Breast lift surgery

Modern women often resort to plastic services to improve their appearance and figure. A breast lift is usually ordered in cases where the bust does not need to be enlarged. Where and how is it better to do it, is there an alternative? And what risks await a patient who decides to have an operation?

What is a breast lift called mastopexy?

Normally, the nipple is located at the height of the middle of the shoulder, that is, above the inframammary fold. When the level of the nipple falls below the crease, breast ptosis is diagnosed. Plastic surgeons remove unsightly sagging, redistribute the glandular tissue and return the breasts to a beautiful shape.

• Not everyone knows what a breast lift is called - mastopexy or mammoplasty? And what is the difference if both methods restore the aesthetic proportions of the breast?

In the first case, the name comes from two words: “breast” and “fixation”, in the second it is translated as “breast plastic surgery”. Mastopexy is called one of the options for mammoplasty, when the shape of the breast is surgically changed.

During mastopexy, the surgeon removes part of the stretched skin and forms a harmonious breast. The seams are made so that they are almost invisible, and the nipple rises higher to its natural height.

The operation lasts up to 3 hours. With a slight intervention, the patient leaves the clinic on the same day, with a large correction, she remains in the hospital for up to three days. Removal of sutures is prescribed depending on the condition of the patient, in mild cases, approximately 5-10 days.

The effect of a breast lift lasts for a long time with a slight sagging of a small or medium-sized breast. The bust acquires elasticity and attractiveness, and its owner - confidence in its irresistibility and psychological comfort.[1]

Indications for the procedure

A breast lift is needed by women who have experienced prolapse of the mammary glands. This is due to lactation and breastfeeding, with a sharp decrease in weight, as well as in connection with menopause and age-related changes - loss of elasticity, strength of the skin and ligaments. The chest sags and becomes less attractive than before.

• The bust can change under the influence of hormonal factors - increase or decrease in volume.

External factors also influence the process: improper underwear or lack of it, poor body care, smoking, which destroys elastin fibers. And even irregular sexual relations. Regardless of the cause, the problem of sagging is the main indication for reconstructive surgery.

Diagnose several degrees - depending on the level of lowering.

• 1 st. - nipple at the level of the inframammary fold or 1 cm below.
• 2st. - lowering to 3 cm, the nipple "looks" straight.
• 3st. - drop below 4 cm.

You can determine the degree yourself - with the help of the palm under the chest. If the lowered gland closes it by 2 fingers, there is 1 degree. If all 4 fingers “hide”, then there is a 2nd degree, and with the 3rd degree, the chest covers the entire palm.

Mastopexy is a very serious and complex operation, with the possibility of undesirable consequences. If everything goes according to plan, then as a result, the corrected contour is provided for a long time. A repeat procedure is carried out in exceptional cases.[2]

Breast lift after childbirth, after pregnancy

Very often, women turn to surgeons to have a breast lift after childbirth, after pregnancy. What happens in the body at this time, why is the joy of the birth of a child for the mother accompanied by some aesthetic losses?

• In the body of the expectant mother, hormonal processes are seething, leading to an increase in the volume of the mammary gland. A heavy chest stretches the skin and ligaments that support it.

After childbirth, some women lose weight, and the skin and ligaments shrink to their previous size. But it doesn't always happen naturally; sometimes the breast changes for the worse and post-lactation tissue ptosis develops. This problem is especially annoying for mothers with large breasts, filled mainly with adipose tissue. Then comes the need for a breast lift (mastopexy) service.

The operation consists of repositioning the nipple and areola, removing excess skin and redistributing the glandular tissue so that the breast takes on the desired shape with the same volume. It is carried out in a clinic where the patient stays from several hours to several days, depending on the extent of the intervention.

Working capacity returns after 1-2 weeks, and physical activity - up to a month. Scars mature from 6 to 12 months, after which they become invisible. The effect is long-term, but not eternal. Repeated pregnancies, body aging and fluctuations in body weight can cause the gland to re-sag.

Sagging breast lift

One of the reasons leading patients to a plastic surgeon is significant stretch marks of the skin and ligaments of the mammary gland. This condition brings a woman not only psychological trauma, but also physical inconvenience. A breast lift allows you to create the desired shape of the bust by distributing your own "material", that is, the breast tissue.

The option of lifting sagging breasts is chosen by a specialist depending on the degree of sagging and the condition of the tissues. The degree of anesthesia and the duration of the procedure depend on the technique, although on average any of them is completed no later than three hours. The seams are performed cosmetic, so that the traces after the intervention are practically invisible.

