Do I need mastopexy or mammoplexy? (Photo)

Question

I am 38, 5'4" and 160lbs. I had mastopexy with teardrop implants 10 years ago. I want to be smaller and perkier. At a consultation today the surgeon said i dont need implants and could become a C/D cup with mastopexy . Im worried this wont be small enough. Is this my only option and could i go smaller?

Jose M. Soler-Baillo, MD, MS · Answer

Thanks for the question. It seems you need a breast lift, but you would need an in person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to ensure that you are a candidate for a breast lift.All the best,Dr. Results

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photographs.  An in-person examination to identify the amount of breast tissue you have that is not implant related would help determine the right procedure for you.  If you are indeed looking to go smaller, you could have your implants removed and a breast lift performed, or if you still have a lot of breast tissue, you could have your implants removed and a reduction performed, which will also provide you a lift.  Be sure to see a board certified plastic surgeon who can walk you through your treatment options.

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

Hello lola1976. It looks like you need a breast lift, but this can only be confirmed on examination. You appear to be a grade 1 or 2 level of sagginess of your breast tissue. In my office, patients with similar findings will be recommended a vertical or anchor breast lift and implants combination if the want the sagging to be reduced, lift the nipples to a more ideal location, and have better long term results. With a new set of breast implants you can choose a smaller size and therefore will be much smaller than your current size. However, there's no way to recommend a particular size or even whether you should perform the exchange without the ability to examine your breasts. Best, Dr. ALDO.

R. Scott Yarish, MD · Answer

Only a personal consultation will determine what will allow a surgeon to assist you with fulfilling your goals.  You appear to have a significant amount of breast tissue and there is no way to tell by photos how large your implants are.  Depending upon your desired size and the current size of your implants, you may be able to remove the implants altogether, have a mastopexy, and have a spectacular and naturally full result.  The (apparent) excellent quality of your skin should allow very pleasing fullness.  Of course, if your implants now are fairly large and removing them would result in breasts smaller than you desire, then another implant would be needed.

Jason M. Petrungaro, MD, FACS · Answer

You ask a great question.  Based on your photos, you have fairly large breasts at this point.  Removing your implants will certainly help reduce the size of your breasts, but you run the risk of significant deflation of the breasts themselves, as well as loss of projection.  If the implants are removed and the breasts are re-lifted, you may be able to get the results for which you are hoping.  You can also choose to remove the current implants and replace them with smaller implants (in addition to the lift), which will help get you smaller.Re-lifting the breasts (after a previous mastopexy) can be technically challenging and I would say the procedure is associated with greater risk of complications as opposed to a breast that has never been lifted, so make sure you have chosen a board certified Plastic Surgeon who is familiar with reoperative breast surgery.If your surgeon leaves in your current implants and just re-lifts the breasts, then it is safe to say that you will be perkier but you will likely NOT get the size reduction you want.  Best of luck!

Norman Leaf, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

The answer really lies in how much of your current breast size is related to the size of your implants. If the implants are pretty large, removing them will make your breasts  much smaller...but you will need a secondary mastopexy.  During the operation, after the implants are removed the surgeon can judge how much of your own breast tissue is left.  If there is still a fairly large amount,  the surgeon can remove some tissue at the same time as the mastopexy.Breast reduction and mastopexy are essentially the same operation, with modifications.  In a reduction, breast tissue is removed, but in a mastopexy the existing breast tissue is preserved and re-shaped into a perkier manner.The operating surgeon needs to make that assessment during the surgery.  I think it should be very easier to go a good deal smaller than a C-D cup...probably a B-cup, if that's what you'd like.

Do I need mastopexy or mammoplexy? (Photo)

Answers (6)

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