Breast Lift and Breast Reduction Procedures by Dr. Brenner

Breast Lift and Breast Reduction Procedures

A breast lift or reduction offers immediate relief from problems (sagging, stretch marks, skin rashes, bra strap grooving , lower back pain) as well as an immediate self-image boost to women with extremely large or saggy breasts. These procedures allow a woman to have her breasts re-configured, bringing them into natural proportion with the rest of her body.

The operation can be performed in an outpatient setting, but must be done under a general anesthetic. The type of incisions that you will have depends largely on the extent of breast deformity that you currently suffer with. Options typically include an incision around the areola and down the front of the breast in the shape of a lollipop (“lollipop” or “vertical” pattern), but may also require an incision in the inframammary breast fold (“anchor” or “wise pattern“) for optimal contour. A select group of patients may only require a small peri-areolar incision (“crescent” pattern). Some patients will have drains in each breast for a few days after surgery.

For the first few days after surgery, the area may be bruised and swollen. Dressings should remain dry and intact. At your first post-operative visit, your dressings will be removed and you will be placed into a wireless jog bra. We recommend that you get fitted for this prior to your surgery. Post-operative discomfort can be controlled by medication. Instructions on showering and dressings will be provided to you by Dr. Brenner. Follow up appointments will be scheduled and questions should be directed to Dr. Brenner or his staff.

Some women experience extensive enlargement of their breasts during pregnancy, which subsequently subsides following delivery. In addition to the postpartum loss of fat tissue, swelling can cause the skin to stretch and sag. No amount of exercise will re-tighten this skin. An outpatient procedure called “mastopexy” can remove excess skin, raise the position of your nipple and areola and reduce sagging. The type of scars that result from this operation can different for each patient, and largely depends on the extent of excess skin that is present.

For women whose breasts are excessively large and do not atrophy after childbirth, a breast reduction operation may be helpful. This operation is very similar to a breast lift, except that it involves removal of a portion of the breast tissue as well. Again, the scars that are created differ from patient to patient.

Common Terminology:

Breast Ptosis: A condition that exists when the nipple-areolar complex has fallen below the desired level. The degree varies from mild to moderate to severe.

Macromastia: This is the condition that exists when a woman’s breast become extremely large. Also know as breast hypertrophy, Macromastia can cause significant medical problems such as rashes underneath the breasts, shoulder grooving from the weight pulling down on bra straps, and decrease or loss of nipple sensation.

Tuberous Breast Deformity: Also known as Constricted Breast Deformity, this is a condition of underdevelopment of a portion of a breast. Typically the lower half of the breast is underdeveloped and does not grow commensurate with the remainder of the breast. As a result, the nipple-areolar complex and sometimes the upper portion of the breast is misshapen. This can also occur in different degrees. The method of correction will depend largely on the severity of the deformity.