Considering Breast Lift Surgery? Here are things you need to know:
Over time as the skin loses its elasticity with age, pregnancy, and breast feeding, the shape and firmness of the breast is lost and the breasts often begin to sag (ptosis). A breast lift (mastopexy) is a surgical procedure performed by Dr. Shaw that lifts and reshapes the breasts to improve their appearance. During a breast lift, excess skin is removed and breast tissue is reshaped to raise the breasts.
A breast lift can also reduce the size of the areola (the dark skin around the nipple). A breast lift may also be completed in conjunction with breast enlargement surgery (augmentation). This procedure is designed to elevate the breasts and give them a more youthful appearance. It is important to discuss your expectations with Dr. Shaw at the time of your initial consultation.
Surgery to lift and artistically shape the breast is a common procedure at The Shaw Center. Dr. Shaw employs his expertise and special techniques that enable him to achieve consistent, natural,and pleasing results.
Am I a Candidate for a Breast Lift?
You might be a great candidate for a breast lift if you have one or more of the following issues:
- Your breasts sag. They’ve lost shape and volume, or they’ve gotten flatter and longer.
- When your breasts are unsupported, your nipples fall below your breast creases.
- Your nipples and areolae point downward.
- You’re areoles have stretched out of proportion to your breasts.
- One of your breasts falls lower than the other.
How to Prepare for Breast Lift Surgery:
Schedule a mammogram
After your consultation with Dr. Shaw, he will ask that you schedule a routine mammogram before your surgery. This will give him a baseline mammogram to see the overall health of your breast tissue.
Stop smoking
Smoking decreases blood flow in the skin and can slow down the healing process, which could lead to complications after your surgery.
Avoid certain medications
Avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and certain herbal supplements which increases bleeding. Dr. Shaw and his team will go over your medical history and current medication lists and will advise you on which medications you should avoid.
Be at a healthy weight.
You want to make sure your body is healthy before undergoing any type of surgery. Dr. Shaw will make sure you are at an optimal and healthy body weight before performing surgery on any of his patients. Consider making dietary changes or participation in an exercise program to assist with weight loss if you have gained weight in the last year.
Arrange for assistance during recovery.
You will need to make sure you will have someone to drive you home after surgery and stay with you as you recover. You might need someone to assist you with daily activities, such as showering, clothing, and other daily activities during your initial recovery.
What to Expect at Your Consultation with Dr. Shaw:
During your consultation, Dr. Shaw will spend considerable time, one on one, with you to assess your anatomy, tissue and skin characteristics, volume, breast history and your desires for long term outcome. This helps Dr. Shaw determine the right techniques for your anatomy that will achieve safe, predictable, and desired results.
Breast Lift (Mastopexy) Surgery Day:
The breast lift surgical procedure usually takes two to three hours. Techniques vary from patient to patient, but the most common procedure involves an anchor-like incision along the underside of the breast. The incision goes around the area where skin will be removed, thus defining where the nipple will be relocated. When the excess skin has been removed, the nipple and areola are moved into a higher position. The skin surrounding the areola is brought down and together to reshape 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 the patient is having an implant inserted along with the breast lift, the implant will be placed in a pocket under the muscle of the chest wall.
The Recovery Process:
Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time. Bandages are applied right after surgery to aid in the healing process and to minimize movement of the breasts. Once the bandages are removed, the patient will need to wear a specialized surgical bra for several weeks.
Patients sometimes report minor discomfort associated with mastopexy, which can be treated with oral medication. While complications are rare. patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the post-operative directions given by Dr. Shaw and his team.
About Dr. Shaw
Dr. Lawrence Shaw is a double board certified plastic surgeon in Scottsdale, Arizona with over 30 years of aesthetic surgical experience. Dr. Shaw’s excellent reputation is attributed to his uncompromising commitment to the highest standards of patient care, rational decision making and meticulous surgical technique. He has thousands of satisfied patients throughout Arizona, the United States and beyond.
Dr. Shaw is the founder and medical director of The Spa at The SHAW Center which has grown into a Premier Medical Spa offering non-invasive, anti-aging services ranging from advanced skin care, neurotoxins, injectable facial fillers, non-invasive fat reduction, cryotherapy, IV infusion therapy, to lasers for vaginal rejuvenation, hair removal and skin rejuvenation.
About The SHAW Center
At The SHAW Center, over the last 30 years, Dr. Shaw has created an environment to attract the best team possible to promote innovation and exchange ideas to fulfill our mission.
Dr. Shaw’s vision is to deliver the utmost in surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic care and patient experience. We strive to be the plastic surgery and medical aesthetic spa of choice where we consistently meet or exceed our patient’s expectations. Caring for our patients, assessing and realizing aesthetic goals in a safe, comfortable environment is always our top priority.
We provide compassionate personalized care that extends well beyond the treatment and recovery period leaving our patients with a positive lifelong lasting impression. It is personally gratifying to see how many patients from the 80’s and 90’s are still our patients and now referring their children to Dr. Shaw and our office. Our patients truly become “patients for life” and part of The SHAW Center family.
We invite you to come meet our incredible team to explore and realize your aesthetic dreams.
