Tag Archives: breast lift and augmentation

Breast Lift Surgery and Breast Reduction Surgery: Understanding the incisions or Scars

The writings or blogs are posted most recently on the top. For example, patients who are reading these writings on breast lift cosmetic surgery, it is best to scroll down and start reading the writings at Wilmington Breast Lift and Breast Reduction. This would be first. The later ones are in sequence as they have been added later.

Breast lift incisions or scars are of major concern. Poor scars on the breast are, in fact, one of the major causes for law suits against plastic surgeons. Breast incisions typically heal well and fade with time, but they can heal poorly or become hypertrophic or keloidal. Poor scars can be described as raised, red, and unsightly. A woman can have an operation to make the breast prettier, and all of a sudden she ends up with bad scars. She has become “scarred”. This is never the goal, of course. Most women do not end up like this. Most women have good or excellent results with incisions that fade well. The risk that the incisions do not fade well is one of the main risks a woman must face. Medical studies and medical research have shown extremely high satisfaction rates with these operations. The medical literature would support the conclusion that these operations really work. They improve symptoms of back and neck pain, and they greatly improve the shape and attractiveness of the breast. Most women are pleased with their operation, their surgeon, and would do it again if asked. However the “Real-Reality” of these breast operations, like many operations, is that the patient and doctor take a statistical chance. This is the chance that the incision doesn’t fade, as it is expected to, after breast lift or breast reduction surgery. The incisions or the scars and how they fade are of utmost importance. Certain operations like cosmetic eye lifts almost never get bad scars. Breast lift and breast reduction surgery have a greater chance. Although this rate is still very low, I believe it is the major factor that must be discussed before surgery. If a woman hates her breasts, and she cannot stand to look at them in the mirror, then she is an excellent candidate for this type of breast surgery. She typically will love the new shape and appearance of her breasts. The incisions are a necessary trade-off. In the great majority of cases, the incisions fade very well. They never go away. However, there really is no other option besides surgery, except not having the operation. No creams, suction massage, or puppet strings will work and lift the breast. These are not reality. You live with the existing shape of the breast or have the operation. In this scenario described, where the woman cannot stand her breasts and she believes it is not a minor issue but a major dissatisfaction, then she typically will be happy with surgery. This is a patient that probably will like the results of the breast lift. The necessary trade-off of the incisions will be outweighed by the improvement in appearance, and she will feel the operation has been worth it.

In contrast to breast lift, breast augmentation or breast enlargement have very small incisions. The incision for breast augmentation is small because the implant can be “rolled up” and placed in “empty.” It is then “filled up” inside the breast under the muscle. The incision for breast augmentation is much smaller than the breast lift and has a very high rate of fading extremely well.

Women interested in breast lift, breast augmentation, breast lift and augmentation, breast lift recovery, breast lift cost, and breast lift incisions should come in for a consultation with Dr. Saunders. Please also see the breast lift before and after photos and the breast augmentation before and after photos.

More information on Breast Lift Surgery and Breast Reduction Surgery

The writings or blogs are posted most recently on the top. For example, patients who are reading these writings on breast lift cosmetic surgery, it is best to scroll down and start reading the writings at Wilmington Breast Lift and Breast Reduction. This would be first. The later ones are in sequence as they have been added later.

The circumareolar pattern for breast lifting is mainly used for very small degrees of breast hanging. If it is used for more hanging than very small amounts, the result can be a shape that is very unnatural, with a flat and/or poor shape. A major understanding is that to make the breasts attractive in shape, with the nipples attractively lifted, the scars are a necessary evil. Make too few incisions, and you may end up with this poor shape and unattractive breasts. Larger breast incision patterns typically end up with attractive breasts with the main remaining issue being the fading of scars. Unattractive breasts after lifting or breast reduction may have changes that are difficult to correct even with re-operation. This type of re-operative surgery can be necessary after poor results. Think of it like a seesaw. On one side are breasts with minimal hanging. Some women might even say they don’t need lifting. These women can have small incisions, because there is a small amount of loose skin that needs to be removed. On the other side of the seesaw is significant hanging of the breasts, and the nipples are probably pointing significantly down. These breasts have significant amounts of loose skin and larger incision patterns are necessary. The “Real-Reality” is you cannot remove lots of loose skin with small patterns. Your anatomy determines the operation you need, typically not your wishes. Everyone wants a small incision, including the doctor.

The circumareolar pattern, as I have described, allows for only small amounts of skin removal and is for a limited number of patients with small degree of hanging. There are other problems with this pattern, including poor scar formation around the nipple, poor projection of the breast, a flat shape, and widespread nipples. Some doctors never use this pattern, because of these risks. I believe, if the woman has the correct anatomy, then the results from this pattern can be what is desired, and can be achieved.

