Posts Tagged ‘breast lift’
Monday, January 2nd, 2012
Q: Dear Dr. Eppley, my breasts are slightly droopy and I want them to be more perky. I thought I needed a lift but one doctor that I consulted with said that I needed more volume in my breast instead of a lift. He said this could be done with an implant or fat injections. The length between my nipple to sternal notch is 22.5 cm. Should I have breast lift or breast augmentation? If augmentation is best, which treatment is better an implant or fat injections?
A: The key to knowing whether a lift or the addition of volume can make the breast look better depends on the position of the nipples. If it sits above the lower breast fold, then volume is the answer. While I do not know exactly what your breasts look like, knowing that the distance from your nipples to the sternal notch is only 22 cms tells me that your nipples are definitely above the inframamammary folds. That is essentially a completely normal or ideal nipple position. (the normal range is 18 to 22 cms depending in the length of one’s torso)
Since more breast volume is the answer, the question of whether it can be done with an implant or fat injections becomes very relevant. The use of fat injections for augmentation of a variety of body areas has become very popular in plastic surgery recently. While it is widely accepted for volume augmentation of the face and buttocks, its use in the breast is currently controversial. This is because there already exists an augmentation method that works well and is very reliable, an implant. For overall breast augmentation, an implant works better, is a one-step procedure, and will cost less. If there is just one area of the breast that needs filled in, then fat injections becomes the preferred treatment.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Tags: breast implants, breast lift, dr barry eppley, fat injections to the breast, indianapolis
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Monday, December 5th, 2011
Q: I am interested in getting breast augmentation. At 25 years of age with one child I have a height of 5’ 3” and a weight of 137 lbs. What size breast implants do you think I need? I have attached a picture of my breasts to help you decide.
A: In looking at your breasts, your most important decision about breast augmentation is not what size implant should be used. You have a moderate degree of breast sagging, meaning the position of your nipples is at or below your lower breast fold. Contrary to the perception of many, breast implants will not have a breast lifting effect. You are in need of some type of a lift if you are going to get breast implants. With implants alone your sagging breasts will be pushed lower, a look that I doubt you will find as an improvement. All breast lifts result in some scarring, a definite cosmetic liability. Whether larger and more uplifted breasts are worth the scars as a trade-off is what you need to think about first and foremost.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Tags: breast augmentation, breast implant sizing, breast lift, dr barry eppley, indianapolis
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Monday, November 21st, 2011
Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a 32 year old female that is considering a breast lift. I actually have fairly large breasts being a 36D and with a bra on they look great. But when the bra comes off they look gross. They hang down like two old ladies. I had one child ten years ago and nursed him and this appears to have put the whammy on their once nice shape. What I want is a more uplifted and better shape. I do not want them any smaller or larger They are the ideal size for my body shape in my opinion. Will a breast lift do what I want and is there bad scarring as a result?
A: Many women suffer from age and child-bearing a skin-breast tissue mismatch. As a result they have good size to their breasts but the stretched out skin gives them a low sagging appearance. While some breast sag is aesthetically acceptable, when the nipple sits below the lower breast fold it is rarely pleasing to anyone. This is exactly the condition where breast lifts work the best, removing excess skin and reshaping the breast so the nipple and the entire breast sits higher on the chest wall…many times back where it used to be. While there are some minimal incision breast lift procedures, they are only effective for the most minimal amounts of breast sagging. Most really effective breast lifts requires longer scars, much of which lies in the lower breast crease. Whether the part of the scar that goes around the nipple and vertically downward toward the lower crease is acceptable will vary amongst different patients. Seeing pictures of breast lift results with close inspection of the scars is critical for you to determine your level of scar tolerance.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Tags: breast lift, dr barry eppley, indianapolis
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Thursday, October 20th, 2011
Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a breast augmentation done in November last year. Initially I was very satisfied with the results but now they are starting to sag and I need a breast lift. I remember that I had a discussion with my plastic surgeon before the surgery about doing a lift at the same time as my implants but I decided against it because of the scars that would result. Now that I am ready for a breast lift will I have to have the implants removed, have the breast lift performed, and come back at a later date for new implants? Or can the lift be done with the breast implants in place that I have now?
A: Many times modestly sagging breasts get by initially with implants alone. But when the breast tissues relax after being pushed outward, they slide off the implant creating ptosis off of the edge of the implant. If you are happy with the size of your implants and they are in good position, I see no reason why you can’t proceed forward with the lift with the implants you already have in place. Most likely, you will need a vertical breast lift to get the breast tissues up in proper position over the implants. While it is never a pleasing revelation that you will need a second surgery to get the breast result you want, take solace in the fact that a breast lift is much easier to go through than the initial breast augmentation.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Tags: breast augmentation, breast lift, dr barry eppley, indianapolis
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Monday, October 3rd, 2011
Q: Dr. Eppley, I am in need of some breast help! I have had three children, all whom I have nursed. I have also lost 45 lbs over the past year through diet and exercise. This has left my breasts saggy. I know that I need a breast, that is without question. The only question I really have is whether I can get by with out breast implants.Do you think that’s possible with how my breasts look? I’m happy with the size of my breasts when I wear a good bra (currently 40D) but unhappy with how deflated and saggy they are without a bra.
