Breast Lift
Breast lift surgery in Plastic Surgery Tijuana is chosen by woman, to elevate and reshape sagging breasts and to give a perkier, more youthful appearance. Sometimes, breast implants are placed during the same surgery to create more fullness than would result from a lift alone.
The need for a breast lift is usually the result of an inflation and deflation of breast volume due to pregnancy or significant weight loss. Sometimes, merely gravity and time can cause the need for a mastopexy. And in some cases, women develop with lower, relaxed breasts and can benefit from a lifting procedure.
A breast lift entails removal of the extra skin that is allowing the breasts to drop to a less attractive position. The breast tissue (parenchyma) with the areola and nipples attached, are moved upward, and the lower pole tissues are tightened to hold the breasts up.
Underlying breast parenchyma is sewn together in the lower pole to reinforce the lift prior to closure of the skin. Occasionally, women are candidates for the areola lift that does not require the vertical scar down the front of the breasts.
Ultimately, the best shape must be achieved using the minimal scarring to do so. Most women feel the scar is a small price to pay for a perkier breast position.
Breast Lift Options
Wise Pattern (Anchor) Mastopexy
The amount of skin removal and resulting scar is precisely determined based upon the needs of each breast. The wise pattern skin excision that results in an “anchor” scar is necessary in many breast lift cases due to the large amount of extra skin that needs removal in order to create the best breast shape.
There is no magic here. The wise pattern is 2 intersecting ellipses with an area above for areolar elevation and in-setting. These two elliptical excisions reduce the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the breast skin to achieve a tight, round lower pole–the hallmark of an attractive, perky breast.
The shape of the implant can be varied with high, moderate, or low-profile round implants, as well as anatomical (teardrop-shaped) implants. The surface of the implant can be either textured or smooth.
Vertical (Lollipop) Mastopexy
The vertical mastopexy is the same operation as the Wise pattern except the horizontal ellipse of skin and resulting scar in the breast crease is omitted.
This is feasible for smaller breast sizes, especially when breast implants are added to restore some volume. Again, there is no magic to these procedures.
The breasts are supported from within by suturing the breast tissue together in the lower pole beneath the skin. The skin is “tailor tacked” with surgical clips while the patient is in the upright position during surgery. This method delineates the precise amount of skin removal necessary to achieve the best breast shape.
This step determines if the horizontal elliptical excision can be avoided resulting in the “lollipop” scar.
Circumareolar or Benelli (Doughnut) Mastopexy
The circumareolar lift is primarily an areolar lift rather than a true breast lift. Although it does slightly tighten the skin envelope of the breast, this procedure does not elevate breasts that sag below the breast creases.
Primarily, a circumareolar mastopexy is for patients that have low areolar positioning on the breast, but not true sagging below the crease. Generally, good candidates for this procedure have tight lower pole breast skin with a short distance between their areola and breast creases.
This procedure is often used to even out asymmetrical areolar position or to achieve areola reduction. This operation absolutely does NOT replace a vertical or wise pattern mastopexy.
Breast Lift Scarring
A beautiful breast shape with a faded scar is still attractive and even sexy. But an unattractive breast shape without scars is still unattractive. Achieving a beautiful breast contour is the primary objective of a breast lift, followed closely by limiting scarring to achieve the goals.
All too often, however, Dr. Rafael Camberos meet patients with sagging breasts who hope to avoid the vertical lift scar and still achieve a beautiful shape. Even though this is understandable, it usually is not possible.
Once a breast truly sags below the breast crease, removal of lower pole skin is unavoidable. But all hope should not be lost. When the proper techniques are used to tighten the lower pole breast tissue to keep tension off of the skin, scars usually stay thin and fade wonderfully over time.
Breast Lift Information
For more information about breast lift surgery, request a virtual consultation. Or you can call our office at +1 (619) 598- 2517 and one of our helpful staff members will schedule your appointment.
- STOP SMOKING: Smoking reduces circulation to the skin and impedes healing. It is best to avoid smoking, second hand smoke and cigarette replacements, such as nicotine patches or gum, in the perioperative period. While you should ideally stop smoking for 2 weeks before and after your surgical procedure, YOU MUST NOT SMOKE FOR A MINIMUM OF 24 HOURS BEFORE AND 24 HOURS AFTER SURGERY.
