Advantages and disadvantages of periareolar breast lift

Unfortunately, women's breasts do not always remain firm and toned. With age, after childbirth and breastfeeding, it loses elasticity and stretches, causing the bust to sag and droop. Many representatives of the fair sex are very upset by this situation.

Periareolar mastopexy is a type of breast lift that restores its former firmness and shape.

What you need to know about this procedure

Areolar mastopexy is a plastic surgery to lift the bust and correct its shape. The essence of this method comes down to the following main steps:

• Excision of excess skin without affecting glandular tissue.
• Tightening of the skin around the areola.
• Implementation of a blocking circulation dermal suture.

After the procedure, a rounded scar is formed along the contour of the areola-juice area, which heals completely after some time.

Using this procedure, the following results can be achieved:

1. Return the nipple to its natural position in relation to the masonry under the breast.
2. Get rid of excess hanging skin.
3. Tighten the mammary glands.
4. Restore your bust's firmness and attractiveness.
5. Get rid of asymmetry.
6. If there are appropriate indications, reduce the diameter of the juice areola.

The procedure can be combined with a decrease or increase in bust size. To increase volumes, the installation of silicone implants will be required. Mastopexy is often performed in parallel with breast augmentation surgery.

Cost of the operation

The price of the service largely depends on the complexity of the operation, the region, the prestige of the clinic, and the number of tests required before the procedure.

The cost of mastopexy (excluding tests and preliminary examination by a doctor) starts from 66 thousand rubles; in Moscow, the average price starts from 300 thousand rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages of the technique

The periareolar breast lift has many features.

Methods for performing mastopexy

There are several techniques for performing mastopexy. Preference for specific methods is given depending on the desired result and the individual characteristics of the patient.

1. Vertical method. Suitable for moderate ptosis. The incision is made along the areola and goes to the inframammary fold. This method removes excess glandular tissue, as well as upward movement of the mammary gland and nipple.
2. T-shaped method. Used for pronounced sagging and stretching of the breast skin. The incision is carried out similarly to the vertical method. Additionally, an incision is made along the inframammary fold. The method is one of the most traumatic, but gives the best result.
3. Periareolar lift. Necessary for minimal stretching. A circular lift involves making an incision around the circle of the areola. This allows you to remove excess skin tissue without damaging the gland. The areolar mastopexy method involves securing the breast to the muscle using sutures. Circular mastopexy is one of the least traumatic methods of breast correction. It is suitable for small to medium sized breasts.

Depending on the chosen method, the specialist imposes restrictions and makes recommendations for the rehabilitation period. The accumulation of exudate in the wound can be avoided by applying drainage tubes. Self-absorbable threads are used for internal seams, and non-absorbable threads for external seams. They must be removed after 7-14 days.

Who is not allowed to have a breast lift?

Contraindications to the operation are:

1. The patient is a minor.
2. The presence of chronic viral infections.
3. Problems with blood clotting.
4. Mastopathy.
5. The presence of a tumor in the body.
6. Disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.
7. Presence of contraindications to pain relief.
8. Problems with blood pressure.
9. Problems with the nervous system.
10. Diabetes.
11. ARVI.
12. Exacerbation of acute somatic ailments.
13. Hormonal imbalances.
14. Reduced immunity.

Temporary contraindications to mastopexy include:

• pregnancy;
• lactation;
• problems with excess weight;
• progressive weight loss;
• the operation will not bring the patient the desired result.

Areolar mastopexy is performed only at the beginning stage of bust sagging. At later stages, the procedure is ineffective, since noticeable unaesthetic seams may remain on the body, and the breast lift will not be very noticeable.

When is areolar mastopexy necessary?

Surgical correction using the areolar method is carried out using incisions around the circumference of the pigmented area of ​​the areola. For minor problems, the incision is made only along the upper line of pigmentation, for larger ones - along the entire perimeter.

Indications for areolar lifting:

• Decreased breast elasticity and tone;
• Abundance of skin tissue in the areola area;
• Asymmetry or deformation of the nipples;
• Change in the shape of the glands in the areolar zone.

Contraindications include diseases of the endocrine, circulatory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems, as well as cancer, acute and chronic infections. In addition, the surgeon will not allow surgery on a pregnant woman or nursing mother.

Could there be complications?

The method of bust lifting under consideration is considered one of the safest. The risk of complications does not exceed three percent.

The most common side effects that occur after surgery include:

• The sutures do not heal for a long time (in a normal situation, the tissue should completely recover within a year).
• Instead of almost invisible stripes, ugly large scars remain.
• Asymmetry of the mammary glands.
• Reduction or loss of sensitivity in the nipples, both unilateral and bilateral.
• Hematoma formation.
• Development of necrosis.
• Seams coming apart.