A: Breast lifts do an excellent job of lifting and tightening the shape of the breast mound. By keeping the same amount of breast tissue and lifting and tightening the ‘bag’ which contains them, this does create a less saggy and more round breast. This is particularly true in the bottom pole of the breast and less so in the upper pole of the breast. In the beginning right after breast lift surgery, the upper pole of the breast is quite round and full. But as the tissues relax and settle, much of the upper pole fullness will be lost. If one doesn’t ming some rebound flattening of the upper breast pole, then I think you would be fine with a breast lift alone. However, if your goal is to have a rounder and more full upper breast pole long-term, then a small implant will be needed to accomplish that breast shape goal.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Tags: breast implants, breast lift, dr barry eppley, indianapolis
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Monday, September 5th, 2011
Q: Dr. Eppley, I am 22 years old and my breasts are more saggy than I would like. I have not even had kids yet and they sag. I have a good breast size but much of it just hangs low. I have read about the crescent and Benelli types of breast lifts and was wondering if these would work for me. I have attached a front and side view of my breasts so you can see what they look like.
A: The decision to undergo a breast lift is an aesthetic choice between breast sagging and better shaped breasts that have scars. For some patients with very saggy breasts this can be a relatively easy choice. For other patients with more minimal sagging, such as yourself, that choice is a more difficult one. You have asked about the Benelli (donut) and the crescent lifts because they have the least amount of scarring of all the breast lifts. In reality, they are not breast lifts at all but really nipple-areolar repositioning techniques. They do nothing for lifting or reshaping the breast mound. They work best in cases where an implant is needed to restore breast volume and a slightly higher nipple-areolar position is beneficial. In your case they would provide no breast lifting benefit. More substantial breast lifting techniques are needed to really lift your breasts and that would involve vertical and maybe even horizontal breast crease scars as well. Given the amount of sagging that your breasts have and your young age, the trade-offs for a breast lift are very questionable. Iwould not recommend this procedure at your age. Wait until after you have had children when the need will be greater and the scar trade-off will be more convincing.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Tags: breast lift, dr barry eppley, indianapolis
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Saturday, March 5th, 2011
Q: Dr. Eppley I’m a 30 year old single mother of two and I need a breast lift badly to improve my self-esteem. I got pregnant with my first child at 19 and I gained over a hundred pounds. I’m now back down to 150 and still need to lose more but I’ve lost 56 lbs. My body just isn’t the same after two children and I just need some self esteem back. I already have a very nice size to my breast and am just looking to put them back where they belong. Could you please give me information on what needs to be done to get my breasts back in shape and looking good again. Thank you for your help.
A: Between children and your significant weight loss, your breasts have undoubtably take a turn to the south. Breast sagging, known as ptosis, is defined by how low the nipples sit relative to the lower breast fold. When a large amount of weight has been lost (greater than 50 lbs), breast ptosis is usually severe and the amount of skin exceeds how much breast tissue exists to fill it. This usually requires a full breast lift which will result in the typical anchor scar pattern that is more commonly seen in a breast reduction procedure. This will move the nipple up to the center of the breast mound and will tighten the skin on the bottom side of the breast. While this lifts the breast, it will not usually result in permanent fullness of the upper pole of the breast. This is why a small implant may needed with the lift to get the fuller breast shape that many women desire from a breast reshaping operation.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Tags: breast lift, dr barry eppley, indianapolis, plastic surgery of the breast
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Monday, November 22nd, 2010
Q: I am looking to have what I think is called a Mommy Makeover. I have it on TV shows and read about it on the internet. For the breast implants, I am looking to have saline implants done. I would like them placed behind the muscle if possible. I am not sure what my ‘true’ cup size is. I know it is between an A and B. I would like to be a full C to a small D. I do need a slight lift but I am concerned about scarring. I would like the incisions to be as discreet as possible. As for the tummy tuck, I think I only need a mini-tuck. I have a little bit of fat in my lower stomach that stays and I cannot get rid of it. I also have a little bit of stretched skin that needs to be removed. I am looking to have the problem fat suctioned out and the muscles to be sutured back together and the little bit of stretched out belly skin removed. After looking at pictures and watching animated videos on tummy tuck; I realize that my tummy problem is quite small compared to majority of the pictures I have viewed. I am a small frame as it is. I am about 5’2” and weight about 115 pounds.