The second pattern around the nipple and down, the “lollipop” pattern is much more frequently used than the other patterns. I like to think of it as a compromise pattern between the three patterns described. Moderate degrees of hanging and breast reduction can be done through this pattern. Lower risks of poor shape after surgery can be expected, compared to the circumareolar technique. The final pattern or “anchor” pattern might be called the “classic” incision pattern. It allows for as much skin removal as is necessary for women of any degree of breast size or shape. More severe degrees of hanging and very large breasts are typically best treated with this incision pattern. Once again, your anatomy and shape are major determinants, in regards to which pattern you will need.

Most breast lifts are done with the “lollipop” incision pattern. Patients with very little hanging can have the nipple incision only. Patients with large degrees of hanging will need the “anchor” pattern. The pattern of incision needed can change if a women decides she wants a breast lift and augmentation. A breast augmentation added to a breast lift leads to a bigger volume or size in addition to the lifted shape. The breast implant “takes up” extra skin and some patients will need smaller incisions because of this. Women interested in breast lift and augmentation might find they need just a “lollipop” incision instead of the “anchor” pattern if they add breast implants to the lift.
Finally, some women just need breast augmentation and no lift. This is if you have very little hanging however.

Women interested in breast lift, breast lift and augmentation, breast lift recovery, breast lift cost, and breast lift incisions should come in for a consultation with Dr. Saunders. Please also see the breast lift before and after photos and the breast augmentation before and after photos.

Breast Lift and Breast Reduction Incisions and scars

The single greatest issue to understand about breast reduction or breast lift surgery is the incision or scars. You cannot have a lift through the armpit or with tiny hidden incisions. This is unrealistic and never done. Breast lifting and breast reduction surgery requires incisions on the breast to perform the operation. These incisions are permanent. They fade. But they are the main concept to understand if one is considering this operation. What are the incisions going to look like? Am I going to be scarred? The “Real-Reality” of breast lifting or breast reduction is understanding the requirement for the incisions and what to expect.

Three main incision patterns are used. The first is around the nipple called a circumareolar incision. The areola is the pigmented aspect of the nipple. The second major pattern is around the nipple and down to the crease beneath the breast, where the wire is in a bra. This is typically called a “lollipop” pattern. The third main pattern is around the nipple, down to the crease, and also underneath the breast. Sometimes this is called a “keyhole” or “anchor” pattern. This is the operation with the largest incisions. Breast lift cost is not determined by the incisions.

The circumareolar incision pattern is the least frequently done around the country. It is a pattern everyone wants to have and the one doctors want to use. Remember, the doctor, and the patients both want the smallest incisions, because they have the same goal. The goal is pretty breasts with the smallest incisions possible. However, the “Real-Reality” is that small incisions allow for only a small amount of skin removal. Larger incisions allow for larger amounts of skin removal. If you have a fairly small amount of hanging of the breasts then you might only need a very small amount of skin removal. Most women seeking a breast lift have greater degrees of hanging and hence need greater amount of skin removal. You cannot have significant lifting of the breast without significant removal of skin. This same concept applies to a tummy tuck and facial rejuvenation surgery also. Small incisions allow for small removal of loose or excess skin. Bigger incisions allow for bigger degrees of skin removal, and hence bigger degrees of rejuvenation or lifting. A tummy tuck with bigger incisions allows for more dramatic skin removal and hence greater degrees of flattening of the stomach, compared with operations with small incisions such as a mini tummy tuck. With a face-lift, longer incision patterns allow for greater rejuvenation of the face, compared with short scar techniques. These concepts cannot be changed. This concept applies to breast surgery, abdominal surgery, facial rejuvenation, and most aspects of cosmetic surgery. With today’s technology, with the greatest and best state-of-the-art techniques, this understanding is important to grasp the “Real-Reality” of surgery. Understanding this will help a woman understand what incision pattern she will need and why. Most women having a breast lift or breast reduction do not need the big incision beneath the breast unless they have really large breasts or a lot of hanging. Most women can be lifted with the “lollipop” incision pattern. Adding breast implants with a simultaneous breast augmentation can help with excess skin and minimize the need for longer incisions. This operation is called a breast lift and augmentation.

This topic of breast lift and breast reduction incisions will be covered further in an upcoming writing in the near future. Look for this soon.

Dr. Saunders is a board certified plastic surgeon who practices exclusively cosmetic surgery. Delaware cosmetic surgery, West Chester cosmetic surgery, and Media cosmetic surgery patients are encouraged to come in for a complimentary consultation and to check out Dr. Saunders’ deluxe state licensed surgical center.
For people interested in breast lift cost, breast lift photos, breast lift recovery, breast lift and augmentation, or any aspect of breast lift surgery, please call for a complimentary consultation. Please also see the breast lift before and after photos on our web site.