the nipple-areolar complex, but now extends down the front of the breast. There is no horizontal incision in the crease.
For cases where there is a lot of stretched-out breast skin, and high degrees of breast ptosis (droop), the traditional “inverted-T” mastopexy is used. This design includes the horizontal incision in the crease as well.
For patients with recurrent skin stretch after a prior lift or thin, stretchy skin after a large amount of weight loss, Dr. Fiala may recommend the addition of Galaflex mesh to your lift, to help the lifting effect lasts much longer. Additionally, if liposuction in the lateral chest area near the armpit is needed, this can usually be performed at the same time.