Breast Lift / Mastopexy Philadelphia

Breast Lift Before and After
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A breast lift in Philadelphia can reshape your breasts to give them more-youthful contours while lifting and repositioning your areolae. It can also address asymmetries between your breasts.

This procedure is usually performed on mothers who have had multiple pregnancies. It is particularly common for mothers who have breastfed.

Patients who have had massive weight loss from dieting or bariatric surgery are also good candidates for this procedure.

In either case, the deflated look or excess skin in the breast area can be disconcerting to the individual, who may desire aesthetic improvement.

When performed on patient who have lost breast volume either from surgery or breastfeeding, this procedure is usually combined with breast augmentation (enlargement) to better fill the empty space vacated by the volume loss. This is known as augmentation mastopexy.

THE BREAST LIFT PROCEDURE

The breast lift/mastopexy operation is usually performed in the operating room under general anesthesia. The procedure involves separating the skin from the breast parenchyma (the breast tissue, nipple, and areola.) The areola and nipple are then moved up the breast to position them more appropriately.

The skin is then redraped around the breast, tightening the skin and creating a more youthful appearance. The areolae can also be resized if necessary. Drains may also be placed in the breasts in order to help reduce swelling for the first day or so after surgery.

After over 16 years since having my first breast enhancement surgery, I was nervous to find a new (local) doctor for round 2. I am very happy with my results and felt totally comfortable with Dr. Hoffman and his friendly staff. I would recommend this practice to anyone looking for great results!
 

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POST-OPERATIVE BREAST LIFT CARE

Instructions:

  • Get plenty of rest during your recovery and healing process.
  • Take pain medication as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin unless approved by your surgeon.
  • A supportive bra must be worn 24/7 for 4 weeks after your breast lift to ensure proper healing. You will then transition into a wireless (NO WIRE) bra with cups for 6 months after the operation. These bras can be found at GiGis, Kohls, and Soma stores.
      • Dr. Hoffman does NOT recommend wearing a sports bra. Cups with no underwire are strongly suggested for optimal results in contouring the breasts.

Activities:

  • Start walking as soon as possible – this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots.
  • Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications.
  • Do not drive car for 1-2 weeks after surgery
  • No heavy lifting. No lifting anything over 10 lbs.
  • Avoid strenuous exercise and activities for 4-6 weeks.
  • You may return to work in 7-14 days (this will vary depending on your type of work).

Wound (Incision) Care:

  • If drainage tubes have been placed as part of your mastopexy, you may shower 48 hours after removal.
  • Keep steri-strips on.
  • Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for signs of infection.
  • Leave dressing on for length of time prescribed by your surgeon.

What to Expect and Follow-Up Instructions:

  • There may be post-operative pain, temporary bruising, discomfort, numbness, dry breast skin, swelling, and discoloration.
  • There may be some loss of sensation in the nipples.
  • Although scars are created in order to perform a breast lift/mastopexy, they can be easily hidden by a normal bra. These scars will fade over time to become almost invisible to the naked eye. Scars will fade in several months to a year.
  • If drainage tubes have been placed, they are removed when the 24-hour output is less than 30 ml x 2 days.
  • Sutures are removed in 7-14 days.

Please follow this link to review breast lift before and after photos of actual patients.

WHAT IS THE COST OF A BREAST LIFT?

Breast Lift: $7,500-$10,000

What Is the Cost of a Breast Lift and Augmentation?

Mastopexy (lift and augmentation): $10,000-$13,000

Pricing for a breast lift includes doctor fees, hospital fees, and anesthesia.
*Prices may vary based on the specific needs of the patient and scope of the procedure

Breast Augmentation & Breast Lift/Mastopexy Q&A

What can I do to reshape my breasts?

Answer: Great question. Although breast enhancement with implants may help the appearance of your breasts, there are still other ways to improve your breast shape without implants. A combination of a breast lift with some fat grafting would help change the shape of your breasts and give you the look that you are trying to achieve. Fat grafting is moving fat from the body into the breast or even taking fat from one part of the breast and moving to another part.

My breasts are noticeably uneven, if I get an augmentation on my right breast, should I get one on my left breast too?

Answer: The usual answer is yes. Augmenting both breasts gives you the best chance of having good symmetry. If you augment one breast with an implant and do not have an implant on the other side it can make them look more uneven. Fat grafting is also a possibility to achieve matching breasts if the discrepancy is not that large.

When does swelling after breast augmentation begin to subside?

Answer: After breast augmentation swelling is normal. Your breasts will initially seem larger than you expected. In the first three weeks a majority of the swelling goes away. It takes three months, for the remainder of the swelling to go away. That is when you will know what size bra to purchase.

Can fat grafting to breasts after double mastectomy promote the regrowth of residual breast tissue and breast cancer?

Answer: Fat grafting is the process of taking fat from one part of the body and moving it to another. Commonly liposuction of the abdomen or thighs harvests the fat. The fat is then prepared and injected into areas to help the contour of the breasts after a reconstruction. The grafted fat does not cause regrowth of breast tissue. It also has not been shown to have any increase in the cancer risk. Always discussing these issues with your board certified plastic surgeon prior to surgery is recommended.

I am a 39 year old with two kids. I’ve been told by three doctors that I need a vertical mastopexy and the options have differed by texture. One doc says that with a lift, smooth implants will often not stay “lifted” and patients come back after 6 months complaining that their breasts are sagging. Will a textured implant placed under the muscle sustain the lift better?