The doctor’s experience and proper preparation for the procedure reduces the risk of complications to a minimum.

Preparing for surgery

Before mastopexy surgery, a comprehensive examination is prescribed, the purpose of which is to assess the general health of the patient, identify possible contraindications and determine a number of criteria important for choosing the type of anesthesia. The list of events includes:

• laboratory tests (blood and urine tests);
• ECG;
• fluorography;
• Ultrasound of the mammary glands;
• Doppler ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities.

According to indications, consultations with a mammologist, anesthesiologist, or therapist may be required. In addition, the patient is given recommendations for self-preparation (refusal to take medications that interfere with blood clotting, smoking and drinking alcohol, etc.).

Operation technology

During the procedure, the nipple is not separated from the skin; it is moved to a higher position, like a lifted breast. Excess sagging breast skin is also removed. There are several ways to perform a mastopexy. The choice of a specific technique depends on the degree of ptosis (drooping) of the mammary glands:

1. Half-moon cut.
2. Circular mastopexy.
3. T-shaped cut.
4. Vertical short seam technique.

Another important point is that mastopexy does not restore the structure of the glands, but lifts them and corrects their shape. One of the consequences of the procedure may be a reduction in bust size. Therefore, the operation is often combined with the installation of silicone implants to increase the size of the glands.

Preparation and collection of analyzes

To get good results with minimal risk to health, you need to take preparation seriously. The first stage is consultation with specialists. Before the procedure, a woman will need to consult the following doctors:

The second stage of preparation is passing the necessary tests. These include hardware and laboratory testing. Hardware methods:

• Fluorography.
• Electrocardiogram.
• Ultrasound examination.

List of tests for laboratory examination (they are taken on an empty stomach):

• Urine.
• Biochemistry of blood.
• Blood test for prothrombin, blood group, Rh factor, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis.

In some cases, an EEG is additionally prescribed to assess the functioning of the blood vessels in the brain, and a coagulogram to clarify the ability of blood to clot.

The results of the obtained analyzes are valid for ten days.

Half the success of the operation is competent preparation and collection of all necessary tests. Before carrying out the procedure, the doctor must understand the whole picture of the patient’s current condition and correctly compare the initial data with the woman’s expectations.

Two weeks before surgery, the patient should:

1. Start following a proper diet (exclude fatty, fried, smoked foods, alcohol).
2. Stop smoking (nicotine doubles the risk of developing postoperative thrombosis);
3. Stop using hormonal contraceptives.

A week before surgery, you should avoid using blood thinners and stop active sports and training.

The anesthesiologist must be informed of all medications taken in the week before surgery.

Ways to perform a lift

Before the operation itself, the surgeon uses a measuring tape to make markings on the patient’s chest, which allows the incisions to be made in the correct place during the procedure and prevents the development of asymmetry of the glands after the operation. Next, the skin of the chest is treated with an antiseptic solution, and anesthesia is administered.

The method of performing the operation depends on the stage of breast ptosis. There are four methods of performing mastopexy:

The following types of mastopexy are also distinguished:

1. Accompanied by reduction - breast lift and reduction due to tissue removal.
2. Lifting without excision of tissue.
3. Bust lifting and enlargement with implants.
4. Without the use of suture accessories, when lifting is done using tissue excision.
5. To tighten the bust, special tightening threads are used - they are pulled under the skin and fix the bust and adjust its shape.

Drainage is installed to drain liquids. The sutures are placed using a self-absorbing thread, which will not need to be removed later - it will dissolve on its own. After the procedure, a support bandage must be applied to the chest, and compression garments are also used.

Postoperative period

The operation lasts from one and a half to three hours. The patient is then transported to the ward. If everything went well, the woman is kept in the hospital for about three days under the supervision of a surgeon and anesthesiologist.

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. Therefore, during the period of departure from it, the patient may feel severe pain. In this case, the doctor prescribes a pain reliever. It is usually taken for up to 7 days.

In the first couple of hours after mastopexy, it is not recommended to drink water or eat. This may lead to vomiting. If you are thirsty, you can moisten a napkin with water and apply it to your lips. It is also forbidden to raise your arms up or overload yourself physically.

If everything went well, the drainage tube, which serves to drain lymph and blood, is removed on the second day. If the outflow of fluid is strong, it is left for a couple of days.

It is also necessary to change the bandages to prevent infection. In the hospital this is done by junior medical staff. In addition, it is important to prepare comfortable post-operative underwear.

