Vertical breast lift 9 months ago, how can I stretch my areola?

The vertical lift is a good operation but mist of the time it doesn’t look good unless there is an implant for upper fullness. With a revision your nipples can be improved

Dear AngelaLenorie,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what is wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

You have glandular dropout with unaddressed vertical skin excess. This can be managed with excision of lower pole breast skin and mesh.

At this time, I recommend The Bellesoma Method. This will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained if not injured during your previous surgery.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Thank you for your question. Typically, vertical mastopexy is are prone to bottoming out. A large portion of my practice is dedicated to revision breast surgery and I have been in practice for 28 years. In your case, you have very little volume above your areola and a considerable amount of breast tissue below your areola. Pioneers a surgery termed " reductive Augmentation" in which I perform a breast augmentation to fill the upper pole, a revision mastopexy, and excision of the inferior-bottom breast tissue. You are an excellent candidate for this. For now, tattooing of the areola works very well. Best wishes to you.

One of the problems with a vertically based breast lift is increase in the nipple to breast crease distance. In your case, most of the implant volume sits in the lower pole of the breast. The inframammary breast crease needs to be repair and the lift converted to a vertical and transverse incision. The nipple to IMF distance should be around 7cm at most meaning that skin needs to be removed from the lower pole. I'd also suggest using a mesh or internal bra to support the implant. Once the implant rests behind the areola it might stretch it out to a more normal anatomic size. A tattoo could be done to address some of the loss of pigment.

Dear Angela,
A revision of your vertical mastopexy, lollipop breast lift is needed. An anchor incision may, or may not be the answer. Enlarging the areolae is the least of the problem and can likely be done under local anesthesia. Correcting the "sagging," or pseudoptosis will be a more complicated undertaking.
Returning to your operating surgeon is an option, and will likely save you money if you still have any confidence in their ability to improve the results. If not, obtain a copy of your operative report before seeing an American Board of Plastic Surgery board certified plastic surgeon for an examination and discussion of your options. Good luck!