- TAKE MULTIVITAMINS: Start taking multivitamins twice daily to improve your general health once you have scheduled your surgery.
- TAKE VITAMIN C: Start taking 500 mg of Vitamin C twice daily to promote healing.
- START TAKING AN IRON SUPPLEMENT: A good iron supplement, such as Feosol, is required starting one week before surgery and four weeks following surgery. Bowel movements may appear darker than usual as a result. Feosol is available without prescription.
- DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN OR IBUPROFEN: Stop taking medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen. Review the list of drugs containing aspirin and ibuprofen carefully. Such drugs can cause bleeding problems during and after surgery. Instead, use medications containing acetaminophen (such as Tylenol).
- LIMIT VITAMIN E: Limit your intake of Vitamin E to less than 400 mg per day.
- FILL YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS: You will be given prescriptions for medications. Please have them filled BEFORE the day of surgery and bring them with you.
- CONFIRM SURGERY TIME: We will call you to confirm the time of your surgery. If you are not going to be at home or at your office, please call us to confirm at +1 (619) 598 – 2517.
- PRESCRIPTIONS: Make sure that you have filled the prescriptions you were given and set the medications out to bring with you tomorrow.
- CLEANSING: The night before surgery, shower and wash the surgical areas with an antibacterial soap such as Dial, Safeguard, pHisoHex, or Phase II I.
- EATING AND DRINKING: Do not eat or drink anything after 12:00 midnight except for a small amount of water to rinse your mouth while brushing your teeth.
- SPECIAL INFORMATION: Do not eat or drink anything! If you take a daily medication, you may take it with a sip of water in the early morning.
- ORAL HYGIENE: You may brush your teeth but do not swallow the water.
- CLEANSING: Shower and wash the surgical areas again with an antibacterial soap such as Dial, Safeguard, pHisoHex, or Phase Ill.
- MAKE-UP: Please do not wear moisturizers, creams, lotions, or makeup.
- CLOTHING: Wear only comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that does not go over your head. NO TIGHT PANTS. Remove hairpins, wigs, and jewelry. Please do not bring valuables with you.
- CHECK IN/PREPARATION: Surgery Time:
- You should plan to arrive 45 minutes earlier than your scheduled surgery time. Patients less than 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. When you arrive at our office on the day of your surgery, give the receptionist the phone number of the pharmacy you would like us to call for any special medications our surgeon and associates might prescribe.
- CARETAKER: Someone must spend the first night after surgery with you.
First, you must understand the normal progress after your surgery:
- It is normal to feel weak and tired during the first 3 to 5 days after the surgery.
- Having all the operated and surrounding areas bruised and swollen is a normal part of the progress, this will disappear after the next 2 or 3 weeks.
- At the beginning, it is probable that you do not like the shape of your breasts due to the swelling. It is necessary to wait at least 2 months to see a better shape.
- It takes several weeks to feel the skin soft and natural. It is normal to feel different sensations in your skin as itching, numbness, burning, tingling, pins and needles. You will recover the normal sensation slowly
- It is necessary to rest at home at least 2 weeks after surgery. Going out to parties, to the mall and sporting events is prohibited.
- Avoid staying in bed all day long. It is necessary to walk in your house to move around it, like going to the living room, bathroom, etc. You can go up and down the stairs carefully as many times as needed.
- It is necessary to be helped to take showers the first 3 days after surgery.
- Eat any food you normally eat.
- Drink alcoholic beverages only after you have stopped taking your pain medications.
- Do not smoke for 6 weeks after surgery.
- Do not sleep on your stomach for 6 weeks.
- Do not lift objects up to 10 pounds during the first 2 weeks.
- Do not run, jump or perform any other vigorous physical activity for 6 weeks.
- Take a shower every day, wash your wounds carefully with water and soap.
- Avoid removing adhesive tape placed under your wounds for 4 weeks.
- Make sure to dry your wounds well (you should use a hairdryer on a low setting to completely dry the adhesive tapes).
- Wear your post-surgery bra at least 6 weeks after surgery 24/7, taking them off only for showering.