The issues I have may not seem like anything to someone else; but they are BIG to me. I look at myself each day and do not see a young beautiful woman. I wonder each day how in the world is my husband still attracted to me. I am wanting to do this for my self. I would love to love myself again! Does this sound like it can be all done in a single operation?
A: Mommy makeovers are typically a combination of breast and abdominal reshaping. Improving the very problems that being a mommy has created. Saline breast implants can be placed from a remote incision high up in the armpit that will never be seen. The most limited incision breast lift is that of the superior crescent mastopexy, also known as a nipple lift. It puts a fine line scar at the top of the nipple only right at the junction of the areola and skin. Given your body frame size, you are describing perfectly what a limited or mini-tummy tuck accomplishes.
Both breast augmentation with a lift and a mini-tummy tuck can be done in a single outpatient procedures. The combination of the two truly makes for a new body for Mommy!
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis Indiana
Tags: breast lift, dr barry eppley, indianapolis, mini-tummy tuck, mommy makeover, plastic surgery, saline breast augmentation
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Sunday, November 21st, 2010
Q: I came across your website, while doing research on cosmetic surgery. I currently have depression. After three pregnancies, I feel like my body is mangled. I know that my self-image is what brings on most of my depression. I know that depression alone is not a reason to have surgery. I have been treated for depression for about three years now. I have thought about cosmetic surgery just as long. After the pregnancies and losing weight, gaining weight, and losing weight, my belly definitely needs a tuck. I breastfed all of my children. I breastfed only for about 2 months with the first child but about a year with the last child. With breastfeeding and losing weight; I barely have any breasts at all.
I am only 28 years old. I want to feel young and beautiful again! I know I deserve to and my husband deserves to have a wife who feels good about herself again. My kids deserve a mother that feels comfortable enough to take them swimming. I would love to be able to eventually wear a bikini.
I know that some people may get depressed after they have surgery; whose to know how I will be after surgery. Seeing that a lot of the causes of my depression are due to the way I feel about myself or view my body. I know surgery could not make my depression worse; if anything it will help improve the way I see myself and think about my body. The only way surgery would worsen my depression is if I had surgery by a surgeon who did a lousy job.
I am not interested in looking fake. I just want to look normal again. I would like to either be a full C or small D regarding my breast.
I suppose a ‘Mommy Makeover’ is what I am really looking for. What are your thoughts?
A: Of your situation and feelings, I understand completely and could not be more emphatic. Pregnancies can definitely take a toll on your body, and between the skin stretching and shrinking and the inevitable breast involution (loss of breast tissue), some women can not even recognize the current skin and body that they now have.
As you have correctly pointed out, surgery is not a cure for depression. But at least it can improve one recognizeable and understandable cause of it…the way one looks. The body problems can definitely be improved and, hopefully with that, one’s self-image elevates. In my experience with women and these type of popular ‘Mommy Makeovers’, patient do report a dramatic improvement in their self-confidence and clothing options.
The classic ‘Mommy Makeover’ is some form of combined abdominal and breast rehaping plastic surgery procedures. This is usually a tummy tuck with or without liposuction and breast implants with or without a lift. In about a four hour surgery (or less), a dramatic body transformation can occur.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis Indiana
Tags: breast implants, breast lift, dr barry eppley, indianapolis, mommy makeover, plastic surgery, tummy tuck
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Saturday, September 11th, 2010
Q : I am trying to research plastic surgery on nipples but am having trouble. What I am looking for is a remedy for droopy nipples. I am 49 and breast fed my son for 3 and 1/2 years when I was about 30. As he fell asleep he tended to grit his teeth. Because of this and some some loss of size of my breasts there seems to be extra skin around the nipple area and my nipples lay down rather than remain perky (unless it is quite cold). Also, if I raise my arms, they can look like the skin around an elephants ankle. Is there a surgery for this. If so, what is it called. I would like to research it before jumping into things.
A: The extra skin around your nipples is the result of pregnancy and breast feeding. (the gritting of your baby’s teeth had nothing to do with it) Both conditions result is loose breast skin which is most noticeable around the center area of the breast mound where the nipple happens to be located. Depending upon the amount of loose breast skin, there are a variety of breast lift or breast tightening procedures to consider.
If the breast is not too saggy (the nipple still lies at or above the lower breast skin), a periareolar mastopexy may be all that is needed. Sometimes called a ‘donut mastopexy’, a ring of skin taken from around the nipple and the breast skin circumferentially tightened back up against the nipple. This results in a fine line scar around the outside of the nipple.
If the breast is very saggy (nipple lies below the lower breast skin), then breast lifting techniques are needed to remove and tighten skin that will leave scars that run down from the nipple and into the lower breast crease.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana
Tags: breast lift, breast ptosis, dr barry eppley, droopy nipples, indianapolis, periareolar mastopexy, plastic surgery
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