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Breast Lift
A woman’s breasts tend to change as the years go by especially when some factors like gravity, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, aging, heredity and genetics are involved. Some women choose to keep their breasts as they are, while others feel the need to perk them up and make them firmer. This can be because;
- The skin on the breasts becomes loose and sagging because of volume loss and lack of substance.
- The nipples start facing downwards or are too low.
- The breasts have lost shape.
- Of lack of elasticity of the skin.
To achieve perkier and firmer breasts, a breast lift procedure is required. Breast lift rejuvenates the breasts by trimming excess skin and tightening supporting tissues to achieve an uplifted, youthful contour.
A breast lift also raises and reshapes sagging breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning the breast tissue (and areola) to a higher position. Any surgery can leave some scars for a period of time and the length and location of the scars depend on the amount of excess skin that needs to be removed to achieve the desired results. After a breast lift, the breasts are higher on the chest and firmer to the touch. A breast lift can often be combined with breast augmentation using an implant and or fat transfer.
Breast Lift Technique Options
During a breast lift procedure, a grading system known as Regnault ptosis scale for breast sagging is used by the Plastic Surgeon in order to determine how extensive a patient’s ptosis (i.e. sagging) is and the suitable treatment. Classification is based on how the nipple is positioned in relation to the inframammary fold and the side view of the patient’s breast.
- Grade 1: Mild sagging, is where the inframammary fold and the nipple are at the same level with the tissues laying below.
- Grade 2: Moderate sagging, is where the nipple is laying below the inframammary fold and the tissues are concentrated at the bottom of the breast.
- Grade 3: Severe or advanced sagging, whereby the nipple is far below the fold pointing downward.
- Pseudo ptosis: Not considered as a true ptosis as the nipple is still at the same level with the fold but the tissues of the breast are laying below the fold.
There are two types of techniques used to do the breast lift procedure and they are;
- The Lollipop technique: This is where the incision made during the surgery goes around the edge of the areola downward to the breast crease. This technique is used for moderate to advanced sagging.
- The Anchor technique: During this technique, the surgical incision goes around the edge of the areola, straight downward, and then along the bra crease. The horizontal incision at the crease can be shorter or longer depending on the amount of excess skin to be excised.
A breast lift procedure is often combined with a breast augmentation using an implant or fat transfer to return lost volume.
Our Commitment To You
Our highly trained and experienced staff will guide you smoothly and comfortably along the entire process to allow you to make the best decision. At Al Shunnar Plastic Surgery, our experts have more than 20 years of experience in plastic and cosmetics procedures and have helped more than 10,000 patients safely achieve their dream of beauty and confidence, including a significant number of breast lift surgeries in Dubai. We will identify the most suitable expert for you, who will listen to you, understand and identify your individual and detailed requirements in a tailor-made consultation. He/she will also advise you on what you should expect from the breast lift procedure and ultimately develop the most suitable treatment plan with you.
Breast Lift Process
There are different techniques involved in a breast lift procedure, and all these rely on the incision made, which also determines the resulting scar.
a) The Consultation
The first step of a breast lift is having a detailed consultation and examination in the clinic with our Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, to determine a tailor-made plan for each candidate.
The surgeon will discuss your expectations with you, ask questions regarding your medical history, and then do a physical exam to determine options of the procedure and aftermath.
b) The Surgery
The second step is to schedule the breast lift surgery with the highly qualified and experienced Plastic Surgeon who is an expert in breast lift and other body contouring procedures. Prior to the surgery, each patient is screened to ensure that it is safe to proceed with the surgery. This includes a pre-anesthetic consultation, blood testing and to ensure the patient is a fit candidate for the procedure. A mammogram and ultrasound is also done preoperatively depending on the age of the patient.
The procedure requires one to two hours under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. The surgeon keenly reviews the breasts so as to determine where to do the incision and the position of the scar at the end. Incision is done under the breast’s crease, around areolas (darker area that surrounds the nipple), or downward from the areolae to the crease. Excess breast skin is removed, tissues reshaped by placing stitches deeper within the breast and then nipple repositioned or reduced.
