Breast lift info. How effective is a breast lift when skin has virtually no elasticity?

Question

I was wondering how effective a beast lift is when skin has virtually no elasticity and a ton of deep stretch marks on top and sides of breasts. I also have allot of sagging.

Jaime S. Schwartz, MD, FACS · Answer

I appreciate your question.
  
I perform a liposuction breast lift that removes tissue from the areas you don't want such as near the armpit and the lower portion hanging near your stomach. Once I use this to shape the breast I then remove the skin to tighten the breast and create a better shape with nice cleavage. Since I perform this less invasively the recovery time is faster and drains are not necessary. The size would depend on the proportion with your body versus going for a cup size. It works very well if there are asymmetries. I can also use the removed fat as a natural breast augmentation by grafting the fat back into the breast to create more projection or into the top to create more cleavage. This procedure can also be combined with an implant if needed or wanted.  It should not affect nipple sensation, mammograms, cancer risk or breast-feeding. If you gain or lose weight, the transferred fat can do the same.
  
The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.  Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic plastic surgery.  
  
Best of luck!    
  
Dr. Schwartz 
  
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
  
#RealSelf100Surgeon 
  
#RealSelfCORESurgeon

Michael Zwicklbauer, MD · Answer

It's quite often in a patient who requires a breast lift that there is loss of elasticity of the skin. Removing the skin and reshaping the breast will certainly be an improvement on what you presently have. No breast lift can last forever and revisions are not uncommon so be prepared.   I have 75-year-old patients go through this and are extremely happy.  They just wished they had done it many years ago. Good luck

Andrea Marando, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Poor elasticity has a negative impact on the final outcome with regards to stability of the result. In these cases, the technique to be used has to be a glandular reshaping rather than just a skin lift. It is appropriate not to increase the heaviness of the breasts with an implant and should the implant be necessary for the loss of volume, a small implant is the wiser choice. Again, as the colleague has mentioned previously, a consultation with an experienced and board certified plastic surgeon, is the safe approach. All the best.Andrea Marando, Plastic and Cosmetic SurgeonManchester, United Kingdom

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello dear, Thanks for your question and provided information as well..
The breasts may lose their elasticity and firmness which can be caused bydifferent factors such as pregnancy, massive weight loss, lactation and aging.To reaffirm the breasts and restore the natural look your surgeon can perform amastopexy or breast lift.Abreast lift restores a firmer, perkier, and more aesthetically pleasing shapeto sagging breasts. This not only can improve a patient’s appearance byrestoring her youthful, feminine proportions, but also help bras andswimsuits fit more comfortably and attractively. By removing excess, stretchedout skin, reshaping the breast tissue, and raising the nipple & areola intoa more forward position, a cosmetic surgeon can create a more youthful breastcontour. Stretched, large areola can also be reduced during breastlift surgery, creating an overall better proportioned, natural looking breast,your surgeon will determine on a personal consultation how your scar’s going tobe and where depending on your breast tissue amount, I suggest you to checktesters with your surgeon about sizes and type of implant, I recommend you tonot lift, pull or push for at  least 30 days from surgery,.Good Luck.-

William LoVerme, MD · Answer

For sagging breasts a lift is the best procedure whether r not not there is poor elasticity. When skin is removed it will be gone forever. Certainly patients who have the worst skin will have a less long result than someone who has skin elasticity. Certain times a small revision may be necessary. A good plastic surgeon who is experienced in these procedures will be able to reshape the breast at the same time as lifting it so that the duration of results will be longer.

Bradley Remington, MD · Answer

Great question.  With poor skin quality and loss of elasticity, there is more of an indication to desire and have a breast lift.  Unfortunately, this also means that the breast lift procedure result may not necessarily be as optimal or last as long as a patient with better skin quality.  Although this is a classic 'between a rock and a hard place' situation, you would expect to have a great improvement is this area of which there are few other options.  If your breast volume is deficient, an implant may help fill the breast envelope and provide fullness that may help achieve better results than a breast lift alone.  Feel free to post some images and I can comment more accurately on available options that you might consider.
Cheers,
Brad Remington, MD

Michael Carlisle, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

You are correct in noting that the results are less effective with lost elasticity. It will improve breast shape for sure but leave you with less upper breast fullness than you might desire. Nipple position will be improved regardless. The results will be not as long lasting as well. But, most patients are still happy, knowing this going in. There are some more expensive techniques that can help, by paying for an internal mesh sling that can be placed during surgery to help keep things UP, but these meshes can make the surgery another $2000 or more, depending on what mesh your surgeon uses. Hope this helps!

Jon Ver Halen, MD, FACS (license suspended) · Answer

Hello and thank you for your excellent question. You are correct that poor skin elasticity can negatively impact your breast lift results.  If you truly have poor skin, then you may need some type of adjunct to improve your results, such as an alloderm or galaflex sling (AKA, "internal bra"). It is essential that you have an in-person consultation to develop a treatment plan that specifically addresses your personal surgical goals, and your body’s anatomy. Preoperative visualization and surgical simulation with the Crisalix system may help refine this plan. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. If you have any questions, call our office for assistance. Good luck!
Best,
  
Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS
  
Harvard educated plastic surgeon
  
Texas “Top Doc”

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