Plastic Surgeon in Atlanta Georgia
SPAIR Short Scar Breast Lift in Atlanta, GA
Why Choose A Breast Lift?
Many women choose to have their breasts enlarged in order to satisfy their own desire for a fuller bustline. Your breasts may not have developed to a size that meets your expectations, or one breast may be significantly smaller than the other. You may have been happy with your breasts in the past but feel that they look different now. After weight loss, childbirth or as a result of aging, the breasts lose volume and their shape changes. Breast augmentation can enhance your breast size and shape and give you the more proportional figure that you always wanted.
You may be a good candidate for breast lift surgery if you have one or more of the following conditions:
- breasts that are pendulous, but of satisfactory size
- breasts that lack substance or firmness
- nipples and areolas that point downward, especially if they are positioned below the breast crease
Sometimes these conditions may be inherited traits. In certain cases, the breasts may have developed differently so that one breast is firm and well positioned while the other is not. There may be differences in the size of your breasts as well as their shape. Breasts that are large and heavy can be lifted, but the results may not be as long-lasting as when the procedure is done on smaller breasts.
A breast lift can be performed at any age, but Dr. Kavali usually recommends waiting until breast development has stopped. Pregnancy and breast-feeding may have significant and unpredictable effects on the size and shape of your breasts. Nevertheless, many women decide to undergo breast lift surgery before having children and feel that they can address any subsequent changes later. Since the nipples are left intact, breast lift surgery usually will not affect your ability to breast-feed; however, this can never be guaranteed and you should discuss this with Dr. Kavali.
During the consultation, you will be asked about your desired breast shape and size. Dr. Kavali will discuss with you how your nipples and areolas will be repositioned. You should mention anything else about your breasts that you would like to see improved. This will help Dr. Kavali to understand your expectations and determine whether they realistically can be achieved.
Dr. Kavali will examine your breasts, taking measurements and photographs for your medical record. The size and shape of your breasts, the quality of your skin, and the placement of the nipples and areolas will be carefully evaluated.
You should come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medical history. This will include information about any medical conditions, drug allergies, medical treatments you have received, previous surgeries including breast biopsies, and medications that you currently take. It is important for you to provide complete information.
You should tell Dr. Kavali if you plan to lose a significant amount of weight, particularly if you have noticed that your breasts sag or become smaller with weight loss.
Breast lift surgery, as an aesthetic (cosmetic) procedure, generally is not covered by insurance.
Under certain circumstances, however, insurance coverage may be available. For example, if a breast reconstruction after mastectomy is performed, the opposite breast may need to be modified for symmetry. Many factors determine your eligibility for coverage, including the specific terms of your insurance policy. A letter of predetermination may be required by your insurance company prior to surgery. Dr. Kavali or a staff member in her office (Andrea, our Patient Coordinator) will discuss these matters with you.
How a Breast Lift Is Performed
Individual factors and personal preferences will determine the specific technique selected to lift your breasts.
Where are the incisions placed?
Dr. Kavali uses a short scar technique (the SPAIR) for many larger breast lifts. This technique uses only a "lollipop" scar around the areola and down the center of the breast and eliminates the traditional long scar beneath the breast.
After Dr. Kavali has removed excess breast skin, the nipple and areola are shifted to a higher position. The areola, which in a sagging breast may have been stretched, can be reduced in size. Skin that was formerly located above the areola is brought down and together beneath it to reshape the breast.
The nipples and areolae remain attached to underlying mounds of tissue, and this usually allows for the preservation of sensation and the ability to breast-feed.
What are some variations to the common breast lifting technique?
There are many variations to the design of the incisions for breast lift surgery. The size and shape of your breasts, size of your areolas, and extent of sagging are factors that will help Dr. Kavali to determine the best technique for you.
In most instances, it may be possible to avoid a horizontal incision beneath the breast. Sometimes a technique may be used that avoids this horizontal incision as well as the vertical incision that runs from the bottom edge of the areola to the breast crease. This is called a periareolar-only technique and leaves only a circular scar around the margin of the areola.
If you are a good candidate for a modified technique, Dr. Kavali will discuss this with you.
If you and Dr. Kavali have decided that it is desirable to enlarge your breasts at the same time as they are lifted, this will require insertion of breast implants. If this is an option that you wish to consider, Dr. Kavali will review the necessary information with you and will provide you with much more detailed information about implants and your options.
Understanding Risks
Fortunately, significant complications from breast lifts are infrequent. Every year, many thousands of women undergo successful breast lift surgery, experience no major problems and are pleased with the results. Anyone considering surgery, however, should be aware of both the benefits and risks.
