POSTED UNDER Breast Lift Reviews
Benelli Without Implants Journey - Pasadena, CA
UPDATED FROM poppyyyy
3 months post
3.5 Months Post-Op
poppyyyyAugust 12, 2015
$3,600
I posted a video because every picture I took looked so different. I am very happy with my results. Cons: I had the permanent stitch break through my skin at the very top a month ago, which caused the red 'cut/scar' I pointed out. Luckily, it healed, but it is a more red scar because it is healing 2 months later than the rest of the incisions. I was very worried in my previous posts about areola spreading, but luckily my right spread a bit as well, making them almost even. I bent over so you can see that I have a bit of a flat nipple areola complex, but I will say it gets better every day--just like the pleating. I have zero pleats on my right areola, and 4 around my left areola that soften daily. Last con, the lift is not 100% as you can see, but it is 75% better than it was before. When I lifted my arms before, I still had A LOT of boobs overhang. Now when I extend my arms straight out to my sides (not even above my head) there is no boob overhang. Pros: MEDIUM LIFT! NO SCARS! NIPPLES AT SAME HEIGHT! AREOLAS SMALLER! QUICK RECOVERY! LESS STRETCH MARKS (the tightening of my skin camouflages them) MORE SYMMETRY!-- My right breast was two sizes smaller than my left and pre-lift I had to stuff the right side with a sock. Even though only excess skin was removed, the tightening effect of my breasts against my chest wall has made them fit my bras like they're almost even! They're only a half size apart now so I don't have to stuff anymore! I am very happy. I feel so much more comfortable in every way with them and I am SO HAPPY I do not have vertical lift scars in my 20's! :)
poppyyyy's provider
UPDATED FROM poppyyyy
1 month post
5.5 weeks update
poppyyyyJune 9, 2015
I don't know how to feel. I'm happy with the lift and the shape, but my left areola looks like a mess. I'm getting depressed. I just overcame some small openings from spitting sutures and now I'm confronted with this permanent problem. The whole point of doing this procedure was to avoid scarring so I'm glad I won't have that issue when they heal, but I never anticipated this much asymmetry in areola size. My PS warned me this could happen but I thought the permanent suture was supposed to hold them in place? Does anyone know what I can do to fix this? Tattoo? Revision? :(
Replies (4)
June 9, 2015
I don't think they look like a mess but this is problem with this procedure (I had it too with implants). It's a trade off, less scars but scars turn out worse then thin line scars of other lifts. I am curious to see what you do down road or what ur doc says as I am in need of revision due to scarring
June 9, 2015
Have you ever considered tattoo? I've seen some pretty amazing results with skillful blending where you can't even seen where the original scar or areola was…
June 10, 2015
I have thought of tattoo. The only problem is its hard to find pictures of scars being tattooed. I know they do aerola tattoos for mastectomies but mine would be to hide scarring and don't want to make scar look worse and not sure if color would blend or be blotchy, I guess I am just afriad of a gamble after my poor result
June 10, 2015
This is an excellent result and it takes time for the areolae to settle and relax. You should not be compelled to post all your photos so frequently .This procedure is an evolving result not an immediate result. The symmetry is really excellent. There are tradeoffs with a periareolar approach, but a pursestring has to pucker a little at first, and there will be some slight asymmetries. It takes 3-6 months to heal the best. Remember, 18 % of patient with lifts and reductions can experience more than the usual scarring. You recovery in my practice would be termed excellent at this stage. Always confer with your doctor, and avoid posts that attract any criticisms. The areolar diameter can stretch a little even in the best of hands and not be absolutely perfect. Any revision which is still unlikely here, can be done within the circle. The blocking suture and the multitude of sutures can provide a few annoying inconveniences, but overall the periareolar approach will avoid any vertical and horizontal scar issues 100%. Breast lift operations take up to 6 months from time to time to settle. This is a lovely result as a standard. Scars can stay red and have a starburst quality for a while. The daily journal concept of watching your results is not a good way to recover from your surgery. Be patient.
June 11, 2015
Hi Doctor,
I will take your advice and resist from posting pictures so frequently. I truly appreciate your feedback and am very happy with my results. The pleating gets dramatically better everyday, so that does not concern me so much. I'm only nervous about the areola shape because I know they can only get larger and the asymmetry freaks me out a bit because I've never had asymmetry in the department anymore. The good news is that procedure can be performed in-office apparently so that's a great option. The good news is that there is dramatic improvement in my breast shape and lift. It may not seem like it, but I hardly have an under-boob crease anymore. She did an amazing job of removing quite a bit of skin. I am very happy, just nervous about the possibility of more spreading.
June 11, 2015
Best wishes on your further recovery. I have posted in your thread since I am an enthusiast of this operation applied to challenging and difficult cases of lift and reduction. The minimal scar breast surgeries using lollipop and circular scar do require commitment of the patient and surgeon to ponder the developing and anticipated shape. Some stretch of the areola is enevitable because of the physics of centrifugal force. When no implant is used, the stretch is less. Ordinarily, the areolae will establish more roundness as the pull is in 360 degrees. For educational purposes google periareolar lift photos and you will see the variations of healing. Compare this to googling t scar breast lift, and vertical scar breast lift. We believe 10-20% of patients may ask for some form of adjustment in 5-10 years which could be areolar reduction, or secondary breast tightening but few actually act on that. A woman/s breast undergoes enormous physiologic change over her life time This includes hormonal influence, pregnancy, and change from a more adolescent tight glandular infrastructure, to an elastic mass that is composed primarily of fatty tissue. A breast that originally sags has some developing elasticity that is will continue over time. We as surgeons simply assist in reversing some of the elasticity and softening for a time with sutures and internal manipulations. Loss of volume can occur after pregnancy, and in those patients we sometimes perform a secondary lift, auto-augmentation, or incorporate a small implant. To stay natural, secondary lifting is done. It could need to be done every 10 years or so. The choice made by you and your doctor has been a wise one. We cannot perfectly predict the behavior of the areolar circle. It will be larger than with a T or vertical lift, yet the scars of the other methods are equally as unpredictable and for that reason we use the term tradeoffs and accepted secondary options. Again, check some additional photos on the web. The management of the blocking suture and use of mesh support is still being discussed in plastic surgery circles, The perfect solution has yet to be devised for all tissue types.
Replies (2)
May 25, 2015
Further input from another plastic surgeon who performs the circular scar procedure on challenging cases of lift and reduction. This continues to be an excellent early outcome by Dr. DeOlarte and follows the natural healing and shaping that occurs week by week and eventually by 3 to 6 months. Bravo to the patient and to the surgeon once again.
Replies (5)