Breast Lift with Implant Augmentation in Orange County & Newport Beach

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Procedure: Improvement in breast contour and nipple areola position by transfer of the nipple areola complex to a higher more aesthetically pleasing position and to improve upper pole fullness and increase medial breast cleavage with synchronous implant augmentation.

Length: 2 to 4 hours of operative time.

Anesthesia: General anesthesia

Place of Treatment: Outpatient surgical suite or hospital operating room.

Recovery: The recovery period for breast lift with implant surgery is 4 to 6 weeks. Most patients may return to work at 4 weeks and may resume all physical activity at 6 weeks.

Duration of Results: As long as patients do not have significant weight gain or loss and do not become pregnant, they can enjoy a lifetime of aesthetically pleasing shaped breasts. Late revisions are needed if a breast becomes distorted (due to thickening of the capsule surrounding the implant, termed capsular contracture) or sagging of breast tissue off of the implant due to the normal aging process.

Side Effects: Side effects are events that may be experienced by patients as a result of your surgery and should not be considered adverse events. Our patients are counseled regarding these effects and if experienced they are tolerable and often temporary in duration.

1. Numbness: Swelling after surgery usually results in loss of feeling in the breast and nipple area during the first several weeks.  This impairment should be temporary and last no longer than a few months.  In some cases, the loss of feeling can last longer following inadvertent injury to sensory nerves during surgical dissection. Clinically, the peri-areolar incision has been associated with increased incidence of numbness since the dissection is closer to the nerves. Fortunately, numbness is an infrequent event and when present resolves itself over 2 to 3 months.
2. Hypertrophic scar: Hypertrophic scarring refers to the development of a thickened scar over the surgical incision line. The risk of hypertrophic scarring is minimized during surgery with the use of long lasting internal suture material and appropriate surgical maneuvers taken by Dr. Mowlavi to minimize tension on the surgical incision lines.
3. Breast/Nipple asymmetry: Depending on the severity of preoperative breast asymmetry, minimal differences in breast size and shape and/or nipple position may persist but these should be subtle and drastically improved from the preoperative state.
4. Nursing difficulty: Common assumption is that breast lift surgery may adversely affect breast feeding potential.  However, this risk is difficult to quantitate since 50% of mothers who have never had breast surgery also struggle with lactation.
5. High riding implants: Patient’s frequently notice high riding implants in the early postoperative period. The implants will drop into their desired, aesthetically pleasing position within 2 to 4 weeks. The tendency for the implants to sit high is countered by wearing of a breast band, which will be provided by your plastic surgeon. The breast band will be worn for approximately 2 to 4 weeks until the implants fall into their desired space. In addition, Dr. Mowlavi will counsel you regarding minimizing use of your pectoralis muscles in the early postoperative period which will additionally protect you from this side effect.
6. Capsule formation: Capsule formation refers to the normal formation of a scar around an implant. This scar should remain thin; but when thickened, it is termed capsular contracture and can result in distortion of the overlying breast. Capsular contracture is rarely observed with saline implants and has been minimally observed with the use of new generation silicone implants.
7. Deflation: Deflation of the implants occurs at a rate of 1% per implant per year. So in 10 years there is a 10% chance of having an implant deflate.

Risks: Risks are unwanted events that may occur during or following surgery. These events are recognized as “complications” but their occurrence is minimized by appropriate patient selection, proper surgical decision making, effective surgical technique, and thorough preoperative and postoperative patient management.

1. Hematoma: Hematoma refers to the accumulation of blood in the breast pocket in the early postoperative period. Hematomas provide an ideal medium for the growth of bacteria. If you have an infection elsewhere in your body, the bacteria will travel through the blood stream and find the hematoma. Additionally, hematomas can promote incision breakdown and even overlying breast skin compromise.
2. Seroma: Seroma formation refers to the accumulation of plasma fluid in surgical pockets due to disruption of lymphatic vessels. Patients may be prone to seromas if they possess a low blood count or have protein deficiency. Seromas can be a nuisance to patients requiring several aspirations in the office prior to their resolution. Additionally, these plasma filled pockets may harbor bacterial growth resulting in an infection.
3. Infection: An infection can occur following breast lift surgery. The infection may disrupt incision lines and may leave the patient with an open wound. Prolonged antibiotics are required to fight the infection and to prevent further extension of the infection. Infections are less likely in patients who don’t smoke cigarettes or in patients who quit smoking for at least 1 month prior to surgery.
4. Skin edge death/open wound: The skin incision can be disrupted if the skin edge dies or if there is local infection. This complication is best avoided by counseling patients on the terrible consequences of nicotine in cigarettes. Nicotine constricts small vessels found in the skin which are critical for the healing of the skin edge. As a result, patients are urged to quit smoking for at least 1 month prior to surgery. In addition, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to the undesired sloughing of the skin. Diabetic patients are urged to be vigilant about controlling their blood sugar levels prior to surgery. If patients develop an open wound, they will require prolonged antibiotics and local wound care with frequent dressing changes. Delays in healing will compromise the aesthetics of your surgical incision line.
5. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may occur in the legs immediately following surgery. DVT refers to the clotting off of leg veins which may result in compromised blood flow return from the legs; a more critical consequence may develop from this clot if it is dislodged and travels to the lungs causing a pulmonary emboli. Although rare, pulmonary emboli are the leading cause of death following surgery. DVT’s are avoided with routine use of pneumatic compression boots during surgery and encouraging patients to walk as soon as possible following surgery.
6. Pneumothorax: A pneumothorax refers to the inadvertent puncturing of the lining that covers your lungs. This is a rare event but can occur since implants are placed under the pectoralis muscle. When dissecting under the muscle, only a few millimeters of tissue separate the breast pocket from the lung lining. If the lung lining is punctured, the surgeon will have to place a catheter into the lung cavity and seal the lung lining at the end of surgery. You will require overnight hospitalization and removal of the catheter the following day prior to going home.