The subject of risks and potential complications of surgery is best discussed on a personal basis between you and Dr. Kavali.
Some of the potential complications that may be discussed with you include bleeding, infection and reactions to anesthesia. Following a breast lift, sometimes the breasts may not be perfectly symmetrical or the nipple height may vary slightly. Minor adjustments often can be made at a later time. Permanent loss of sensation in the nipples or areas of breast skin may occur rarely. Revisionary surgery may sometimes be helpful in certain instances where incisions may have healed poorly.
You can help to lessen certain risks by following the advice and instructions of Dr. Kavali, both before and after surgery.
Your Surgical Experience
Dr. Kavali's goal is to make your surgical experience as easy and comfortable for you as possible.
How should I prepare for surgery?
Depending on your age, or if you have a history of breast cancer in your family, Dr. Kavali may recommend a baseline mammogram before surgery and another mammographic examination some months after surgery. This will help to detect any future changes in your breast tissue. Following a breast lift, you will still be able to perform breast self-examination. Breast lift surgery will not increase your risk of developing breast cancer.
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of surgery. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs can cause increased bleeding, so you should avoid taking these medications for a period of time before surgery. Dr. Kavali will provide you with additional preoperative instructions.
Breast lift surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis. If this is the case, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you at least the first night.
What will the day of surgery be like?
Your breast lift surgery may be performed in a hospital, free-standing ambulatory facility or office-based surgical suite.
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. Often, a general anesthetic is administered, so that you will be asleep throughout the procedure.
Alternatively, a breast lift may be performed using local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. When surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area where you will continue to be closely monitored. Rarely, small drain tubes will have been placed in your breasts to help avoid the accumulation of fluids. Your dressings will include tape over your incisions and a bra with some gauze padding inside for comfort.
You may be permitted to go home after a few hours, unless you and Dr. Kavali have determined that you will stay in the hospital or surgical facility overnight.
How will I look and feel initially?
The day after surgery, you will be encouraged to get out of bed for short periods of time. After several days, you should be able to move about more comfortably. Straining, bending and lifting must be avoided, however, since these activities might cause increased swelling or even bleeding. You may be instructed to sleep on your back to avoid pressure on your breasts.
Any surgical drains will be removed within a few days of surgery, at which time your dressings may also be changed or removed. You should wear a support bra for a few weeks, until the swelling and discoloration of your breasts diminish. Your sutures will be beneath the skin and will dissolve. Occasionally, a few dissolving sutures will be used on the outside of the skin as well.
You may notice that you feel less sensation in the nipple and areola areas. This is usually temporary. It may, however, take weeks, months or even more than a year before sensation returns to normal. Your breasts may also require some time to assume a more natural shape. Incisions will initially be red or pink in color. They will remain this way for many months following surgery.
When can I resume my normal activities?
After breast lift surgery, it is often possible to return to work within a week or so, depending on your job. In many instances, you can resume most of your normal activities, including some form of mild exercise, after several weeks. You may continue to experience some mild, periodic discomfort during this time, but such feelings are normal. Severe pain should be reported to Dr. Kavali.
Results of a Breast Lift
Breast lift surgery will make your breasts firmer and more uplifted. The position of your areolas and nipples will be enhanced, and the size of your areolas will be generally smaller than before the surgery.
The incisions from your breast lift surgery will heal and fade over time. It is important to realize, however, that the incision lines will be permanently visible. In some instances, they will eventually be only faint lines. Certain individuals may have incision lines that are more noticeable. Fortunately, the incisions for your breast lift are in locations easily concealed by clothing, even low-cut necklines.
How long will the results last?
Unless you gain or lose a significant amount of weight or become pregnant, your new breast shape should remain fairly constant. However, gravity and the effects of aging will eventually alter the size and shape of virtually every woman's breasts. If, after a period of years, you again become dissatisfied with the appearance of your breasts, you may choose to undergo a second breast lift procedure to restore their more youthful contour and appearance.
Maintaining a Relationship with Your Plastic Surgeon
You will return to Dr. Kavali's office for follow-up care at prescribed intervals, at which time your progress will be evaluated. Once the immediate postoperative follow-up is complete, Dr. Kavali encourages her patients to come back for periodic checkups to observe and discuss the long-term results of surgery.
Please remember that the relationship with Dr. Kavali does not end when you leave the operating room. If you have questions or concerns during your recovery, or need additional information at a later time, you should contact her.
What else do I need to know?
Be sure to go to the “Patient info” link on this site. You can find consent forms for each procedure and information about what to do before and after the surgery. |