• With a small bust and mild ptosis, a paraareolar lift is recommended. A sickle-shaped incision is made over or around the area and the nipple is moved upward.
• Moderate mastoptosis requires vertical mastopexy. An incision is made from the nipple to the crease under the breast and around it, excess skin is removed.
• More serious defects are corrected thanks to T-shaped incisions. They are used for large volumes and strong omission. Because of the incisions, the technique turns out to be the most traumatic, however, it also solves the most complex problems.

No less important condition for success than the reliability of the institution and the qualifications of the specialist is the personal responsibility of the patient. A woman should follow professional advice not only in the preparation process, but especially in postoperative care. Compression underwear, restrictions on loads and water procedures, taking preventive drugs - all this must be strictly observed in order to get an excellent result after the completion of the rehabilitation processes.[3]

Preparation

Preliminary preparation includes visits to the therapist, mammologist, gynecologist, anesthetist, blood and urine tests, ECG, and fluorography. What kind of examination is necessary in a particular case depends on age, heredity, and overall health. Such requirements exist to exclude fibrotic changes or cysts that need to be treated, as well as pregnancy planning. Breast lift contraindications are also revealed during ECG, fluorography, general tests.

• Physicians prefer to work with patients who are as balanced and physically stable as possible. To this end, for two weeks before and two after the operation, you should stop smoking (or better - forever) and not drink alcohol.

Shortly before the procedure, the intake of hormonal and blood thinning drugs (aspirin) should be excluded for a while, and eating 5 hours before the procedure. A few days before the tightening, you can not overload the body physically and mentally. Any doubts regarding the upcoming procedure are best clarified personally, without hesitation, in a conversation with the surgeon. This will help relieve the anxiety and excitement that is natural before such an event.

If after the procedure you are counting on someone's help, then it is important to stipulate the conditions in advance and familiarize your loved one with the recommendations for caring for the operated organ. In particular, after discharge, it is in no case recommended to personally drive to get home.

Local anesthesia

Anesthesia is a mandatory element of plastic surgery. The anesthesiologist decides which anesthesia to use, depending on the results of the examination and the purpose of the plastic surgery. Breast lift in most cases is done under general anesthesia, when the patient is given the opportunity to fall asleep for the duration of the operation. And this is logical, since it lasts quite a long time, and the operated area is saturated with receptors that signal pain.

• The patient does not need to endure pain, contemplating the actions of a doctor, because this spectacle, as they say, is "not for the faint of heart." The anesthesiologist preliminarily determines the tolerance of painkillers, and during the operation monitors the situation and the patient's exit from sleep.

Some clinics use local anesthesia as an alternative. The technique requires high qualification, experience and taking into account the individual characteristics of the operated. Medicines that relieve pain sensitivity are injected, while the person is conscious and adequately assesses what is happening. Sometimes they offer a sedative pill or an injection that causes half-asleep, relaxation and immunity to pain.

Local anesthesia is used in the presence of contraindications for general anesthesia. If there are none, and the intervention is to be serious, then doctors still prefer anesthesia in order to focus on the main thing and not be distracted by secondary actions, if they can be called that. In addition, there is a risk of overdose of drugs used for local anesthesia. This is fraught with convulsions, arrhythmia and other consequences that complicate the task of surgeons. And taking into account the fact that young and relatively healthy women usually resort to operations of this kind, anesthesia is not a threat to their condition.

Technique of the breast lift

When planning the technique of breast lift surgery, the severity of ptosis is taken into account. It is determined by degrees: 1 (minimal), 2 (moderate), 3 (pronounced). There is also glandular and pseudoptosis.

The choice of breast lift technique also depends on the shape and size of the sagging. In turn, the shape and location of postoperative scars depend on the technique. You can determine the degree yourself, but in a clinic, this is done by a doctor who prepares the client for surgery.

• For a woman who has undergone preliminary examinations and tests, the doctor makes a marking of the breast and explains in detail what the essence and procedure of the procedure is. The choice of method is based on the volume of the breast and the degree of ptosis.

At 1 tbsp. Ptosis on a small chest, the incision is made in the form of a crescent. The procedure is the least traumatic and leaves a small mark. Since the chest becomes flatter than before, the technique is recommended with a conical shape.

At the 2nd and 3rd st. Vertical and anchor techniques are used. They involve more cuts, respectively, and seams, but with the described sagging, a beautiful shape cannot be achieved in any other way.

All of these techniques require general anesthesia and take up to 3 hours. During this time, the specialist manages to tighten the nipple and areola, remove excess skin, and fixes the tissues in a higher position.[4]

Contraindications to the procedure

Do not think that a breast lift can be done by everyone and always, indulging whims, and not based on real needs. Competent doctors strongly do not recommend the procedure if they see contraindications to the procedure. They are present if a woman plans to give birth and breastfeed, or wants to lose weight urgently, or has recently stopped breastfeeding.

