|
Over the years, the ratio between the gland component and the fat component of the breast changes, with the fat component becoming more abundant and the gland component becoming scarcer. The retaining structure of the breast stretches with time, gravity, weight fluctuation and hormonal changes allowing the breasts to gradually sag. Breast elevation can be performed with or without the insertion of breast implants however, insertion of breast implants to an elevated breast, can change the consistency of the breast and produce a firmer breast. The breast implant merely adds volume to the breast, predominantly upper pole fullness but does not change the consistency of the breast tissue itself.
Breast Lift procedure is often designed to attain the following goals.
1. Repositioning of the nipple areola in more youthful (higher) position.
2. Reducing the size of areola, if necessary.
3. Sculpting the breast mound. This part of the procedure makes use of available tissue and repositions it in a more youthful relationship.
An inevitable consequence of the breast remodeling procedure is scarring and a variety of techniques have been developed in an attempt to minimize scarring and those techniques can be adopted to specific patient’s requirements and configurations.
Breast elevation done through an incision around the areola is aimed at leaving a scar at the interface of color on the perimeter of the areola. This technique can be implemented to correct minimal to moderate sagginess only. Moderate to major sagginess, requires sculpting of the entire breast mound and this procedure can only be done through an incision around the areola with a vertical component. On occasion, a horizontal scar at the junction of the breast and the chest wall is required as well.
These types of interventions make use of the breast tissue available, repositioning it in a higher, more youthful position.
Scar care program is an integral part of breast elevation and is continued for a period of six to nine months until the scars fully mature. Breast elevation often over corrects the sagginess and the breasts require some time to settle and assume their final shape. Result is stable for a long period of time if the patient’s weight does not fluctuate, particularly when there is a fair amount of elasticity in the skin. |
