BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON IN RENO

Women who are unhappy with the appearance of their breasts and have an undesirable degree of breast ptosis (sagging) are good candidates for breast lift surgery. Dr. Dahan will evaluate your condition and classify you in the appropriate breast ptosis category. By assessing the position of the nipple in relation to the breast inframammary crease, the degree of breast ptosis can be measured.

Based on the degree of breast ptosis (mild, moderate or severe), Dr. Dahan will recommend the best breast lift technique for you. You must be in good health and a nonsmoker. It is advised that smokers quit 4-6 weeks before and after surgery.

Breast lift surgery should be delayed if you plan to have future pregnancies are currently or in the future plan to nurse. Dr. Dahan recommends waiting at least 1-3 months after you discontinue nursing (dry) before proceeding with breast lift surgery. Pregnancy and nursing will definitely affect the results of breast lift surgery as it will lead to engorgement of the breasts, stretch marks, breast tissue, and skin laxity, and recurrent breast sagging.

The majority of patients who have undergone breast lift surgery should be able to nurse in the future. Obviously, if a woman was unable to nurse a child prior to undergoing breast lift surgery, she will likely not be able to nurse after breast lift surgery.

There are 4 breast lift techniques that are currently used on patients with breast ptosis. None of these techniques involve removing the nipple-areola complex and tend to preserve nipple sensation and the ability to nurse. Breast ptosis has 3 grades based on the position of the nipple relative to the inframammary fold. The 4 breast lift techniques are:

• Crescent Mastopexy.
• Circumareolar Mastopexy (Benelli Lift or Doughnut Lift).
• Vertical Mastopexy (Vertical Lift or Lollipop Lift).
• Wise Pattern Mastopexy (Full Lift or Anchor Lift).

For patients with only slightly low position of one or both nipple areola complexes, the Crescent Mastopexy is the treatment of choice. In this procedure, an ellipse of skin is removed above the nipple areola complex to place it in the desired position with minimal scar. This technique is limited to patients requiring only approximately an inch of nipple areola complex and breast lift.

For patients with minimal to moderate breast ptosis and dense, well-formed breasts, the Circumareolar Mastopexy (Benelli Lift or Doughnut Lift) is a good option. This technique resizes the nipple areola complex and removes circumferential excess areola and breast skin allowing the nipple areola complex and breast to be placed in a more desired position with minimal circumareolar scar. A permanent purse string suture is placed to maintain the new breast position and areola size. Dr. Dahan has performed hundreds of the Circumareolar Mastopexy especially in patients requesting breast augmentation at the same time.

The Vertical Mastopexy (Vertical Lift or Lollipop Lift) is performed on women with moderate to severe breast ptosis. This technique is excellent in patients who have moderate to large breasts and wish to have a breast lift with or without breast implant augmentation. The vertical mastopexy is the most common breast lift technique. It is performed in women who do not wish to have breast implant augmentation at the same time or who wish to remove their breast implants and require a breast lift. Dr. Dahan is one of the only plastic surgeons in Nevada who uses a vertical breast lift technique. This technique lifts and repositions the bottomed-out lower portion of the breast under the upper portion of the breast where it is sutured to the muscle. This enhances the shape and contour of the breast while lifting the breast.

In Dr. Dahan’s hands, this technique results in a breast with a longer lasting younger appearing shape and projection. Dr. Dahan has performed hundreds of the vertical mastopexy with great results.* This technique results in a more youthful and attractive breast which is also longer lasting compared to most other vertical breast lift techniques. Dr. Dahan’s vertical mastopexy technique also resizes the nipple areolar complex and removes circumferential excess areola and breast skin as well as lower mid vertical breast skin. This allows the nipple areola complex and breast to be placed in a more desired position with minimal circumareolar and vertical lower breast scar (lollipop).

Finally, the Wise Pattern Mastopexy (Full Lift or Anchor Lift) is reserved for patients with severe breast ptosis usually related to large breasts, significant weight loss, pregnancy and nursing. These women also tend to have thin skin with abundant stretch marks and very poor support of the breast tissue. Dr. Dahan performs a technique similar to the vertical mastopexy, but also excises lower breast skin at the inframammary fold to further tighten and reposition the breast tissue. Dr. Dahan has performed hundreds these breast lifts with excellent results as well.*