Breast Lifting Surgery
The loss of elasticity of the breast skin and the sagging of the breast tissue over the chest wall is a reflection of the aging process seen in each woman with age. These changes in both the skin and breast tissue are related to many factors including genetics. The most affecting events are pregnancy/breastfeeding and serious weight loss.
One or more of the following problems are present in patients undergoing breast lifting surgery. – Breast tissue is sufficient but flabby. It’s like the breast slipped over the chest wall. – Breast tissue is insufficient and flabbyat at the same time. Patients in this group were generally happy with their breast size during pregnancy/breastfeeding period. – The sagging of the breast tissue is mostly in the nipple area and there is a sagging of the nipple area with the nipple facing down. In the preoperative evaluation, changes in the breast tissue and nipple of the patient are evaluated, measurements are made and the planned postoperative view is discussed with the patient. If there is a history of pregnancy/breastfeeding and weight gain, changes in the breasts during these periods, existince of any diseases or masses in the breasts, the results of biopsy -if it is performed, the existence of breast cancer in the family are questioned.
Breast lifting surgery technique
Breast lifting operation is performed with or without the use of a prosthesis. Operations without prosthesis take about 2 hours. In cases where the prosthesis is used, this time is approximately one hour longer.
Breast lift surgeries include different techniques, but the most commonly used are the removal of the surplus skin to determine the degree of sagging, lifting the breast tissue and the nipple by moving it to a higher point. The mildest cases the location of the incision is made starting from around the nipple area (areola) and can be a vertical incision leading to the under breast line at an increased degree of sagging and in more severe cases it can be a keyhole shape with lines extending to both sides. The same incision areas are also used for the placement of the prosthesis in the required cases. It is much more comfortable after surgery in cases where the prosthesis is not used. The postoperative painful period is limited to the day of operation. Pain and sensitivity recede rapidly from the next day, and after 2-3 days the patient can use his new bra and begin to take a shower. In the cases of the prosthesis, the postoperative period is similar to the cases of the prosthesis. In cases where the prosthesis is placed under the muscles, pain may increase with arm movements due to the tension in the muscles for 4-6 days postoperatively. Another issue that should be noted is that patients with light and thin skin are more prone to breast sagging than patients with thick and dark skin due to the skin structure. In the long-term evaluations, it was seen that these patients lost the support provided earlier in the surgery. This makes it necessary, especially in this group of patients, to use a supporting bra in the long term even after such an operation. Breast lift surgery is in a sense to gain a more youthful appearance a deformed area that is aging faster than the rest of the body. No aesthetic operation can stop aging. The continuation of the effect provided by surgery is partly related to genetic and partially to external factors. In this sense, it should be emphasized that patients with weak skin – subcutaneous support tissue should wear a supportive bra in the long term after surgery.
A Few Important Notes
It should be noted that after the breast lift operation, the shape of the breast may be altered in part by the use of a prosthesis or without use prosthesis – with future pregnancy/breastfeeding and weight fluctuations. Both pregnancy/breastfeeding period and weight changes are determined by genetic and hormonal factors in each body. In other words, how long the breasts will grow during a pregnancy/breastfeeding period, or changes in the breasts during weight changes periods cannot be determined. Patients who have had a pregnancy or have experienced weight changes could make the most accurate guess according to their experience. Changes in the breasts of patients who become pregnant or gain weight again after breast lifting surgery are independent of this operation. Therefore, it is recommended that patients who have had a significant growth in their breasts before this period should be given this surgery no longer when a new pregnancy is planned.