Posted on: December 1, 2022
In the world of plastic surgery, one of the most requested surgeries in my office is that of the breasts, but this procedure can vary, depending on the clinical case of my patient. Some women have little breast tissue and breast implants are required to improve their anatomy. Another case is that of patients who have good breast tissue, but suffer from ptosis, that is, the breasts are sagging. As a plastic surgeon and depending on the degree of sagging of the breast, I will determine if the patient needs breast implants.
The most common causes of breast descent are strong weight loss, breastfeeding, genetic factors or natural aging of the breasts. In this post, I will talk about mastopexy or breast lift, as a way to improve the shape, volume and projection of your breasts. Before delving into the subject, it is important that you know the importance of seeking the medical advice of a certified plastic surgeon, so that the specialist studies your case and is clear about the surgical process that will be carried out to avoid risks that compromise your health.
Breast lift or mammopexy, as it is also known, is a surgical procedure in which I place the breasts in a new position, through incisions that allow me to remove the skin and excess breast tissue from the breast. With this procedure, I harden the adjacent tissues and restore firmness to the breast, so that the lower fold of the breast and the position of the patient’s areola and nipple remain within their normal limits.
Before performing the intervention, I make an assessment to determine which incision I will use with my patient: around the areola, in the lower half of the breast or in its breast fold. These incisions depend on how saggy the breast is and the amount of skin that must be removed so that the nipples are just the right size and not in the lower part of the breast.
The incision around the areola is performed when the breast sagging is grade I, that is, the breast is slightly below the breast fold and this does not require further removal of breast tissue.
The incision in the lower half of the breast is necessary when the patient has grade II ptosis; the breast is below the mammary fold and the projection of the nipple is downwards. In this case, the patient needs a major repositioning of the breast tissue and, above all, the removal of excess skin.
The incision in the breast fold is suitable for patients who have a grade III ptosis. When they have a very sagging breast and with the nipple projecting downwards, they require much more skin and breast tissue removal, in order to recover the shape of the breast and make it firm.
For all three clinical cases, the use of breast implants may be necessary, but this decision was made in consultation with my patient, when we discussed the surgical plan. I clarify the above because there are cases where the introduction of breast implants is not necessary: in the first instance, because the patient does not want breast implants and in the second instance because with the patient’s own breast tissues, I can restore firmness to the breasts.
Of course you can get breast implants, but it is a topic that we must discuss in the first consultation, since I, as a plastic surgeon, will make an assessment to determine if the operation is possible with or without implants.
The first thing you should know is that, if you are a patient who, even with sagging breasts, has sufficient breast tissue, my experience allows me to remove only the excess skin to lift the breast, but keeping your same tissue that will serve as a filler for reshape your breast The result will be natural and beautiful.
If you want to get breast implants, as I already mentioned, in the first consultation we will talk about the types of breast implants that exist, their shapes (round and anatomical) and their textures (smooth and corrugated), so that together we can choose the best alternative that will give you the results you expect. To give you an idea of how your breasts will look, I will provide you with some breast implants so that you can try them on under your clothes and see how the size of your breasts will look after the operation. Breast implants will give your breasts a greater projection, in the event that you have little breast tissue.
I recommend this plastic surgery for patients who present:
Degrees of Ptosis that Require a Breast Lift
Ptosis or sagging of the breast is the main cause that affects women when they need breast lift.
In the first consultation, in addition to the assessment that I will make, you must also inform me about your lifestyle, your diet, if you exercise, if you follow a specific treatment or if you have undergone surgery before. The most important thing will be that you notify me if you smoke because you will have to stop smoking at least three weeks before the procedure. The more details you specify, the easier it will be to carry out the surgical plan to avoid all possible risks. As it is a procedure with general anesthesia, you must perform some preoperative tests and attend the assessment with the anesthesiologist.
Before the intervention, you must follow some medical instructions, specifically from the three days prior to the intervention: eat a balanced diet with little processed foods, and rest 8 hours are some of the most important recommendations.
It will be essential that you also follow my instructions to the letter so that your recovery is positive and the results as expected.
By complying with each of my recommendations, your recovery and the results of the operation with or without breast implants will surely be positive.
