An increasingly attractive and popular option for breast enhancement, particularly in women who have been through pregnancy and lactation, is the combination of a vertical mastopexy (breast lift) with breast augmentation. This is the ideal breast surgery procedure for women seeking breast enhancement who have experienced breast volume 'deflation' following pregnancy and lactation (and for those with 'deflated' appearing breasts who have never been pregnant), and who have the desire for a fuller breast profile.
For some patients with a significant amount of existing breast tissue, a breast lift alone may produce an acceptable breast appearance. However, it is difficult to achieve fullness in the upper poles (the cleavage area) of the breasts by means of a breast lift alone. In consultations I ask patients how important it is for them to have the appearance of some fullness in the upper part of the breasts, and thereby achieve a significantly more youthful breast profile. For patients that indicate that this is important to them, I recommend a breast augmentation mastopexy.
On the morning of surgery breast implant patients are marked for breast augmentation mastopexy in the standing position. In the operating room, the breast implants are placed first, as the addition of volume to the breasts by means of breast implant placement reduces the requirement for skin excision. The size of the implants to be placed is determined in the same manner as is described in the section on breast augmentation. Once the implants have been placed, the patient is again placed in the upright sitting position and adjustments are made to the preoperative marking for the mastopexy. The mastopexy involves not only removing breast skin, but also creating an internal support for the breast implants so that breast fullness is maintained long-term (and 'bottoming out' is avoided).
This breast augmentation surgery has become increasingly popular in my practice, especially among moms who are looking to get some aspects of their 'pre-baby' body back. A breast implant of modest size can produce a very dramatic enhancement in overall breast appearance when combined with the vertical mastopexy, producing a result that is not possible by means of breast augmentation mastopexy alone.
