What happens during the first Breast Lift consultation?
Our office prioritizes individualizing each patient’s care and overall experience. During your first consultation, Dr. Adams will discuss the best surgical options for you, your general health, and your personal expectations. Beyond the physical breast examination and measurement process, he will review all possible variables that may have an effect on your surgery and the outcome: age, the current size and shape of your breasts, composition of breast tissue, the condition of your skin, and whether adding an implant is advisable. We will take professional photos, address questions, confirm pre-operative requirements, and explain recovery & effective scar-healing management. As a visual, we will present you with pre and post-op images of consented previous patients and cases similar to yours. Of course everyone has a unique breast lift journey and should not compare their progress, however, a visual reference is a helpful tool to better prepare our patients.
For more information about scheduling a consult for a breast lift in Dallas, please contact our office.
How is it done?
A mastopexy procedure usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Dr. Adams utilizes several specified techniques for breast lifts and will choose the approach that is best suited for you. If you have smaller breasts and minimal sagging, you may be a candidate for the modified surgery that involves a smaller incision. Another option is the “doughnut”/periareolar/nipple-repositioning breast lift, in which a circular incision is made around the areola. Dr Adams also uses specialized P4HB surgical scaffolding to suspend and support the breasts, allowing longer lasting results.
If you opt to insert breast implants along with a mastopexy, the implants will be placed in a pocket directly under the breast tissue – or deeper under the muscle of the chest wall, if you lack the appropriate amount of breast tissue. Following your physical examination and discussing your expectations, Dr. Adams will organize the best surgery plan for you.
What can I expect after surgery?
Fairly similar to our 24-Hour Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation, recovery for Dr. Adams’ breast lift or breast lift with implants, is not a difficult process. Most patients are able and encouraged to go out to dinner the night of the procedure. You may be tired and sore for 1-3 days. Initially, your breasts will appear slightly bruised, swollen, and tender, but these side effects should taper off within the first week. Immediately after surgery, you will wear a surgical bra that assists with proper settling. If you experience any discomfort and are unable to find relief, Dr. Adams may prescribe mild pain medication.
Dr. Adams typically does not use drains for this procedure, which allows for an easier recovery. Depending on the physical demands of your job, you may return to work within 1-3 days. For your safety and optimal healing, you are not permitted to do any extensive housework, direct lifting over 10 pounds, or aerobic workouts that increase your heart rate above 100 bpm for the first three weeks.
Am I a good candidate?
The best candidate for a mastopexy is a healthy, emotionally stable woman, who is realistic about what can be accomplished with surgery. Women with smaller sagging breasts typically achieve superior aesthetic results. Breasts of any size can be lifted effectively, but in reality, the results from heavier, larger breasts may not last as long. This is due to gravity, inherent proneness to skin stretch/quality of the skin, age, weight fluctuation, and mass of the natural breast tissue.
Many women seek a breast lift because of skin stretch and loss of breast volume that comes with pregnancy and nursing. However, if you are planning to have more children, we recommend postponing surgery. While there are no specific risks that affect future pregnancies, pregnancy and nursing is likely to cause the breasts to stretch again and offset the results of your surgery.
What does the surgery cost?
Due to the range in surgical options for a mastopexy, there is a range in costs; depending on what is recommended for you and what you are hoping to accomplish with the procedure. Before coming in for the consultation with Dr. Adams, we schedule a complimentary phone call with the Patient Consultant. We offer this pre-consult phone call to all of our new patients to allow for a more personalized, informative experience. During the call, the Patient Consultant will gather personal details from you, review your health history, make recommendations, and discuss specifics on Dr. Adams’ technique, which will enable her to provide you with a more precise quote on the front end. At your in-person consultation, we will confirm your quote and procedure details.
Are there scars?
Yes. Scars are to be expected with any and all surgical procedures. Depending on the patient’s specific recommended surgery plan, Dr. Adams’ approach utilizes shorter incisions- whenever possible. He will discuss the manner and placement of your incisions during the consultation. In the post-operative period, Dr. Adams will prescribe several techniques to help your scars heal as best as possible.
What does scar maturation mean?
The body has a complex system for wound healing and scars progress through multiple phases. Initially, they will scab and may appear inflamed and red before beginning to rebuild the incision site. They will then transition from red to pink and eventually pale in color. For the first 3-6 weeks, it is normal to notice puckering and marks of stretching, which will flatten out and soften over time. This maturation process takes 6-12 months and may continue to remodel up to two years. Dr. Adams implements several advanced scar therapy protocols to ensure your incisions are as imperceptible as possible. We will explain these protocols to you in detail and monitor your incisions as they mature.
Genetic predispositions and skin tone & color can affect the appearance of developed scarring. Typically, patients with fair skin tend to have a more desirable scar outcome. However, with the present advancements in scar therapy and with the practice of patience, diligent care, and UV protection, you should not let the fear of scarring outweigh your desire for having a breast procedure.
Does it hurt?
Most patients do not complain about pain after surgery, but rather discomfort. Postoperative discomfort is well controlled by pain medications, as needed. Feeling sore and uncomfortable will decrease over time. It should not be severe enough to keep you from going about your daily activities in moderation.
Will I be awake during surgery?
Dr. Adams believes it is safest for plastic surgery procedures to be performed under general anesthesia. You will be completely asleep with a board certified anesthesiologist closely monitoring you and will wake up within hours in the recovery room alongside your post-op care nurse. He performs all his cosmetic surgical procedures at Park Cities Surgery Center in Dallas, Texas.
Should I avoid any medications before or after?
You should avoid or stop taking all weight control or diet pills and supplements. Homeopathic medications during the surgery and recovery process should be approved by Dr. Adams. It is especially important to stop taking St. John’s Wort and Ginseng, which can cause adverse effects during anesthesia.
We recommend refraining from NSAIDs like Aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn, and Ibuprofen, as these medications can cause bleeding problems. Please inform your surgeon of all medications you are on (prescription or non-prescription) to ensure safety during any surgery.
If your questions that weren’t answered in our Breast Lift FAQ, contact us today!