The goal of any successful breast surgery procedure is to improve the shape of your breasts. You want them to be in proper proportion to the rest of your body contour. This may entail increasing breast volume with a breast augmentation, lifting loose skin and tissues with a breast lift, or a combination of the two. The technical term for the latter is a mastopexy augmentation. It is an incredibly powerful procedure that can radically transform the appearance of your entire body. It may make your abdominal region appear more lifted and smooth and your waist look more defined. Beyond the physical transformation, however, a breast lift with an implant can increase your self-confidence and vitality so that you feel more youthful. Mothers, in particular, value this procedure for its ability to make them feel like themselves again. This is the true strength of a well-executed breast procedure. But for any procedure to be effective, it must be the right one for your needs.
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Sean Doherty, specializes in all areas of breast surgery. With over 15 years of experience, he has a long and successful track record of helping his Boston area patients to create and/or restore the breasts of their dreams. Combining exceptional technical skill with a keen artistic eye, he devises the right treatment plan for your unique anatomy, desired outcome and lifestyle. This always begins with an in-person consultation at either his Boston or Chestnut Hill offices.
Breast Lift with a Breast Implant Consultation
In order to achieve the outcome that you desire, it is critical to see a plastic surgeon who is going to be completely honest with you. An exceptional, long-lasting outcome is always going to be about finding the sweet spot between what you want your breasts to look like and what your body needs to achieve this goal. During your meeting, Dr. Doherty will listen attentively to what bothers you about your appearance. He will inquire into your medical history, family history, any prior procedures you have had as well as how your body recovered. His objective is to establish a baseline for how your body heals as every person is different. Then, he will perform a detailed physical exam to assess:
- Skin tone & texture
- Degree of sagging in breast skin and tissue
- Nipple position in relation to the inframammary fold
- Amount of native breast volume
- Upper pole fullness
Together, you will discuss whether or not a mastopexy augmentation is right for your needs.
What is a Mastopexy Augmentation?
A mastopexy augmentation is a surgical procedure that combines a breast lift with a breast implant. The advantage of this 2 for 1 breast procedure is that it can address all of your breast needs in a single surgery including:
- Improve breast shape
- Lift sagging breast tissue
- Remove excess skin
- Increase breast volume
- Restore nipple position to center of chest wall
Depending on your individual needs, Dr. Doherty may also add a fat grafting to the breast procedure to your mastopexy augmentation in order to improve shape and/or camouflage the edges of an implant in a very thin or fit patient. It is particularly effective for increasing fullness in the upper 1/3 of the breast which is a highly desirable look for many women. Fat grafting may be recommended as a later stand alone procedure as well. All of this will be discussed with you in detail during your initial consultation.
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Understanding Breast Lift Scars
While a breast lift is one of the more powerful procedures for improving breast shape and rejuvenating the appearance of your entire torso, many women are initially reluctant to consider this procedure due to the scars. Any surgical procedure requires cutting the skin. This is the delineating line between a non-surgical and surgical approach. And anytime that the skin is cut, there is going to be an incision line. A scar is just your body’s way of healing. While it can understandably be frightening to think about visible lines in such an intimate area, scars on the breast generally heal extremely well. This is assuming, of course, that you follow your post-op guidelines to the letter. There are exceptions, however. Some people are simply genetically inclined to have thicker and heavier scars. One of the reasons that Dr. Doherty spends so much time during your consultation discussing how your body has reacted to any kind of procedure in the past is to establish your unique baseline of healing. This will enable both of you to get a better idea of what you can expect in terms of scaring.
Effective Scar Treatments
One of the things that contributes to a wider incision line is pulling on the surface of the skin. Dr. Doherty utilizes precise surgical techniques that place as little tension as possible on your skin which greatly reduces your risk of thicker scars. This is why he asks his mastopexy augmentation patients to lay low, avoid lifting anything over 10 lbs. and generally to take it easy for at least two weeks after their procedure. It is also important to keep in mind that what you see initially is not your end result. Scars take about a year to fully resolve so patience is a must. Furthermore, if you are someone who has a tendency to scar heavier, there are a number of very effective scar treatments available today to reduce the appearance of an incision line. These include:
- Topical steroid treatments like Silagen or Biocorneum
- Laser skin resurfacing
- Micro-needling
Dr. Doherty will discuss these options during your initial consultation and will monitor your incision lines closely during your post-op appointments.
Breast Lift with an Implant Procedure
Dr. Doherty performs his breast lift with an implant procedures under general anesthesia in one of his accredited surgery centers. Generally, he will utilize an anchor incision with an incision line in the fold beneath your breast and vertically from the nipple down to the fold. This gives him the most access to lift and tighten your breast tissue. Dr. Doherty typically uses a smooth, round implant and places it under the muscle. Drains may be utilized with a mastopexy augmentation. All of this, as well as the right size implant, will be discussed with you in detail during your initial consultation. The excess skin will be excised, and your nipple will be repositioned to suit your new breast shape. The incision will be closed, and your torso will be wrapped in surgical gauze and/or a support bra to keep your breasts from moving around too much which will help reduce post-op discomfort.
Mastopexy Augmentation Recovery
Most patients do not find the recovery from a breast lift with a breast implant to be particularly painful as long as they follow their post-op directions. You can expect some swelling and bruising for the first couple of weeks which may be uncomfortable. This is your body’s natural healing reaction to the tissue manipulation that is done during surgery. Any soreness may be managed with an over-the-counter medication or something stronger if needed. It is not unusual for a patient to take a stronger painkiller for the first couple of days. The important thing is for you to feel as comfortable as possible. A post operative plan for pain control is always discussed in detail and length PRIOR to any surgical procedure.
Dr. Doherty asks his mastopexy augmentation patients to take it easy for the first two weeks. After this time, you can return to most normal activities. You will be wearing a support garment 24/7 for about 3 weeks. If drains are used, they may come out anywhere between 24 hours and 5 days after your procedure. Generally, patients can start back on light exercise 2 weeks after their breast lift with an implant and more strenuous exercise at 3-4 weeks post-op. However, Dr. Doherty does not want you doing any upper body workouts until he gives you the “all clear” at about 4-6 weeks. It is going to take anywhere from 3-6 months for your swelling to fully resolve. However, one of the nicest things about this type of procedure is that you will notice the positive change in your contour immediately.
To find out more about a breast lift with an implant, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Chestnut Hill office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.