Although there is an opinion that mastopexy does not interfere with breastfeeding, since they only tighten the skin, and not the glandular tissue and ducts where mother's milk is produced.

There are also contraindications related to the state of health, namely:

• endocrinology, including diabetes;
• oncology;
• blood clotting disorder;
• mastopathy;
• tendency to form scars;
• hormonal imbalance;
• obesity;
• breast pathology;
• exacerbation of other chronic pathologies.

Consequences after the procedure

Any surgical intervention has both predictable and unpredictable consequences after the procedure. A breast lift is considered to have a low level of risk. However, this important issue should be discussed in detail during a personal meeting with the surgeon preparing you for the operation.

• The formation of edema and bruising is normal after any surgical intervention. In the case of a facelift, they disappear on their own in about a week.

Sometimes there is infection and divergence of the edges of the incision. The wound then heals more difficult, and the scars may become somewhat wider. They will have to be reduced by another simple procedure.

• When the nerve endings are damaged, the skin becomes numb. Further, the process can develop in different ways: sensitivity is restored completely, partially or not restored at all. It happens that the nipples lose it forever.

Another unpleasant consequence is the asymmetry of the breasts. It is known that both halves of the mammary gland are not absolutely symmetrical. The operation makes the symmetry maximal, but not absolute. But if it is broken so that it becomes noticeable, then additional correction may be required.

• In addition to purely physical, moral sensations are also important. Usually a woman after a mastopexy feels vague anxiety, sadness, anxiety.

Psychologists attribute this to the transferred stress, as well as excitement in anticipation of a positive effect. Did I do the right thing by taking this step? The operated woman involuntarily asks herself. And it is important to support a woman at this moment - both to the staff and close people, for the sake of which, in fact, many women sacrifice their comfort.[5]

When are stitches removed?

Practicing surgeons use two types of suture material in their work: absorbable natural and synthetic. For a breast lift, the second option is used, so the question of seams is relevant in all cases.

• The number of sutures, as well as the decision when to remove the sutures, is made by the doctor, and it depends, first of all, on the type of operation and the rate of healing.

This usually happens within the first 3 weeks, but not earlier than on the 7-10th day. Whether it hurts or not depends on many factors, including individual characteristics.

Depending on the technology, there can be one continuous, two or three seams on one chest. The more radical the intervention, the more stitches that leave traces. It is estimated that there are fewer of them when using silicone implants, and the maximum number is associated with the anchor technique.

• In any case, the seams require special attention and care, constant monitoring of their condition. Initially red, as they heal, they brighten, shrink, become less noticeable.

The edges of the wound must be sealed and protected from infection. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe treatment with antiseptic ointments, after removing the sutures - absorbable preparations.

The first few days it is not recommended to wash, and even more so - to rub the seams with a washcloth. Then protect them with a bandage, removing it after the procedure. To prevent the seams from coming apart, wearing a compression bra is mandatory for a month.

Anxiety is caused by inflamed, infected or parted seams. If the seam, at any stage, turns red, swelling, becomes painful and oozes blood or pus, you need to urgently consult a doctor to fix the problem.

Scars, scars

An important role in minimizing undesirable consequences is played by the professional skills of the surgeon and the clinic staff. The process of wound healing after a breast lift is controlled by the specialist who performed the procedure.

Healing occurs due to the formation of fibroblasts that fill the tissue defect. The edges gradually converge and form thin seams. The resulting scars, scars are of a different nature.

• Physiological - placed at the level of the skin surface, after two to three months they become invisible.
• Atrophic - located below, and hypertrophic - above this level.
• Keloid - grow wider than the edges of the wound, can itch, "pull" the skin.

Physiological scars are the norm, they remain with everyone. In case of violations of healing, a cosmetic defect is formed, which has to be removed by the same surgical procedure.

Compliance with the doctor's instructions on the part of the patient is no less important than the qualifications of the medical staff. Violation of the regimen leads to an increase in pressure in the chest area and a decrease in the rate of healing.

• To avoid scars, strenuous activities, heavy lifting, raising arms at or above shoulder level are prohibited.

More aesthetic results are obtained with proper care, in young women with normal weight, free from bad habits, eating well and not violating the regimen. Accordingly, the scars remain delicate.

Hematoma after breast lift

Postoperative complications are general surgical and specific. One of the surgical, along with seromas, rough scars, suppuration, is a hematoma after a breast lift. Occurs as a result of vascular injury, with each surgical intervention. The operating room stops the blood by special manipulations, which is reflected in the term "homeostasis".

With a sharp jump in pressure, a violation of blood clotting, trauma or overload in the first days after a breast lift, blood may again appear in the operated location. Resumed bleeding leads to a hematoma, which is recognized by the following signs:

• increase in size and compaction of the breast;
• pain and tension in the tissues;
• discomfort;
• discharge from the chest, where a hematoma has formed.

