Breast Lift Surgery

WEBVTT 00:00:06.130 --> 00:00:08.299 For patients who feel that their breasts are sitting low 00:00:08.382 --> 00:00:10.175 or maybe they have too much skin on their breasts 00:00:10.259 --> 00:00:13.303 relative to the breast tissue volume that is underneath the skin, 00:00:13.386 --> 00:00:16.138 they may say, "What types of breast lift options are available?" 00:00:16.472 --> 00:00:19.558 A breast lift surgery is really anything that elevates the nipple 00:00:19.641 --> 00:00:22.480 and areolar position from where it is, to a higher position. 00:00:22.563 --> 00:00:25.443 It also typically involves removing some skin excess 00:00:25.526 --> 00:00:28.607 to try to create a more harmonious balance between the breast volume 00:00:28.691 --> 00:00:31.818 that's underneath the skin and the skin envelope that's around it. 00:00:32.027 --> 00:00:34.153 A breast lift procedure could be something as minimal 00:00:34.237 --> 00:00:37.656 as what's called a crescent lift, where the nipple and areolar complex 00:00:37.740 --> 00:00:40.200 are just elevated one centimeter with a very small incision. 00:00:40.284 --> 00:00:44.078 The next tier up from that would be what's called a Circumareolar lift 00:00:44.162 --> 00:00:45.455 or a donut lift. 00:00:45.538 --> 00:00:47.706 The nerd word for breast lift is Mastopexy. 00:00:47.790 --> 00:00:51.320 That typically involves an incision that goes all the way around the areola, 00:00:51.403 --> 00:00:54.254 and it concentrically gathers skin towards that areola, 00:00:54.337 --> 00:00:59.008 thereby reducing the overall skin volume circumferentially around the breast. 00:00:59.383 --> 00:01:02.280 The next tier up from that would be what's called a vertical breast lift, 00:01:02.363 --> 00:01:04.846 where there is an incision that goes around the areola 00:01:04.929 --> 00:01:08.797 and then straight down to narrow the footprint of the bottom of the breast. 00:01:08.880 --> 00:01:11.435 Lastly, there is what's called the wise pattern breast lift 00:01:11.518 --> 00:01:14.771 or the anchor scar breast lift, where the incision goes around the areola, 00:01:14.854 --> 00:01:16.856 straight down and underneath. 00:01:17.148 --> 00:01:19.733 All of these procedures do leave scars that are permanent, 00:01:19.817 --> 00:01:22.527 and that's why it's very important to choose a surgeon 00:01:22.611 --> 00:01:25.029 who takes care and creating quality outcomes 00:01:25.113 --> 00:01:28.574 by making sure that that scar burden is minimized as much as possible. 00:01:28.657 --> 00:01:31.159 We talk about doing a breast lift and candidacy for it, 00:01:31.243 --> 00:01:33.495 we have to address something called Breastosis. 00:01:33.578 --> 00:01:35.830 Breastosis is a nerd word for sagging. 00:01:36.122 --> 00:01:39.333 Basically, somebody who has too much skin on their breasts 00:01:39.416 --> 00:01:41.001 and wants their breasts to be a little bit tighter 00:01:41.084 --> 00:01:44.796 or significantly tighter in a more elevated position on their chest wall 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:46.957 is a good candidate for a breast lift. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:50.092 To determine which breast lift procedure would be best for a patient, 00:01:50.175 --> 00:01:54.200 it's important to get a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. 00:01:54.283 --> 00:01:57.637 In choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon to perform a breast lift, 00:01:57.720 --> 00:02:00.680 I would highly recommend getting multiple consultations, 00:02:00.767 --> 00:02:03.853 making sure that the surgeon you're meeting is listening to you 00:02:03.937 --> 00:02:05.646 and also addressing your concerns 00:02:05.730 --> 00:02:08.107 and not trying to necessarily sell you on saying, 00:02:08.190 --> 00:02:10.692 "Well, if you want a breast lift, you're going to have scars. 00:02:10.776 --> 00:02:12.200 Let's talk you into doing an implant 00:02:12.283 --> 00:02:13.987 because it's an easier procedure for me to do." 00:02:14.070 --> 00:02:16.447 It's important to make sure that your surgeon hears you 00:02:16.530 --> 00:02:19.533 and actually addresses your goals and gives you honest advice. 00:02:19.700 --> 00:02:23.160 Make sure that your surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery 00:02:23.243 --> 00:02:26.049 and has admitting privileges in a local hospital 00:02:26.132 --> 00:02:28.999 where should there be a complication, although it's uncommon, 00:02:29.124 --> 00:02:31.251 making sure that, that surgeon can be the surgeon 00:02:31.334 --> 00:02:33.720 who continues to take care of you should you need to go there. 00:02:33.803 --> 00:02:36.948 A breast lift procedure could last as long as 30 minutes 00:02:37.048 --> 00:02:38.963 and it can last as long as 3 hours, 00:02:39.049 --> 00:02:41.843 depending on the type of breast lift procedure that is necessary. 00:02:42.010 --> 00:02:43.761 Recovery for a breast lift procedure 00:02:43.845 --> 00:02:46.430 does depend upon the type of breast lift that is performed. 00:02:46.514 --> 00:02:49.587 Something small, like a crescent lift, could be something where we tell you 00:02:49.670 --> 00:02:53.645 just to take two weeks of downtime and not doing anything really vigorous. 00:02:53.728 --> 00:02:56.053 If it's a wise pattern or an anchor scar breast lift 00:02:56.136 --> 00:02:58.774 where I'm actually rearranging the architecture of the breast 00:02:58.857 --> 00:03:01.109 that's something that typically we would recommend 00:03:01.193 --> 00:03:02.402 where you take one week off from work 00:03:02.485 --> 00:03:04.779 and plan on not lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds 00:03:04.862 --> 00:03:06.614 or doing any vigorous exercise 00:03:06.697 --> 00:03:10.075 where your heart rate gets up above 100 beats per minute for six weeks.