Breast Lift with Implants

Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation in Toronto

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In certain situations, a Breast Lift (Mastopexy) and Breast Augmentation may be needed to obtain the best possible breast appearance. Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation is a highly specialized form of breast surgery that is difficult to master. Toronto plastic surgeon Lawrence Tong, MD has significant experience with combined Breast Augmentation/Mastopexy. During your consultation, he will determine whether you should consider this type of breast enhancement.

Benefits of Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation

Breasts can become ptotic (droopy) due to aging, weight changes, pregnancy, or breast feeding. These same factors also cause the breasts to lose volume and become smaller. A Breast Augmentation combined with a Breast Lift will help reverse these changes.

This combination procedure is designed to:

• Add volume and fullness to the breast
• Lift and remove excess skin and sagging tissues
• Build a rounder breast shape
• Raise the descended nipple and the surrounding darker skin
• Reduce the areolar size

Additional candidacy requirements for Breast Lift with Implants:

• Patients should be generally fit and relatively healthy— Dr. Tong always makes an assessment of your general health and suitability before undergoing any type of surgery.
• Smokers should quit smoking at least 2 weeks prior to surgery
• Patients who are breastfeeding/pregnant should wait 4-8 weeks after completing breastfeeding before having surgery so that the true breast size can be determined
• A patient should have realistic expectations about what can be accomplished though Breast Augmentation with Mastopexy

Preparing for Your Breast Lift Surgery

The most important step in preparing for a breast lift with implants is to attend a private consultation with Dr. Tong. During this meeting, you will be able to discuss with Dr. Tong your aesthetic goals. He will perform a brief examination of your breasts and a review of your medical history, and together you will decide on the right implant size and treatment plan for your unique needs. Once your procedure is scheduled, you will receive detailed pre- and post-operative instructions.

Which Type of Breast Lift Will I Need With Breast Augmentation?

The method of Breast Lift performed in conjunction with Breast Augmentation depends on the amount of drooping. In general, less drooping requires fewer incisions and more drooping requires more incisions. Wearing any type of clothing (including low cut) will cover all of these scars, regardless of which method is performed.

• The peri-areolar scar is placed along the areola, at the border between darker and lighter skin. It tends to hide quite well.
• The breast fold scar is placed in the breast fold, in a naturally concealed area. It is also hidden by the breast.
• The vertical incision starts at the bottom of the areola and extends to the breast fold. In the nude, the vertical incision scar tends to be more visible than the other scars.

During your consultation, Dr. Tong will inform you which method is recommended for your particular anatomy.

The Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation Procedure

Dr. Tong performs surgery at St. Thomas Surgery Centre, located within his office at 7 St. Thomas Street in Yorkville. You will be asleep and completely unaware of your surroundings while under general anesthesia.

Breast Augmentation with Mastopexy is performed in two steps: the first step is the Breast Augmentation, followed by the Mastopexy. Dr. Tong chooses the breast implant incision to minimize scars, generally utilizing part of the planned Mastopexy incisions. He first surgically creates a breast implant pocket (space for the implant) under the chest muscle. The implant is then placed into the pocket. Dr. Tong then verifies proper position, shape, and symmetry of the implants.

After the Breast Augmentation, the Breast Lift begins by removing the excess (stretched) skin of the breast. Dr. Tong reshapes the breast mound itself around the implant by manipulating the internal breast tissues. The nipple is elevated to a higher position on the breast mound. Finally, he reduces the size of the areola to better match the new breast proportions. While you are still asleep, the bed is positioned so that you are sitting upright, allowing the breasts to be judged in the most precise manner. Dr. Tong will make surgical refinements to the breasts as needed, to obtain the best possible appearance. Finally, he meticulously sews the wounds closed with plastic surgical technique. After the last stitches are placed, you will be placed in a surgical bra, and then gently awakened from anesthesia.^2,3

How to Choose the Best Plastic Surgeon For You

Recovery from Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation

post-operative recovery area. After recovery from anesthesia, Dr. Tong allows you to go home, accompanied by your friend or family member.

We advise you to rest once at home. You may partake in non-strenuous activities such as watching television and reading, but avoid doing anything more demanding. Expect to feel sore in the chest for 3-7 days; your pain medication will help with the discomfort during this time. The breasts will look swollen and may have bruising in the first 1-3 weeks. A surgical bra will be provided on the day of the surgery. Patients are requested to wear the bra as much as possible during the first week. You are allowed to shower the day after surgery. Most patients are able to return to work (non-strenuous) in 5-7 days.

