BREAST LIFT

Pregnancy, nursing, gravity, weight gain and loss all take their toll on a women's breasts and contribute to sagging, loss of firmness, flattening and drooping which results in a gradual transformation in the shape and feel of your breasts.

If you feel disappointed because your breasts have changed over the years resulting in shrinking and sagging then maybe the solution to your problem is a Breast Lift (Mastopexy) with or without Breast Augmentation.

The breast lift corrects the loss of breast volume in the upper portion of the breast and the  sagginess. It lifts and reshapes your breasts providing a more youthful look to them at least for a time (no surgery can delay permanently the effects of time and gravity ). It can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence if you have the right motivation and realistic expectations, but it is not a guarantee for happiness.

--- For mild cases breast augmentation alone can solve the problem.

--- For moderate cases the lift is performed via a circumareolar or periareolar approach, which consists of removal of skin around the nipple-areola, lifting and reshaping the breast tissue and also if necessary placement of a breast implant depending on the need. The resultant scar is limited to a circle around the nipple-areola complex (at the junction with the surrounding skin envelope).

--- For more severe sagging in addition to a circumareolar incision a vertical approach is also needed resulting in a short vertical scar extending from the new nipple location to just above the breast fold. Excess skin is removed from the lower part of the breast and the nipple-areola and the underlying breast tissue is lifted to a new and higher position. The enlarged and stretched areola is usually made smaller in size and the skin that used to be above the nipple is now brought down to reshape and lift the breast.

 An anchor or inverted T technique is sometimes required, especially in post bariatric surgery patients or patients that have lost considerable weight. This results in significantly longer scars, but the advantage is that it can remove the excessive and extra tissue on the sides of your breast. Dr. Herve` Gentile does not commonly perform this procedure  and most of times you will be offered the first 3 options.

The procedure takes about 2 –3 hours and after surgery you will wear a bra over the steri-strips.
Your breasts will be swollen for a few days and pain usually is not severe and easily controlled by pain medication. 
Healing is a gradual process and although you may be up and about in a day or two, you should take it very easy and avoid any heavy activity for the first few days and especially avoid lifting anything over your head for 4 weeks. You will be given detailed instructions for resuming your normal activities, and you can return to work within a few days. No stitches need to be removed as all are self -absorbable.

Dr. Herve` Gentile will make every effort to make your scars as inconspicuous as possible but nevertheless they are permanent. Although scars tend to fade with time, the circumareolar scar is very well camouflaged since it is located at the skin and areola junction while the vertical scar if required is usually placed so that it is hidden even when you wear low-cut tops.