Answer: When using a round silicone implant, there are 2 types that can be used: one is a textured implant, the other is a smooth implant. The difference between the 2 is that a textured implant has stippling around the outside that are thought to prevent migration of the implant. With round implants, migration is not as large of an issue as with a shaped implant where some rotation would cause a noticeable change. In your particular case, when an augmentation mastopexy is performed, either a smooth or a textured implant could be used. Neither types of implants will stay lifted forever and surgeon preference should dictate which implant is to be used. In my current practice, with augmentation mastopexies I prefer a smooth, round implant.

After breastfeeding, my breasts are deflated. Will I need a breast lift or augmentation to restore the appearance of my breasts?

Answer: It is very typical to lose volume after childbirth and breastfeeding. To figure out whether you would need a breast lift (Mastopexy) or an augmentation you have to figure out if you have enough volume. For example, if you are wearing a non-padded push up bra are your breasts a good size. If they are not full enough with a push up bra then you would need a breast implant to help with volume.

Once you decided whether you need an implant or not, the last question is whether you will need a breast lift at the same time as your breast augmentation. In general, the larger volume implants that you choose, the less of a lift people usually need.

Dr. Hoffman reviews these issues with patients during their consultations. He works with the patient so that they may achieve their ideal goals.

What is the best scar cream to use after breast augmentation surgery?

Answer: Scar care after any surgery is very important. At the least, performing scar massage twice a day until the scars have settled will help the scars look better. Scar massage consists of using a moisturizing lotion and gentle pressure placed on the scar. I recommend massaging in a circular motion for 2 minutes twice a day.

A step up from using just moisturizing lotion is a silicone based scar cream. I recommend this for scars on the face, cosmetic surgery scars, and patients whose scars have healed poorly in the past. In the plastic surgery literature, silicone has shown to be most effective in improving scar appearance. Silicone creams can differ in their consistency and content and that is why in my office we recommend –Silagen for my patients. It is only available for purchase through doctor’s offices.

I just finished breastfeeding. When can I get a breast augmentation?

Answer: Pregnancy and breast feeding can cause an engorgement of the breasts. After the cessation of breast feeding, the breasts typically take about 3 months to reduce in size and volume. That is why it is traditionally, surgeon like to wait about 3 months after breast-feeding has stopped prior to any breast surgery- augmentation, reduction, or breast lift.

Occasionally, there can be small amounts of milk expressed from the nipple even after 3 months. As long as it is only occasionally spotting, a patient can still go ahead with surgery. If it is more than occasionally spotting, I will have a patient revisit their OB for a check-up.

Are any new technologies being utilized for breast lifts or implant exchanges?

Answer: The newest advance in breast lifts or in particular breast lifts with implants are Acellular Dermal Matrixes or ADMs. They are material that we utilize in surgery for both breast reconstruction and cosmetic breast surgeries. The ADMs are used to strengthen and support the lower borders of the breasts. This can help place the breast fold in a good position and give a better cosmetic result. They act as scaffolds that your bodies’ cells repopulate with time.

There are also different shapes and sizes of implants that are available to us today that we did not have in the past. The use of these ADM’s and implants are part of the technology we use to help us get superior outcomes.

Is scarring necessary when doing a breast lift?

Answer: Yes. In order to tighten or elevate the breast tissue, scars are necessary. Some scars can be hidden beneath the breasts or around the areola. Other times visible scars are necessary in the inferior pole of the breast to tighten the loose skin. Breast lifts last around 10 years. Gravity is always pulling the breast downward and causing the breasts to sag.

Do I need a breast lift or a breast lift and augmentation?

Answer: This is one of the most common questions that I get during my office hours. The answer differs from patient to patient. Generally, if you wear a bra without padding and like the appearance of your breasts with that bra, then a breast lift without implants may be the right choice for you.

If you lack volume and need a padded bra to give you the look that you like, then an augmentation with or without a lift can be the right choice for a patient.

A breast augmentation with lift increases breast volume while also reducing sag and restoring perkiness. Combining a breast lift and implants allows for a single recovery period rather than two separate recoveries.

During an in-office consultation, you and Dr. Hoffman can discuss the option of a breast lift with implants.

How much fat do I need for a breast augmentation with fat grafting?

Answer: Fat can be taken from the abdomen, thighs, or hips area and can be moved to the breasts for this natural form of breast augmentation. It can increase the breast about a cup size or can be used to help fill the breasts after childbirth. It is not good for increasing the breasts 2 or more cup sizes. A little over half the fat that is moved is permanent, but that can change if a patient gains or loses weight. (about 10 pounds.)

Fat to the breasts is a relatively safe procedure. It has been studied over the past ten years. There are concerns that more fat cysts or changes could show up in mammography which may require more views or possible biopsies of the breasts. Concerns have been brought up that there may be an increased cancer risk with fat grafting to the breasts, but that has not been shown in studies.

Dr. Hoffman performs fat grafting in the operating room.

I have seen pictures of breast implants on the internet and think I may have chosen too large of an implant?

Answer: Many patients search the internet prior to surgery to see how they may look after surgery. It can get patients quite anxious and scared prior to surgery. Choosing the correct sized implant is commonly the biggest concern for an augmentation patient. The problem is that even people with the same weight and height have very different chest widths and builds. Thus the same size implant may not look the same on those patients.

In the office, I use a sizing system to help get an initial idea of the patient’s wishes. In the OR, I then using a sizing balloon and pick the size the looks best on the patient and is in line with their pre-operative wishes.

Talk with Dr. Hoffman and he will help you feel confident prior to the OR about your implant choice.

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Dr. Ryan Hoffman is available for a consultation at your convenience regarding the breast lift in Philadelphia. To schedule your consultation, contact our office today.