Sunday, June 6, 2010

Ask Dr. Man - Post-pregnancy breast lift

Dear Dr. Man, I’m 42 years old and live in Parkland. I have five amazing children. I’m definitely not having any more children and now that I know that, I need to have my breasts fixed. I breastfed all of my children and now I look like I have deflated balloons hanging from my chest. It’s awful and I’m so self-conscious. What can I have done to correct this problem?

Congratulations on your five children and for breastfeeding them all. Pregnancy and nursing, as you know, can take quite a toll on a woman’s breasts. Other factors, such as age and the force of gravity can also play a role. The reason is that the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts lose their shape and they begin to sag. Luckily, help is available.

A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts. A breast lift repositions the breasts into a more pleasing position and gives a more pleasing contour and shape. A breast lift can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple.
If your breasts are small or have lost volume--for example, after pregnancy--breast implants can be inserted in conjunction with mastopexy to increase both their firmness and their size. Breasts of any size can be lifted and enhanced, but the results may not last as long in heavy breasts.

During the procedure, the surgeon will mark the areas of skin that will be removed above and below the areola. The nipple will then be moved to a new, higher position, while the excess skin above and below the nipple is removed and the breast reshaped. The procedure takes approximately two to four hours and can be performed in an outpatient surgery facility. Patients may experience temporary swelling, numbness and bruising. Most patients return back to work in 1 to 2 weeks and can resume full activities in about 3 to 4 weeks.

Since you aren’t planning to have more children, there should be no need to postpone your breast lift. While there are no special risks that affect future pregnancies (for example, mastopexy usually doesn't interfere with breast feeding), I do tell my patients that pregnancy is likely to stretch your breasts again, thus offseting the results of the procedure.

Dr. Daniel Man is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has dedicated his life’s work to helping people look younger and improve their appearance through cosmetic surgery. He is a noted author, artist, inventor and educator. Dr. Man has been featured on major television networks, as well as national and local magazines and newspapers for his work as both a plastic surgeon and an artist. Dr. Man has a private practice in Boca Raton, FL. www.drman.com

4 comments:

  1. The good thing with breast lifts is that they can be applied on women after childbirth, and the effects will last a considerably long time unless she becomes pregnant again or is going into old age. For those who are asking if it will affect the breast-milk supply after surgery, most cases only remove the skin and do not affect the ducts and nerves, so it's still okay to continue breastfeeding.


    Jack Sebastian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have to agree with Jack. Breast augmentations don’t necessarily block or affect breastfeeding. It only reshapes the breast, making it less prone to sagging after giving birth and excessive breastfeeding.

      Jacinto Hukle

      Delete
  2. Having their breasts reconstructed after childbirth is a great reward for women. With all the hard work that comes along the motherhood package, having little body modifications through plastic surgery can truly enhance women's self-esteem.

    -Geoffrey Lelia

    ReplyDelete
  3. You got that right, Geoffrey! Breast augmentation after giving birth can bring back a woman’s confidence and uplift her self esteem. And since it does not affect breastfeeding, it’s safe for the baby if the mother undergoes this kind of surgery. However, it’s best to wait for your baby to reach toddler years before you try breast augmentation. Recovery might take a while, so that means your baby will not get breastfed. That’s why it’s best to wait for your baby to reach the age when he can drink milk from bottles.
    Terry Bayer

    ReplyDelete