After a Donut Cut Lift, Why Does One Areola Get Larger and the Other Remain the Same?

asked 7 months ago by jellybean1965 in seaford, NY
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 230 times
Tags: areola, 1 year post-op, options, uneven

I had a breast lift w implants a year ago.Then I got the ugliest round raised scars which i had doctor cut out ,and then used silicone patches to reduce scarring,then right side was sagging more than the other so he went in again and recut the areola to match the left,then the left got encapsulated and he went in left side to cut away scar tissue,The right areola is streching and the left isnt,why does this happen and will the left ever catch up or will the right keep getting bigger?

9 answers to After a Donut Cut Lift, Why Does One Areola Get Larger and the Other Remain the Same?

Areola Problems after Breast lift/Augmentation?

Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, your experience is not unusual. Circumareolar mastopexy is a very limited operation with a relatively high rate of problems associated with abnormal scarring, areola asymmetry and the need for further surgery. Although the use of permanent sutures may be helpful in preventing spreading of the areola, the sutures also have their own share of problems. In person examination may be helpful; it may be that conversion to a... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Areola issues

Soudns like you have had some problems. The areola can stretch differently for each side after a donut type procedure. I try to minimize the difference by placing a permanent suture inside as I am sewing to minimize the stretch.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Stretching areolae after donut lift

As many other posters have indicated, the donut lift does not have enough internal support in your case, as is evidenced by the areolar stretching. One areola may have stretched rather than both if the internal sutures did not hold. The left has had a scar excision so there is less tissue involved right now. I do not think you can expect the areolae to even out ultimately and a revision is indicated, perhaps reoperation using an alternate technique.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Widening of scar after donut breast lift augmentation

There are a number of issues here: unequal amounts of skin removal create different amounts of tension on the scar the scar size can be controlled by using permanent sutures a better lift and scar control can be done with a lollipop or vertical lift anchors lifts are old school and not needed benelli lifts are not the same as a donut

Jed H. Horowitz, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Unhappy with periareolar mastopexy results

Photos would be helpful in your situation. Nevertheless, there are many shortcomings with the periareolar (or Benelli) mastopexy which I rarely ever use as is evidenced by your problems. There is often too much tension on the repair, sutures may stretch or break resulting in disparity of areolar sizes or disproportionately larges ones bilaterally. Furthermore, the breast shape that is obtained is most often abnormal/far less than ideal. You may want to consider a 2nd opinion from a... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

After a Donut Cut Lift, Why Does One Areola Get Larger and the Other Remain the Same?

In a "Donut" or Periareolar (or Benelli) breast lift, there is no vertical scar to "hold" or maintain the areolar size and shape. The only thing that allows any control over areola size and shape is a pursestring suture that closes the larger outer circle down to the size of the smaller inner circle after the skin between them has been removed. This tightens the breast, though this is a much weaker lift than a vertical or anchor lift and is only good in cases... more

Robert M. Grenley, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Relapse is a problem with the donut lift

The around the nipple breast lift is very prone to relapse with stretching to the areola and recurring breast droop. The procedure has been improved with blocking sutures around the nipple to reduce the stretch and drift, though you might do better with a vertical pattern lift to reduce the tension on the nipple. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Donut mastopexy weakness

Sorry you are unhappy. Without pictures it is hard to comment fairly about the overall result and your expectations. That being said, I am very selective with who is a candidate for a donut mastopexy in my practice. If a person has poor scarring the past, I avoid the technique. In addtion, I will only perform if 1-2 cm of lifting is required. Any greater than that leads to great stretching on the areola. Also, did your surgeon use a... more

Vishnu Rumalla, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

tarrantplasticsurgery.com

Corrections after donut or Bennelli lift

This is the most common problem with periareolar lifts. i generally use apurse-string suture on the outside circle of breast skin combined with four nipple spanning mattress sutures to provide lasting support and have obtained nice results. It is very difficult to control the aging of these techniques and depending on your breast shape it might be helpful to convert to a vertical pattern that is able to provide support. All the best, Rian... more