Although many women who wanted to have their breasts enlarged prefer larger breasts with minimal scarring, some women want a combination of both a breast lift (mastopexy) and breast augmentation. For the woman seeking a breast augmentation, often the surgical decision process is more complex. Your plastic surgeon will evaluate you whether a breast lift may be necessary or not. If one would need a mastopexy, the degree of ptosis (sagging of the breasts) will determine what kind of breast lift procedure would be necessary. The kind of mastopexy procedure would affect the degree and extent of scarring one would have.
Another question one should ask would be "when should the breast lift be performed?" Should it be performed before or after you undergo breast augmentation? These are questions that one should ask your plastic surgeon before you undergo your breast surgery.
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| Red Brassiere (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons) |
Fast Facts about Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation
- The complication rate of primary breast augmentation (1st time one is having breast augmentation) is approximately 1.7% over a three-year period (Scott Spear's study).
- The complication rate of a revision or re-do breast augmentation is ~ 21.6%.
- The complication rate of a simultaneous primary breast augmentation with mastopexy (1st time of having breast implant surgery with a breast lift performed at the same time) is approximately 17.4% over a three-year period (Scott Spear's study).
- The complication rate of a revision breast augmentation with a breast lift is ~ 23.3%.
- Simultaneous breast augmentation/mastopexy (breast augmentation & breast lift done at the same time) has an early revision rate (need to revise the surgery) of approximately 8% in one study.
Potential Complications of a Breast Lift
- Wound separation/dehiscence
- Partial or total nipple loss
- Need for further surgery (Revision)
- Undesirable/unattractive scarring
- Inadequate ptosis correction (correction of sagging of the breasts) and recurrent ptosis
- Breast asymmetry and malposition of the nipple
- Loss of nipple sensibility
- Infection
Emmanuel De La Cruz M.D.
Houston Plastic Surgeon
Reference:
Atlanta Breast Symposium 2011
Rancati, et al. Simultaneous augmentation and periareolar mastopexy: selecting the correct implant. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2010 Feb;34(1):33-9;
Spear et al. Augmentation/Mastopexy: A 3-Year Review of a Single Surgeon’s Practice. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 118 (Suppl.): 136S, 2006
Spear, Scott. Augmentation/Mastopexy: Surgeon Beware. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 118 (Suppl.): 136S, 2006
Date updated: 2/10/2011
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