Eliminate the problem with repeated surgical intervention. After removing the previously applied stitches, the doctor removes blood clots, rinses the tissues with an antiseptic and cauterizes the vessels if they continue to bleed. Next, new sutures are applied and, if necessary, drainage.

Such a complication is fraught with dangerous consequences. If it is not urgently cured, then suppuration and tissue necrosis develops, which are much more difficult to treat.

Complications after the procedure

No matter how simple the operation may seem, complications after the procedure are always likely. They can be provoked by the mistakes of the surgeon, and contraindications, and the characteristics of the individual. When performing a breast lift, the following problems are possible:

• contour asymmetry;
• secondary ptosis;
• swelling, bruising;
• temporary loss of sensation;
• infection and suppuration of sites;
• noticeable scar;
• hematoma;
• poor healing;
• tissue death;
• halo dystopia.

As a result of a breast lift, subsequent breastfeeding may become impossible. In about 15% of mastopexy patients, nipple sensitivity decreases. Secondary ptosis is real with a large breast size.

Care after the procedure

In order for a breast lift not to be in vain, its owners need to adjust their daily routine for the coming months. Doctors have developed recommendations for six months after surgery - this is how long restrictions in physical activity and stress are needed. Post-procedure care for sutures and skin is carried out in several stages.

• Within two weeks, the sutures are treated with an antiseptic and sterile dressings are changed. They can not be rubbed or combed, so as not to further injure. The stitches are removed at the clinic.

For better regeneration, doctors recommend sleeping only on your back for the first few nights and giving up intimate relationships for two weeks. To prevent improper scarring, a pool, sauna, and sunbathing are banned. Moisturizing creams are applied to and around the scars a month and a half after surgery.

• The skin becomes dry and irritated due to tightening.

It should be moisturized with creams, but not earlier than two weeks after the stitches are removed. If the irritation is too pronounced, the skin turns red and burns, you will have to use sedatives: ointments and compresses.

Some may be frightened by the crackling sensation under the operated breast. This is the norm: this is how the air trapped in the chest pocket that forms after the operation behaves. Over time, air bubbles disappear, passing through fatty tissues, and by about two weeks they completely disappear.

Many are interested in the prospect of breastfeeding a baby after facelift surgery. Doctors reassure women about this, explaining that the structure of the mammary gland does not suffer, since only the skin and fatty tissue are tightened.

Rehabilitation

After a breast lift, a woman will have to spend at least a day in a hospital. Doctors are required to monitor the patient's recovery from anesthesia and subsequent well-being. It happens that she feels a slight pain, which should soon pass.

If everything is normal, then on the second day the patient receives an extract and recommendations for proper rehabilitation:

• Wear compression underwear to reduce pain and prevent swelling.
• On the designated day (up to 2 weeks) arrive at the clinic to remove the stitches.
• Within a month, avoid physical activity and hot water procedures: do not play sports, do not go to the sauna and the beach. Swimming is allowed as a kind of harmonic load.
• Don't go on a diet to lose weight.
• Avoid hormonal fluctuations.

You can objectively evaluate the results not earlier than in 3-4 months, when the edema disappears completely. If the lift is performed correctly, and the rehabilitation tips are followed, then the expected result can last for several years.

• When choosing an institution, be guided not only by prices, but also by the qualifications and experience of specialists working in this particular field.

This will prevent as much as possible the likelihood of complications or errors, which, alas, occur in surgical practice. It is also important to inquire about the technical capabilities of the clinic, whether there is the necessary equipment for anesthesia and a full-fledged operation.

Doctors' opinion

The opinion of doctors should be treated critically. After all, it is clearly not easy for plastic surgeons to objectively evaluate the methods that they themselves use in clinics. And it is difficult for specialists who do not deal with a breast lift to professionally judge this side of medicine. It remains to be hoped that the doctors of specialized clinics use their experience and knowledge solely in the interests of the health and beauty of patients.

Patient reviews

In the reviews, women from 26 to 55 years old talk about the successful experience of a breast lift, name specific clinics and doctors who satisfied their desire to have beautiful breasts. Everyone is delighted with the results. They only complain about restrictions and prohibitions during the rehabilitation period, which are difficult to follow for such a long time.

To be beautiful, to be liked by others and by yourself is the natural desire of a woman. In many ways, it depends on oneself, and even if the help of professionals is required, then a more visible result is obtained in unopened cases. With sluggish, heavy skin with excess body fat, the same breast lift is much more difficult. But you should not be disappointed: today, approaches and methods have been developed that are effective for various breast conditions, and any woman can choose the right one for herself.