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The
Best Candidates For A Breast Lift A
breast lift can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't
necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to
treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about
your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. The
best candidates for mastopexy are healthy, emotionally stable women who are
realistic about what surgery can accomplish. The best results are usually
achieved in women with small, sagging breasts. Breasts of any size can be
lifted, but the results may not last as long in heavy breasts. Many
women seek mastopexy because pregnancy and nursing have left them with stretched
skin and less volume in their breasts. However, if you're planning to have more
children, it may be a good idea to postpone your breast lift. While there are no
special risks that affect future pregnancies (for example, mastopexy usually
doesn't interfere with breast feeding), pregnancy is likely to stretch your
breasts again and offset the results of the procedure. All
Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty And Risk A
breast lift is not a simple operation, but it's normally safe when performed by
a qualified plastic surgeon. Nevertheless, as with any surgery, there is always
a possibility of complications or a reaction to the anesthesia. Bleeding or
infection following a breast lift are uncommon, but they can cause scars to
widen. You can reduce your risks by closely following your physician's advice
both before and after surgery. Mastopexy
does leave noticeable, permanent scars, although they'll be covered by your bra
or bathing suit. (Poor healing and wider scars are more common in smokers.) The
procedure can also leave you with unevenly positioned nipples, or a permanent
loss of feeling in your nipples or breasts. Planning
Your Surgery In
your initial consultation, it's important to discuss your expectations frankly
with your surgeon, and to listen to his opinion. Every patient - and every
physician, as well - has a different view of what is a desirable size and shape
for breasts. The
surgeon will examine your breasts and measure them while you're sitting or
standing. He will discuss the variables that may affect the procedure - such as
your age, the size and shape of your breasts, and the condition of your skin -
and whether an implant is advisable. You should also discuss where the nipple
and areola will be positioned; they'll be moved higher during the procedure, and
should be approximately even with the crease beneath your breast. Your
surgeon should describe the procedure in detail, explaining its risks and
limitations and making sure you understand the scarring that will result. He
will also explain the anesthesia to be used, the type of facility where the
surgery will be performed, and the costs involved. Don't hesitate to ask your
doctor any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations
and concerns about the results. Preparing
For Your Surgery Depending
on your age and family history, your surgeon may require you to have a mammogram
(breast x-ray) before surgery. You'll also get specific instructions on how to
prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and
taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. While you're making
preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your
surgery and to help you out for a few days if needed. Where
Your Surgery Will Be Performed Your
breast lift may be performed in a hospital, an outpatient surgery center, or a
surgeon's office-based facility. It's usually done on an outpatient basis, for
cost containment and convenience. If you're admitted to the hospital as an
inpatient, you can expect to stay a day or two. Types
Of Anesthesia Breast
lifts are usually performed under general anesthesia, which means you'll sleep
through the operation. In selected patients - particularly when a smaller
incision is being made - the surgeon may use local anesthesia, combined with a
sedative to make you drowsy. You'll be awake but relaxed, and will feel minimal
discomfort. The
Surgery Mastopexy
usually takes one-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hours. Techniques vary, but the
most common procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision following the natural
contour of the breast.
The
incision outlines the area from which the breast skin will be removed and
defines the new location for the nipple. When the excess skin has been removed,
the nipple and areola are moved to a higher position. The skin surrounding the
areola is then brought down and together to reshape the breast. Stitches are
usually located around the areola, in a vertical line extending downward from
the nipple area, and along the lower crease of the breast.
Some
patients, especially those with relatively small breasts and minimal sagging,
may be candidates for modified procedures requiring less extensive incisions.
One such procedure is the "doughnut (or concentric) mastopexy," in
which circular incisions are made around the areola, and a doughnut-shaped area
of skin is removed.
If
you're having an implant inserted along with your breast lift, it will be placed
in a pocket directly under the breast tissue, or deeper, under the muscle of the
chest wall.
After
Your Surgery After
surgery, you'll wear an elastic bandage or a surgical bra over gauze dressings.
Your breasts will be bruised, swollen, and uncomfortable for a day or two, but
the pain shouldn't be severe. Any discomfort you do feel can be relieved with
medications prescribed by your surgeon. Within
a few days, the bandages or surgical bra will be replaced by a soft support bra.
You'll need to wear this bra around the clock for three to four weeks, over a
layer of gauze. The stitches will be removed after a week or two. If your breast
skin is very dry following surgery, you can apply a moisturizer several times a
day. Be careful not to tug at your skin in the process, and keep the moisturizer
away from the suture areas. You
can expect some loss of feeling in your nipples and breast skin, caused by the
swelling after surgery. This numbness usually fades as the swelling subsides
over the next six weeks or so. In some patients, however, it may last a year or
more, and occasionally it may be permanent. Getting
Back To Healing
is a gradual process. Although you may be up and about in a day or two, don't
plan on returning to work for a week or more, depending on how you feel. And
avoid lifting anything over your head for three to four weeks. If you have any
unusual symptoms, don't hesitate to call your surgeon. Your
surgeon will give you detailed instructions for resuming your normal activities.
You may be instructed to avoid sex for a week or more, and to avoid strenuous
sports for about a month. After that, you can resume these activities slowly. If
you become pregnant, the operation should not affect your ability to
breast-feed, since your milk ducts and nipples will be left intact. Your
New Look The
surgeon will make every effort to make your scars as inconspicuous as possible.
Still, it's important to remember that mastopexy scars are extensive and
permanent. They often remain lumpy and red for months, then gradually become
less obvious, sometimes eventually fading to thin white lines. Fortunately, the
scars can usually be placed so that you can wear even low-cut tops. You
should also keep in mind that a breast lift won't keep you firm forever - the
effects of gravity, pregnancy, aging, and weight fluctuations will eventually
take their toll again. Women who have implants along with their breast lift may
find that the results last longer. Your satisfaction with a breast lift is likely to be greater if you understand the procedure thoroughly and if your expectations are realistic.
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