What is Breast Augmentation with Mastopexy?
While breast augmentation can increase your bust line by one or more cup sizes, mastopexy, or breast lift, can reshape and resize the breasts, however these two procedures are not mutually exclusive. Combining breast enhancement with mastopexy will give your breasts a completely new look, which may be exactly what you are looking for. If you’re concerned about breast sagging (ptosis) and you want fuller, rounder breasts, you might benefit from combined breast lift-augmentation surgery.
Who Makes a Good Candidate for Combined Breast Lift-Augmentation Surgery?
The ideal mastopexy-breast augmentation patient is a healthy adult woman who has significant excess breast skin and a desire for larger, fuller breasts. This procedure is often most useful for women who have experienced a reduction in breast volume following motherhood, menopause, or significant weight loss.
Pregnancy causes the breasts to expand by up to three cup sizes, which can stretch the skin, making the breasts look deflated or droopy when they return to their normal size. Combined breast lift-augmentation surgery is therefore a frequency option in most Mommy Makeovers.
After menopause, many women notice the shape of their breasts changing. As estrogen levels decline, our bodies start to distribute fat differently, moving it away from the breasts and into the abdomen. This process, in combination with changes in skin elasticity, can make the breasts look flat (especially on top). Combined breast lift-augmentation surgery is an excellent way to reverse these unwanted changes: The lifting action of this procedure tightens loose, sagging skin, while adding implants restores lost volume and “rounds out” the upper portions of each breast.
To determine whether breast lift with augmentation surgery is the right procedure for you, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I want larger breasts?
- Do I want higher, tighter, and firmer breasts?
- Do I want both?
If you immediately answered that you want breasts that are larger, higher, and firmer, then you’re probably a good candidate for combined breast lift-augmentation surgery.
Breast augmentation is performed with mastopexy quite frequently at our practice. To find out if this is the right procedure for you, our surgeons will evaluate your breasts and your goals during the consultation. Upon assessment, our surgeons will recommend what they believe is the best way to proceed in order to achieve the breasts you desire. You can schedule an online consultation here.
Breast Augmentation with Mastopexy Surgery
This dual procedure takes up to three hours to perform and is commonly done under general anesthesia. The type of incision will depend on the amount of skin to be removed and achieve the desired lift. Minimal tightening may only require an incision around the areola, moderate tightening may require an additional vertical scar to maximize reshaping, and substantial tightening requires an anchor-shaped incision that follows the breast’s natural contour.
To accommodate the breast implant, the surgeon will create a pocket. The implant will be placed under the breast tissue, and in some cases, the implant will be placed under the muscle of the chest wall. Finally, the incisions will be closed using stitches. Bandages, tape, and gauze will be applied for support and to assist with healing.
After Breast Augmentation Surgery
Your breasts will be uncomfortable, swollen, and bruised for a few days, although this can be alleviated with oral medications. Your bandages will be removed 1-2 days after surgery, and you will be required to wear a soft support bra all day, every day for 2-3 weeks. In order to remove excess fluid, drainage tubes may be inserted for several days. The stitches will be removed after 1-2 weeks. Swelling and numbness may persist for up to 6 weeks. In rare cases, the loss of sensation can persist for a year or permanently.
Your nipples may experience a burning sensation for up to 2 weeks. Moisturizer can be used if your breasts are dry after surgery. If you choose to moisturize, do not tug at the skin during application. Avoid moisturizing the stitch and suture areas. If you experience any complications following your surgery, you should visit your surgeon immediately
Dr. Haws discusses getting a Mastopexy with or without an implant.
Potential Risks
With any surgery, there are always potential risks and complications. Excessive bleeding and infection following breast surgery are not common and, if either occurs, it can cause the scars to widen. Breast surgery leaves noticeable and permanent scars, but your bra will cover the scars, and you can expect your scars to gradually fade over time. Eventually, most resemble fine lines that are slightly paler than surrounding skin. Breast surgery can also leave you with unevenly positioned nipples, or a permanent loss of feeling in your nipples or breasts. Small to mid-sized breast implants are much less likely to cause a loss of sensation than very large implants, so we recommend choosing the appropriate size of implant necessary to achieve the look you want.
One of the more common complications following surgery is called capsular contracture, which occurs when the capsule or scar around a breast implant tightens, causing a woman’s breast to feel abnormally hard. The condition is treatable.
There is a chance that a breast implant will leak or break. With saline, the implant will drain completely within a few hours and your body will absorb the salt water harmlessly. With silicone, you may not detect the leak if the scar tissue around the breast implant remains intact. However, if the scar tissue does break or tear, the silicone gel may move into the surrounding tissue. If your implant breaks, you should contact your plastic surgeon as you will require a second operation to replace the leaking implant.
Trained radiologists will need to perform special displacement techniques as breast implants may obscure breast tissue on some views. As such, we ask all patients over the age of 40 to have a mammogram prior to having breast implants inserted (if they have not already had a recent mammogram).
To minimize the risk of complications after combined breast lift-augmentation surgery, you may need to make certain lifestyle changes. Patients who smoke must give up smoking for at least three weeks before and after surgery. This requirement exists because smoking increases the risk of postoperative bleeding, infection, and scarring. You may also need to stop taking certain medications, especially any medications that thin your blood. If you take medication regularly, you should speak to your doctor before you decide to have surgery. Your doctor will advise you on the safest course of action.
Schedule a Consultation
Ready to book your procedure with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons? Contact us today to schedule your consultation and begin your aesthetic journey!
Recovery
Most patients return to work a few days after surgery, depending on the amount of activity their job requires. During the first two to three weeks, your breasts will be very sensitive to direct stimulation. If your breasts are no longer sore after three to four weeks, breast contact should be fine. No heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling with the upper body is recommended for at least two weeks after surgery. We discourage any activity that causes an increase in your heart rate or blood pressure for the first two weeks.
After surgery, the surgical scars will appear pink and firm for six weeks. The surgical scars may appear to widen or remain the same size for several months. They will eventually fade, though they will not disappear completely. If you should experience any serious complications during your recovery period, contact our Nashville, Tennessee office to speak with a breast augmentation surgeon.