If I Get a Second Breast Lift Will The Incisions Be The Same?

It is hard to tell what you need without photographs. Options for treatment depending on your presentation include revision of your prior lift using the existing scars, placement of a breast implant, and/or fat grafting. Your weight should stabilize prior to pursuing your revision. It's great that you are able to take off the excess weight! Please see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon when seeking revision, or better yet, see the surgeon who performed the breastlift.

If you have previously had a breast lift and for whatever reason need another one, this can usually be done through the same incision so that you will not incur additional scars.  There are several different techniques for breast lifting and these vary in regards to what is done "internally." So , even if you need a different type of breast lift now, the external incisions (and the resulting scars) will likely be the same.

Congratulations on your weight loss! Your plan is appropriate once your weight has stabilized and you are on a healthy healing diet. Your surgeon will remove the old scars and give you new ones in a higher, tighter, package, implants or not. Your surgeon will probably use all of the old scars, but not for sure--this will depend on your new anatomy and your old scars.

If you want implants, suggest that your surgeon first close all of the breast lift incisions (except for the 4cm length needed for breast implant placement), and THEN create your pocket and place your desired implants. This decreases the variability of results that so many surgeons mention, and some even require a second surgery (third for you) to avoid.

For examples of breast lifts plus implants, click on the link below. Best wishes!

Yes, in most cases, if you need a secondary breast lift, the incisions are made right through the previous incisions.  However, without pictures or seeing you in person, it is impossible to give you more specific advice.

 

Good Luck.

The good news is that there won't be additional scars likely if you already have an anchor incision.  How much of that previous incision that needs to be reopened will depend on how much lifting and skin removal is required. 

Thank you for the question and congratulations on your continued weight control.

Yes, revisionary  breast revision surgery will likely be performed through previous  incisions; this may be the time to revise the scars, if necessary, as well.

If revisionary surgery is decided upon (especially if implants are to be used) it will be very important to communicate your size goals with your surgeon.  In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. I have found that the use of words such as “natural” or “C cup” or "fake looking" means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful.
Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup  size may also be inaccurate.
I use  intraoperative sizers and place the patient in the upright position to evaluate breast size. Use of these sizers also allow me to select the press implant profile (low, moderate, moderate plus, high-profile) that would most likely achieve the patient's goals. The patient's goal pictures are hanging on the wall, and allow for direct comparison.
I have found that this system is very helpful in improving the chances of achieving the patient's goals as consistently as possible.
By the way, the most common regret after this operation, is “I wish I was bigger”.


I hope this helps.

I agree that if you had an anchor type breast lift the incision you currently have can be used. It is my opinion that the full anchor incision gives the best shape in most instances and offers the least revision rates. (there are certainly excellent results with certain shaped breasts using shorter scars with experienced surgeons)

Therefore, your secondary breast lift can be done through the same scars in all likelihood. good luck. 

If you had a previous breast lift using an anchor incision, certainly the old incisions can be used and revised during the revision.

In most cases the incisions of a second breast uplift will be the same.

Be sure that you have reached the end of your weight loss before undergoing the second uplift.

You could consider discussing the benefits a small implant at the time of your second uplift with your surgeon. An implant may compensate for the volume loss that has occured. 

 

Dear CT43,

A breast lift with or without implants is an excellent way to enhance the breasts after massive weight loss. In general, I would suggest waiting until your weight is stable and you have reached your goal weight before undergoing your lift.

In your situation, a secondary lift with or without implants can most likely be performed through your old incisions.

Warmest wishes,

Larry Fan, MD