The expert Plastic Surgeon accompanies the patient throughout the entire process of recovery and healing, through scheduled follow-ups.
c) The Recovery
To reduce any discomfort, pain medication will be recommended up to two weeks. A surgical support bra over a gauze will cover the breasts, and tubes can be placed in the breasts to drain off fluid or excess blood.
The doctor will advise you on when to resume with the daily activities such as showering or washing your hair. The tubes that drain fluid should be removed after a few days and then the bandage maybe changed or removed completely. Some stitches dissolved, and others are removed after one to two weeks. Silicone tape or gel will be recommended to boost the healing process. You will continue to wear a surgical bra in the first few days then later a soft supporting bra for the next month.
Taking breast lift into consideration is not entirely for everyone especially if you are considering getting pregnant in the future, you can postpone the breast lift procedure until after having children.
Before And After Results
At Al Shunnar Plastic Surgery Dubai, we do our best to protect our patients’ confidentiality. That is why all the Before & After results are not available online, however, they will be shown during a consultation in the clinic only.
Meet Our Team
Our Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons have over 20 years’ surgical experience and are trained at some of the world’s best medical schools with a proven track record in UAE, the USA and Brazil.
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Buthainah Al Shunnar is an Emirati American Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience in breast surgery, body contouring, aesthetic facial surgery, hand surgery, post-cancer reconstruction and microsurgery, as well as non-invasive cosmetic procedures such as Botox, Dermal Fillers and PRP.
Dr. Buthainah Al-Shunnar
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Dr Kamal is an American Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience in aesthetic facial surgery, breast surgery, reconstructive surgery, body contouring, fat transfer and non-invasive cosmetic procedures such as Botox, Dermal Fillers and PRP.
Dr. Kamal Sawan
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Specialist Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Claudia Machado is a Brazilian Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience in aesthetic facial surgery, breast surgery, body contouring, fat transfer and minimal and non-invasive cosmetic procedures such as Botox, Dermal Fillers, PRP, Chemical peels, CO2 therapy and others.
Dr. Claudia Alves Silva Machado
Specialist Plastic Surgeon
Precautions
Although a Breast lift procedure is straight forward, it is important that the right level of intervention or treatment is determined and that the procedure, whether surgical or non-surgical be performed by a qualified expert plastic surgeon. A potential candidate has to fit in to certain criteria to be eligible for the procedure and should have;
- The breasts should have a flatter, or elongated shape
- The nipples and areolas point downwards
- Stretched skin on the breasts
- Enlarged areolas
- One breast lower than the other
- Maintain stable weight
- Be a non-smoker or can stop smoking for two weeks prior to the procedure
- Realistic expectations regarding the expected results
- Be in good health both physically and psychologically
What To Expect From A Breast Lift
Some of the benefits of a breast lift procedure include:
- Rounder and firmer breasts.
- Stretch marks will be reduced or eliminated completely.
- Self-esteem will be boosted
- Improved attitude towards the breasts
- Long lasting results
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell which one I need between a breast lift and breast augmentation?
A woman’s body goes through many physical changes throughout her lifetime. The breasts can lose their volume and youthful perkiness and sag on the chest. When considering breast augmentation, women also think about a breast lift.
To determine which one of the procedures would be best for you or if you should do both of them, there are factors to consider such as:
- This is how full or round your breasts are. If you are looking to restore volume and improve the shape of your breasts, a breast lift would be more beneficial to you as it addresses issues to do with laxity.
- Nipple position. If your nipples sit below the breast crease or point downward, you may be an ideal candidate for a breast lift. As the breast sag, the nipple sags as well, a breast lift the breast tissue and reposition the nipple/areola into a more appropriate position.
- Breast size. If you desire to increase your breast size or correct asymmetrical breasts, a breast augmentation would be the ideal procedure for you.
