| Last year in the United States, approximately 60,000 | | | | true. |
| women chose to have a Breast Lift (or Mastopexy), a | | | | Over a five-year period, I used this technique on 45 |
| surgery that raises and reshapes breasts that have | | | | patients. The findings were published in the Sept. 2009 |
| sagged from pregnancy, significant weight change, or | | | | issue of the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, in |
| the natural process of aging. A number of these | | | | an article entitled "Augmentation Mastopexy for |
| women, wanting more breast volume, had | | | | Moderately to Severely Ptotic Breasts: Previsualizing |
| augmentation with saline or silicone gel implants at the | | | | Breast Shape and Symmetry With the Innovative and |
| same time. | | | | Versatile Staple-First Technique." |
| Augmentation Mastopexy is a complex surgery that | | | | This new approach is especially useful for women with |
| challenges even the most skilled and experienced | | | | moderately to severely ptotic (droopy) breasts. No |
| plastic surgeon, who must deal with the opposing | | | | matter what women want size-wise, or how droopy |
| forces required to make breasts fuller (by stretching | | | | or uneven they are, the surgeon can produce |
| the skin with implants) yet firmer (by tightening the skin | | | | consistent and predictable results. |
| with a breast lift). | | | | For me, the technique has taken the guesswork out |
| To do this surgery, plastic surgeons commonly draw a | | | | how much excess skin needs to be removed. It allows |
| complex pattern on the breast, remove some of the | | | | the surgeon to get the maximum lift and create the |
| excess skin, and then tailor tack these tissues | | | | best symmetry and shape in one simple step with the |
| together. They do the same on the other breast, and | | | | least amount of scarring. In addition, it allows the |
| then trim excess skin multiple times to provide | | | | surgeon to adjust for any asymmetry of the breasts, |
| maximum tightening and make sure that the breasts | | | | which is common among women. |
| were still symmetrical. | | | | And because there is no longer the need to do multiple |
| About six years ago, when I was performing an | | | | skin trimmings, the operative time is shorter, patients |
| Augmentation Mastopexy, the proverbial light bulb | | | | receive less anesthesia, and their recuperation is |
| went off: If a surgeon tightens and tailors the breasts | | | | easier. |
| first with surgical skin staples, perhaps he or she could | | | | With the adage of measure twice, cut once, it is very |
| identify the total amount of excess skin to be | | | | comforting to preview the end result of an |
| removed and previsualize the final breast shape and | | | | Augmentation Mastopexy before making an incision. |
| symmetry before making an incision. I found this to be | | | | |