More information, including more before and after pics, is available here.
A surgical breast lift (“Mastopexy”) is a procedure that lifts and tightens the breasts by reducing excess skin, bringing the nipple back to where it belongs, and tightening the breast tissue to produce a firmer, younger appearance. This cosmetic breast surgery is offered for women who have lost breast fullness and shape and who have breast sagging due to aging and gravity, as well as weight loss or pregnancy. Improvements in breast lift surgery have made this aesthetic surgery so effective that new statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show a 70% increase in demand for breast lift since 2000. Dr. James Nachbar offers this cosmetic breast surgery at Scottsdale Plastic Surgery. By using the most advanced methods, Dr. Nachbar can decide on the proper technique depending on the level of sag present and the degree of softening in the breast and skin, in addition to the desired aesthetic goal.
Many women visit Dr. Nachbar to explore their options for breast surgery. When there is no droopiness of the breast, a breast augmentation with implants is generally the best procedure.
However, when there is some droopiness, a decision has to be made whether the droopiness is significant enough to warrant a breast lift. It all comes down to what the patient wants.
Often, when there is only a moderate amount of droopiness, the simplicity and limited scarring of breast augmentation are all that is needed to get a satisfactory result. Generally, some droopiness will remain, but women often point out that normal breasts are often a little droopy after motherhood.
However, the exact same breast may require a breast lift when the Scottsdale woman is very unhappy about the drooping. For such a woman, a procedure that does not address her primary concern (the drooping) will not be enough.
When the breasts are extremely droopy, on the other hand, almost everyone will get a better result if a breast lift is performed.
The breast lift can be done by itself or in conjunction with breast augmentation. While surgeons used to believe that it was too difficult to get a good result doing both breast augmentation and breast lift in the same surgery, today, we know that most women will get a good result with the combined procedure.
Breast augmentation in conjunction with breast lift is especially appropriate for women who both want to bring the breast tissue upward and also want a “perky” or “full” appearance to the breast. Sometimes, a relatively small implant is used, to get the improvement in shape without producing an overly-large breast.
Breast lift surgery is performed using general anesthesia.
There are several techniques that can be used for breast lift. Most women in Scottsdale for whom the sagging is severe enough for a breast lift will get the best result with the “anchor” or “Wise Pattern” breast lift. This technique involves leaving the nipple and areola attached to the breast tissue but releasing them from the surrounding skin so that the breast and nipple can be moved back to where they belong and the excess tissue removed below. The result is a scar around the nipple, going downward on the breast, and then across the breast at the inframmamary fold.
More limited procedures are available, including the “vertical” or “lolly-pop” incision and the “peri-areolar” incision that only goes around the nipple. However, women considering those procedures should be aware that there are some drawbacks. For example, the vertical mastopexy scar often approaches the abdominal wall, and I have often seen cases where other surgeons have allowed the scar to come onto the abdominal wall, where it is visible in a bathing suit.
That is not a problem with the peri-areolar incision, but the peri-areolar incision does not tighten the lower breast at all, and it tends to “flatten” the breast and result in widened scars.
With each technique, the areola is generally reduced to a more normal size with the breast lift.
If a breast lift is the only procedure being performed and if breast fullness and shape become a concern at a later date, breast implants can be placed at a second surgery. This is often an excellent choice for a woman who wants a breast lift but is not certain that she wants breast implants.
The overall recovery period for a mastopexy in Scottsdale is more lengthy than breast augmentation surgery because there is a longer scar to heal. After surgery, you will have skin strips on the incisions, some gauze, and a loose Ace Wrap around the chest. It is critical that the Ace Wrap be either loose or left off because tightness here can interfere with blood supply to the nipple in the early post-operative period.
You can remove the Ace Wrap and gauze whenever you want and should either replace it loosely, wear a very loose sports bra, or wear nothing tight on the chest. After removing the Ace Wrap and gauze, at least temporarily, you may shower as early as the day of surgery.
Your first return visit with Dr. Nachbar will be within the first few days after surgery. You should also expect to see some white sutures coming out around the areola and along the incisions for up to three months after surgery. For patients in the Phoenix area, we often see them at one month, two months, and three months after surgery to help remove those sutures. For patients who have traveled to Arizona for surgery, we can show you how to remove them yourself.
When breast implants are used in conjunction with a breast lift, you should expect the implants to be somewhat high immediately following surgery and to settle into the breast over the weeks and months following surgery.
Breast lift in Scottsdale has altered the lives of many women. If you are faced with drooping breasts that get in the way of everyday activities or prevent you from wearing the clothes you want, a breast lift at Scottsdale Plastic Surgery may be the right surgery for you. During your first visit, Dr. Nachbar will evaluate your situation and explain the reasonable options so you can make the best choice.
We invite you to contact Scottsdale Plastic Surgery and learn more about how to schedule your first visit.
During your consultation, you’ll have a chance to speak with Dr. Nachbar about your specific concerns and goals. From there, he will develop a unique surgery plan and provide a cost estimate. A well-performed breast lift can significantly enhance your appearance and confidence, so we always recommend that you focus on finding a skilled surgeon like Dr. Nachbar, who will prioritize your needs. To make your surgery more affordable, Scottsdale Plastic Surgery can help you find low-interest medical financing.
Whether you should have a breast lift or augmentation will depend on your body type and unique goals. A breast lift is a great way to enhance the shape and fullness of the breasts without implants. For those who want to add volume while correcting sagging, Dr. Nachbar can also perform a combined breast lift with augmentation. We’ll discuss a recommended approach during your initial visit to our Scottsdale, AZ office.
Most breast lifts involve relocating the nipple-areola complex to create a more natural enhancement. If your areolas are very large or stretched, then Dr. Nachbar can incorporate an areola reduction into your breast lift. This may be discussed during your consultation so he can choose the best incision pattern to use for your surgery.
With proper care after surgery, your results should last for many years. Your breasts will continue to age normally, which means you might begin to see loose and sagging skin in time. Factors such as significant weight gain or loss can change your results, which is why it is best to stay at a stable weight following your breast lift. Pregnancy or breastfeeding following a breast lift may also alter your results.
A lift may improve asymmetry in your breasts if they are different in size, firmness, or level of sagging. Dr. Nachbar will assess the physical condition and appearance of your breasts during your consultation and talk about how a lift will be able to help you. In your lift surgery, he will shape the tissue so your breasts are equal in position and size for better symmetry.
