Age, pregnancy, and weight loss are major contributors to the changing appearance of the breasts. However, a small fix like a push-up bra doesn’t do much to improve your self-confidence or address the real issue long-term. If shapewear isn’t working for you any longer, breast procedures have become one of the most common cosmetic surgeries for women who want a permanent change.
Some women notice that their breasts have become droopy over time, which is when a breast lift comes into play. A breast lift removes excess skin and tightens the surrounding tissue. This raises the breasts and reshapes the area to give you a new contour.
Others may be suffering from the loss of volume in the breasts due to age, or simply never had volume in the first place. In this case, breast augmentation uses silicone or saline implants to enhance the area and increase fullness. When a lack of volume is accompanied by sagging breasts, you may be a candidate for both breast augmentation with a breast lift as a combination surgery.
Thousands of women choose this combination procedure to get fuller breasts that won’t droop or sag. But is this unique combination right for you? Board-certified plastic surgeon William Vinyard, MD, FACS of Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery (VIPS) works hard to understand your cosmetic goals. Our Port St. Lucie, FL practice commonly combines breast augmentation and breast lift procedures simultaneously so you can get the look you want. Learn more about our facility and the procedures below.
Candidates for Mastopexy and Breast Augmentation
Patients with small or average-sized breasts with signs of sagging are excellent candidates for a mastopexy, or breast lift. Our team in Port St. Lucie, FL introduces implants in addition to this procedure to add volume and firmness while making sure gravity doesn’t affect your results.
Breast augmentation combined with a breast lift works together to address several issues at the same time, including your breast shape, size, and position of the nipples. During your consultation at Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Vinyard will assess the area to understand whether a breast lift or a lift with implants will give you the results you want. This is determined by the size and position of your breasts as well as your own cosmetic goals. He will examine the position of the nipple, the quality of the breast tissue, and the amount of skin to make sure you are a good candidate for surgery. This is required in case you want to reposition the nipples so they don’t point in a downward direction.
There are many advances in conducting these two procedures at the same time. It avoids the risks of having two separate surgeries and helps patients avoid disappointing results in between. If we decide to move forward with breast augmentation, Dr. Vinyard will help you visualize the results by explaining the different implant options and sizes. He will also let you know what to expect during surgery and answer any questions you may have about the process.
What to Expect from the Combo of Breast Augmentation and a Breast Lift
This combination surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure at Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery in Port St. Lucie, FL. To relieve any anxiety and keep you feeling comfortable, we will discuss the sedation process, which includes general anesthesia. Most of the time, we perform the breast lift first to remove any loose skin and make sure the tissue is tightened properly. Dr. Vinyard then places the implants selected during your initial consultation. To match your new breasts, we may need to reposition the nipples or areolas as well.
Our facility uses what is called a lollipop incision to reduce damage to the tissue and keep the incision scar as small and unnoticeable as possible, even when wearing a bathing suit. A lollipop incision means we will make incisions from the bottom of the areola to the breast fold, and around the areola, resulting in a lollipop shape. This method is widely used and accepted by board-certified plastic surgeons all across the U.S. After the surgery, we will close the incision and transfer you to the recovery room, where our staff will monitor you until it is safe for you to be discharged. We ask that you ask a responsible adult to drive you to and from the procedure.
Recovery time varies for everyone, but you should be able to return to your normal, everyday activities within a week. However, we strongly suggest you refrain from exercise or other strenuous activities for 2 – 6 weeks. You may notice mild swelling that lasts for a few weeks in the meantime. Once the implants are settled into position, you will begin to see the gorgeous results. Remember to schedule follow-up appointments as requested by Dr. Vinyard so he can assess your progress and make sure everything turned out well. Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery can give you instructions about the scar so it heals properly. If you have questions or concerns about the procedure, our friendly staff is here for guidance.
Interested in Breast Augmentation and a Mastopexy?
You don’t have to deal with sagging, drooping breasts or a lack of volume any longer. To get the firmer, perkier results as described here, set up a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon William Vinyard, MD, FACS and the professional staff at Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery in Port St. Lucie, FL today.