Dr. Tong sees you to remove stitches and assess your progress at one week after surgery. Patients are generally allowed to start light exercise (e.g. walking) at 2 weeks after surgery. Strenuous activities (jogging, weight lifting, yoga, pilates, aerobics, sports, etc…) are typically started at 4-6 weeks after surgery. In addition to the one week visit, you will see Dr. Tong at 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery. Post-op photos are also taken at some of the visits.

Be aware that the breasts will initially have a slightly unnatural shape to them. This is entirely normal, and it takes between 3-6 months for them to fully settle. As the settling occurs you will gradually notice that the breasts take on a much more natural look, feel, and shape.

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Lift with Implants

What kind of scarring will I have after my breast lift?

Any surgical procedure will leave some type of scar. A plastic surgeon specializes in obtaining the least visible scars and putting them in the least visible places.

Depending on the patient’s unique physique and goals, one of three incisions may be used during a breast lift with implants.

• The peri-areolar scar is placed along the areola, at the border between darker and lighter skin. It tends to hide quite well.
• The breast fold scar is placed in the breast crease, in a naturally concealed area. It is also hidden by the breast.
• The vertical incision starts at the bottom of the areola and extends to the breast crease. In the nude, the vertical incision scar tends to be more visible than the other scars. This is is sometimes referred to as a lollipop scar.

During your consultation, Dr. Tong will inform you which of these breast lift techniques is recommended for your particular anatomy.

Which type of breast lift with augmentation is right for me?

The method of Breast Lift performed in conjunction with Breast Augmentation depends on the amount of drooping. In general, less drooping requires fewer incisions and more drooping requires more incisions. Wearing any type of clothing (including low cut) will cover all of these scars, regardless of which method is performed.

Can I just use larger implants to make my breasts more perky?

There is a common misconception that breast implants will correct breast drooping. This is only partially correct; breast implants can ‘lift’ the breasts to a certain (small) degree, but they cannot correct all degrees of ptosis (drooping). In contrast to Breast Augmentation alone, adding the Breast Lift allows for a much more significant degree of lifting. Some surgeons may try to encourage use of a (much) larger implant in lieu of performing a Mastopexy. This is not advised and often leads to poor results and a dissatisfied patient.

Consequences of trying to use a large implant in lieu of Mastopexy

• Final breast size too large
• Breast still long and ptotic (drooping)
• Areola size made even larger
• Nipple position still too low
• Larger implant will further further stretch breast tissue and cause more drooping

During any Breast Augmentation consultation, Dr. Tong evaluates for breast ptosis. He may recommend a combined procedure if there is breast ptosis that will not be corrected by implants alone.

Will my breasts appear larger after a breast lift?

A Breast Lift will provide more fullness to the upper pole of the breast, but it will not increase the overall cup size. In contrast to the Breast Lift alone, adding a Breast Augmentation allows for a much more significant volume enhancement.³

What are the possible risks and complications of breast lift with augmentation?

As with any surgery, there are risks involved with having Breast Augmentation combined with Breast Lift. Although the procedure has a low risk profile, Dr. Tong will make sure to go through the pertinent potential problems associated with Breast Augmentation plus Mastopexy at the time of your consultation.

Risks of Mastopexy with Breast Augmentation include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Anesthesia risk
• Wound healing issues
• Unfavorable scarring
• Changes in breast or nipple sensation
• Asymmetry or other cosmetic issues
• Capsular contracture of breast implants (scar tissue)
• Implant rupture or leakage
• Breastfeeding difficulties^4,5

Schedule Your Breast Lift with Implants Consultation

There is much information to digest during your Breast Lift/Breast Augmentation consultation. Dr. Tong will take the time to answer all of your questions and address any concerns. You will never be rushed or pressured into a decision. Our goal is to make you an educated patient. We believe that an educated patient will make better choices about their surgery and their choice of surgeon.

To learn more about how Toronto plastic surgeon Lawrence Tong, MD can help you with your Breast Lift and Breast Augmentation goals, set up a consultation by giving us a call at (647) 691-0256. Alternatively, let us give you a call: just fill out our contact form and we will contact you on the same or the next business day. No physician referral is needed.

See Dr. Tong’s work in our Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation before and after photos.

¹ American Society of Plastic Surgeons. How to decide if you need a breast lift, breast implants or both. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/how-to-decide-if-you-need-a-breast-lift-breast-implants-or-both. Accessed August 31, 2020.
² American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Breast Augmentation Procedure. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-augmentation/procedure. Accessed August 31, 2020.
³ American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Breast Lift Procedure. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift/procedure. Accessed August 31, 2020.
⁴ Mayo Clinic. Breast Lift. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-lift/about/pac-20393218. Accessed August 31, 2020.
⁵ Mayo Clinic. Breast Augmentation. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-augmentation/about/pac-20393178. Accessed August 31, 2020.