| Last year in the United States, approximately 60,000 | | | | I was thrilled with the ease and results of this new |
| women choose to have a Breast Lift (or Mastopexy), | | | | approach, and I've been using my Staple-First |
| a surgery that raises and reshapes breasts that have | | | | Technique ever since for women with moderately to |
| sagged from pregnancy, significant weight change, or | | | | severely ptotic (droopy) breasts. No matter what |
| the natural process of aging. A number of these | | | | women want size-wise, or how droopy or uneven |
| women, wanting more breast volume, had | | | | they are, I can produce consistent and predictable |
| augmentation with saline or silicone gel implants at the | | | | results more simply with my procedure than I've done |
| same time. | | | | in the past. To see before and after photos of women |
| Augmentation Mastopexy is a complex surgery that | | | | who have had this procedure, go to |
| challenges even the most skilled and experienced | | | | I documented my experience in the Sept. 2009 issue |
| plastic surgeon, who must deal with the opposing | | | | of the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, in an |
| forces required to make breasts fuller (by stretching | | | | article entitled "Augmentation Mastopexy for |
| the skin with implants) yet firmer (by tightening the skin | | | | Moderately to Severely Ptotic Breasts: Previsualizing |
| with a breast lift). | | | | Breast Shape and Symmetry With the Innovative and |
| For many years, like my colleagues, I would draw a | | | | Versatile Staple-First Technique." |
| complex pattern on the breast, remove some of the | | | | For me, the technique has taken the guesswork out |
| excess skin, and then tailor tack these tissues | | | | how much excess skin needs to be removed. I can |
| together. I would do the same on the other breast, and | | | | get the maximum lift and create the best symmetry |
| then trim excess skin multiple times to provide | | | | and shape in one simple step with the least amount of |
| maximum tightening and make sure that the breasts | | | | scarring. In addition, I can adjust for any asymmetry of |
| were still symmetrical. | | | | the breasts, which is common among women. |
| About six years ago, when I was performing an | | | | And because I no longer need to do multiple skin |
| Augmentation Mastopexy, the proverbial light bulb | | | | trimmings, the operative time is shorter, patients |
| went off: If I first tightened and tailored the breasts with | | | | receive less anesthesia, and their recuperation is |
| surgical skin staples, perhaps I could identify the total | | | | easier. |
| amount of excess skin to be removed and | | | | With the adage of measure twice, cut once, it is very |
| previsualize the final breast shape and symmetry | | | | comforting to preview the end result of an |
| before I made an incision. | | | | Augmentation Mastopexy before making an incision. |