Case Example: Breast Lift With Mesh

Naturally, patients over 30 begin to lose the elasticity of their skin. The best way to think about your skin is to imagine it as a rubber band. When we’re young, our skin is like a new rubber band, fresh and highly elastic. When we stretch the rubber band out and let go, it snaps back into place. However, the band gradually loosens with each stretch and loses elasticity over time. As we age, our skin’s elasticity starts to fade. Much like the rubber band, our skin doesn’t snap back as quickly or may even stay stretched out.

This natural aging phenomenon, in combination with other factors such as genetics, a history of pregnancy/breastfeeding, and large weight fluctuations, can lead to breast sagging, or ptosis (pronounced “Toe-sis”) as it’s known in plastic surgery. Breast ptosis is one of the most common reasons patients come to see me.

Table of Contents

• This Patient’s Main Concern: Shape Over Size
• Why a Breast Lift Was the Right Approach
• When Other Procedures May Be Recommended
• What the Heck Is an “Internal Bra?”
• The Final Result
• Case Summary

This Patient’s Main Concern: Shape Over Size

I recently met a young woman who had never been pregnant and had not experienced much change in her weight since puberty. She was, however, unhappy with the appearance of her breasts and felt they lacked youthful perkiness and shape:

Whenever a patient mentions “shape,” it’s important to ask: “When you’re wearing a bra, do you like your volume?” If patients think their breasts are too big, then a breast reduction or lift may be a more appropriate discussion.

In this case, she did like her breast volume while in a bra, just not her breast shape. In other words, she felt like her breasts were about 10 years older than she was.

Patients with sagging breasts rarely have a sense of how much natural volume they may have. This may be because the volume isn’t sitting where they want it to, or the volume is spread out due to loose, stretched breast tissue.

Why a Breast Lift Was the Right Approach

I see patients like this so commonly in my clinic; someone who isn’t looking for a big change to their breasts but just some fine-tuning of their natural anatomy. This is the perfect candidate for a mastopexy, or breast lift.

This procedure typically involves:

• Reducing the size of the areola
• Repositioning the areola to a higher position on the chest wall (see pre-operative planning figure below)
• Tightening the breast skin to improve shape and “sculpt” the natural breast volume

When Other Procedures May Be Recommended

In certain cases, I may recommend additional procedures such as:

• Using the patient’s own fat to add some additional volume to the upper pole of the breasts (fat grafting)
• Using an absorbable mesh to reinforce the lift, or rebuild the “infrastructure” of the breast

In this patient’s case, I recommended both fat grafting and an “internal bra” of mesh for added support.

What the Heck Is an “Internal Bra?”

One of the biggest plastic surgery buzz terms on the internet and social media is “internal bra”. So, what is it? This is a big topic that deserves a lot of attention. For a complete description, please see my blog: “What Is an ‘Internal Bra’ in Breast Surgery?”. For our purposes, the mesh is used to strengthen the breast lift and make it longer-lasting.

Showing patients their operative plan is critical to help them understand what they are signing up for!

This patient’s plan, shown below, includes:

• New nipple/areola position
• Use of an internal mesh bra
• Areas of volume to be added with fat grafting

The Final Result

Three months out, and the patient is thrilled! The breast tissue is lifted on the chest and reshaped, giving her a rejuvenated, perky, and fuller appearance. Notice how much bigger the breasts seem, even though no volume was added to the breasts themselves.

In the patient’s own words: “The outcome exceeded everything I hoped for. My mastopexy gave me back a sense of confidence I didn’t realize I had lost—it was absolutely worth it.”

Case Summary

• Total Time: 3.5 hours
• Surgeon’s Fee: $14,850
• Mesh: $750
• Anesthesia Fee: $2058
• Facility (operating room) Fee: $3300

Schedule Your Breast Lift Consultation in Seattle, WA

If you feel like your breast shape doesn’t reflect how you see yourself, a breast lift can restore a more youthful, balanced chest contour. However, every patient’s anatomy is unique, so you need experienced, detailed, and coordinated surgeons for the job.

If you’re prepared to take the next step in addressing your breast ptosis concerns through a breast lift, schedule a personalized consultation at our office. To get in touch with me today, call (206) 320-6138 or complete our online contact form.