If you have all of the above concerns, you can opt to combine both breast augmentation and breast lift procedures to attain desired results.
Will I be able to breastfeed after the surgery?
You can successfully breastfeed your baby after undergoing breast lift surgery.
It is important during your consultation to tell your Plastic Surgeon about your goals. By explaining to your Plastic Surgeon that you want to breastfeed in the future, he/she will draw up a surgical plan with this in mind. He/she may place the incisions at a specific location, dissect the tissue differently, or make other modifications that will ensure your nipple ducts are preserved and prevent the formation of scar tissue. To avoid disturbing milk production, the central breast mound should be kept intact as much as possible.
What kind of questions should I ask my Plastic Surgeon during my breast lift consultation?
During your consultation on breast lift with your Plastic Surgeon, there are several questions you should ask him/her before you undergo the procedure. The questions are:
- Are you a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon?
- Do you specialize in a breast lifts?
- How often do you perform the procedure?
- May I see before-and-after pictures of some of your patients, including similar cases to mine?
- Where will my surgery be performed?
- Am I a good candidate for a breast lift?
- What are my options for a breast lift?
- How do I prepare for the procedure?
- How long will the breast lift surgery take?
- What are the risks of breast lift procedures?
- What does the breast lift procedure entail?
- What can I expect during recovery from breast lift surgery?
- How long will the results of the breast lift last?
What can I expect after my breast lift procedure?
The outcome of the breast lift procedure is based on the expertise and experience of the Plastic Surgeon as well as how well you follow the post-op instructions.
After the procedure, your breasts will be bandaged and you will be wearing a surgical bra. Small drainage tubes may be attached near the incisions to collect excess fluid and blood.
You will experience mild to moderate discomfort in the first three days but this usually subsides. You should be able to move around the house within a week but avoid lifting heavy weights, bending over, or raising your arms above the head. You should have been able to resume most of the activities a month after the surgery but still avoid strenuous activities or putting stress on the chest area.
Six weeks after the procedure you can stop wearing your compression bra and be back to all of your activities.
Will the scarring be visible?
A breast lift involves placing incisions in the skin, which put you at a risk for scarring. Working with an experienced Plastic Surgeon can minimize the risks known to cause scarring.
There are different breast lift techniques and they all involve different types of incisions. The incisions are usually thin and they heal quickly, leaving behind a red raised line in place of the incision. Over time the scar color fades to pink and then white. Avoid exposing the scarring to the sun as this can aggravate them and always use sunscreen on them.
Breast lift scars can always be concealed underneath clothing.
Which other procedures can be combined with a breast lift?
A breast lift procedure can be combined with breast augmentation surgery and performed simultaneously.
Most women who have lost a significant amount of weight or have given birth tend to combine these two procedures to attain better body proportions and to feel good about themselves.
Combining a breast lift with breast augmentation will lift and reshape your breasts as well as increase the cup size.
Will the breast lift procedure make my breasts appear larger or smaller?
A breast lift removes excess tissue, fat, and skin to lift the breast and also changes the profile of the breast. The breast tissue is repositioned, thereby decreasing the volume in the lower region of the breast but at the same time, the breast volume in the upper breast region is increased.
The result is that the breast size is somewhat decreased but this is quite minimal.
Patient Reviews
One of the most amazing clinics I’ve ever been to. Every time I visit, I truly feel special. The staff and nurses are all so kind and welcoming, and especially Dr. Buthainh Al Shunnar ماشالله, she is truly one of the best in the field.
I’m beyond amazed by my results. Her sutures are so clean, and everything was done perfectly with so much care and professionalism.
I’ll always be grateful to Dr. Buthainah and the Al Shunnar team. God bless you all and thank you for such an amazing experience
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Meet one of our experts at Al Shunnar Plastic Surgery for a personal consultation, to develop a tailor-made plan for you. Contact us or book an appointment and our patient care coordinators will identify the most suitable expert for you.
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