Purse string or lollipop? (photo)

There
is a new technique called The Mini Ultimate Breast LiftTM. Using only a circumareola incision it is
possible to reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness, elevate
them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. This technique is not a simple purse string. The breast is reshaped creating upper pole
fullness, elevated higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your
cleavage. Nipple sensation and the
ability to breast feed are preserved. The
lollipop incision results in a vertical scar, which women find
unacceptable. No plastic surgeon
routinely uses a vertical scar to place implants, yet plastic surgeons
routinely use them to lift. Lift
patients desire beautiful breasts without vertical scars. Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

A circumvertical breast lift would be reasonable to help your
situation. For the lift, I typically start with the smallest incision and
custom tailor each breast lift to the shortest scar possible. Find a
board certified plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of breast
lifts each year. Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and
after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.
Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

I have seen so many patients who paid a lot of money for a so called lift and they now have big areola, poor shape and a bunch of permanent sutures that may get infected, break or extrude. All this for maybe one inch of lift. A lollipop lift is the way to go in my hands, Good Luck!

Yes, the lollipop breast lift incision is the best choice based on what I can see in the picture.  The purse-string incision sounds attractive because it is "hidden" but in the vast majority of cases it is the wrong chose because it flattens the breast and does not accommodate for the tension from the lift.  By having the vertical component from the lollipop incision, the breast gains projection and reduces the tension not he areola and ends up with a better looking incision overall.Good Luck.  

Thanks for your question. I agree that the lollipop/short scar reduction pattern is in your best interest. The circumareolar incision results in an effaced/flattened breast and often time areolar widening. Accept the small vertical component which should result in a much better scar and an overall better result. Best of Luck!

The question of which lift depends upon what you desire most. If the most important characteristic is breast shape, then a lollipop incision is likely best. If the most important characteristic is minimizing scars, then a pursestring can be done. Both have draw backs and most surgeons seem to prefer the control and shape of the added vertical incision. Certainly, if it could be done perfectly without that incision, we would all do it. Be wary of those offering perfect results without the vertical incision.Best,Dr. Pyle

One picture unfortunately does not lead to accurate assessment.Lifting your arms as well as no side view makes this just a good guess.But for a true lift the advantages of the three main techniques are as follows.The purse string, Bennelli, peri areolar are methods that just lift the nipple position and not the breast itself. They are good for repositioning the nipple with a small amount of droop when an implant is used with the "mini-lift". It does have the highest sensation and less nipple problems.The lollipop, European short scar is a full mastopexy. It is good for thinner or narrower patients. It does have the advantage of maintaining superior fullness better, and seems to keep more of the breast tissue superior. The nipple blood supply is usually based superior or medially. It does look worse at first, since the tradeoff of not resecting as much skin, is for it to settle into the envelope and the bunched up incisions to flatten. It also has a higher touch up rate. You have to be patient.The classic T shaped incision looks best at first, and has a lower touch up rate. It does have larger scars and more "bottoming out" over time than the short scar. It is better for larger and wider breasts.All three require cessation of any nicotine.Costs are generally lower for the procedure in Iowa than in Texas. Our costs for a mastopexy including facility, anesthesia, and surgeon start at about $5000 total depending on the type of anesthesia.

A circumareolar incision (purse string) for breast lift really does not accomplish much-- a centimeter or so at best.  Your Dallas surgeon sounds like they were on the right track.  Good luck!

Thank you for the picture although the quality is not a very good one, I could still see and suggest that an anchor incision will benefit your case the best. An implant placement will give you more volume and enhancement as well.Dr. Campos

The "flash" blocks out being able to see the drawing. Best to seek a few IN PERSON consultations in Dallas. Be sure to see ONLY a boarded PS..