Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Magazine #66

feature
Implants placed above the muscle afford greater projection, but sufficient
breast tissue is required to camouflage the implant edges. Implants placed
in the submuscular pocket generally create a more natural-looking aesthetic
result, however recovery can sometimes be longer and involve greater
postoperative discomfort.
In the days following breast surgery, the chest might feel tight and
uncomfortable while the breasts are likely to be high, swollen and firm to touch.
The dressings are generally removed a few days after surgery and wearing a
compression surgical bra is often recommended during the healing period.
Bruising should fade within a week or so, and the stitches are also removed
in this period. Usually, women can return to an office-based after three to five
days, though it is best to wait one or two weeks for more physical activities.
The breasts will usually remain sensitive for a few weeks after the operation.
Scars should begin to fade significantly after a few months. In this period, the
swelling should gradually subside and the breasts will typically become lower,
look smaller and feel softer.
A natural part of
the female ageing
process is sagging
of the breasts.
Women who have
breastfed or lost
significant weight
can also experience
breast droop
Breast lift
A natural part of the female ageing process is sagging of the breasts. Women
who have breast fed or experienced extreme weight loss can also experience
breast droop. If it causes concern, mastopexy – commonly known as a breast
lift – restores height, volume and shape to the breast. Implants may also be used
in conjunction with this procedure to achieve the desired result.
Mastopexy is designed to lift the breasts by removing excess skin, creating
a more youthful contour. The appropriate technique and incision pattern is
determined according to the size, shape and degree of sagging of the breast,
as well as the position and size of the areola (outer nipple). The incision is most
commonly made either around the areola; around the areola and then vertically
down the breast; or around the areola, vertically down the breast and horizontally
along the breast crease.
Once the incision has been made, the excess skin is removed and the nipple
and areola are repositioned to create a more pert and youthful-looking shape.
During a breast lift, the nipple will be lifted and reshaped to appear smaller,
rounder and more in proportion with the new breast. The skin that surrounds the
areola is brought together to contour and reshape the breast.
The procedure generally takes two to three hours under general anaesthetic
or intravenous sedation and is usually performed on an outpatient basis.
A surgical support bra or elastic bandage is worn post-surgery to minimise
swelling and stabilise the new breast shape during the healing period. It is
common for some patients to lose sensation and some feeling in the nipple or
breast for a period of time. Most patients are advised to take a week off work and
not engage in strenuous activities for three to four weeks.
Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and scars will fade. Some of the
incision lines are concealed in the natural breast contours; however, others are
visible on the breast surface. Incision lines are permanent, but in most cases will
fade and significantly improve over time.
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