In general, discharge is carried out on the third day after surgery; in some clinics, discharge is carried out the very next day (in the absence of complications).

Indications and contraindications for mastopexy

There are a number of situations in which breast lift is indicated. They are associated with a sharp stretching of the skin on the chest as a result of weight loss or other factors.

Mastopexy is recommended in the following cases:

• appearance and excess skin on the chest after breastfeeding,
• loss of tone in the pectoral muscles after sudden weight loss,
• sagging breasts and loss of muscle tone as a result of age-related changes,
• the need to maintain a beautiful breast shape without the use of implants.

The operation will also help solve the problem of the nature of a flat chest and displacement of the nipple and areola beyond the inframammary line.

Like other surgical interventions, mastopexy has a number of contraindications.

Direct prohibitions on intervention are:

• pregnancy and breastfeeding period,
• the presence of neoplasms in the breast, regardless of their nature,
• acute infectious diseases,
• diseases of the heart, blood vessels, endocrine system, liver, kidneys,
• obesity,
• neurological and mental disorders.

It is also not recommended to tighten the bust in case of an expected pregnancy in the future. Breast correction may not be effective as a result of hormonal changes that occur in the body.

Further rehabilitation and important recommendations

The duration of the rehabilitation period depends on the individual characteristics of the woman and the success of the operation itself. In general, it takes from one and a half to two months. For the first one and a half to two weeks, the patient must visit the clinic to have dressings done. During dressings, the seams must be treated with an antiseptic - alcohol solutions, brilliant green, iodine, peroxide, etc.

During rehabilitation, great attention should be paid to caring for sutures. Physiotherapeutic procedures may be prescribed to heal the sutures. After five or six sessions they lighten and become almost invisible.

To quickly heal sutures and scars, special creams can be used (Contractubex, Mederma, Solcoseryl, Methyluracil ointment, etc.), but a silicone patch (Cosmopor, Mepiform, Hudrofilm) helps best. It is glued over the scar, and after a week it must be replaced with a new one.

Creams are used only from the second week after the procedure. Typically, their use lasts up to six months. They promote scar healing and lightening. One month after surgery, you can use regular moisturizers and breast skin care products (they should not contain vitamin E).

For the first days after surgery, it is recommended to sleep only on your back. If a woman’s health worsens, dizziness, bleeding, nausea occur, or her nipples lose sensitivity, she should immediately seek medical help.

After the operation it is prohibited:

1. Make active movements with your hands.
2. Sleep on your stomach.
3. Injure the chest.
4. Heave.
5. Visiting baths and saunas.
6. Hypothermia.
7. Visiting the solarium and sunbathing.
8. Use of contraceptives.
9. Abuse smoking and alcohol.

In the first two to three weeks after the procedure, it is recommended to abstain from intimate life.

During the rehabilitation period, it is imperative to wear compression garments selected according to individual parameters. In the first month, the bra is worn both day and night, and then, if the dynamics of recovery are positive, the specialist may allow you to remove the underwear before going to bed.

Sports training can be started only two months after surgery, after consulting with your doctor. At the same time, you should not start with running, jumping, exercises with dumbbells, or weights. Increase the load gradually.

Advantages of periareolar mastopexy

Areolar mastopexy is one of the rare plastic surgery methods suitable for patients with thin, loose or thinned skin. In addition, plastic surgeons promise:

• minimal tissue trauma;
• short rehabilitation period;
• minimal pain after surgery;
• a lasting result that is clearly visible (which can be easily assessed from photographs of patients before and after the procedure);
• thin and inconspicuous scars hidden by dark skin around the nipple;
• improving the shape of the areola and its location (the nipple rises to the desired height).

The operation is considered the least traumatic for breast tissue of all interventions of this type.

Reviews from women

Ekaterina: After the second birth, my breasts sagged noticeably, which became the reason for endless depression. I thought for a long time and was worried about the results of such an operation, but I finally decided, and I don’t regret it one bit. The operation itself lasted about 1.5 hours. She recovered completely within a few months. A year later there was no trace of the stitches left.

Angela: I had surgery a year ago. I'm impressed with the result. The breasts became firm, toned and round. My husband really likes it. The first week it hurt a lot, I had to take painkillers. Then the pain subsided. The scar is now almost invisible. I am very pleased with the operation performed. The main thing is to find a good specialist and undergo good training.

Rita: I had to do several surgeries, since I was already in the third form of ptosis. The disadvantage is a lot of examinations, tests, painful recovery from anesthesia. But it's worth it. The chest has changed significantly. She has become elastic and attractive, which greatly adds to her self-confidence.

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1 ratings, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Main objectives of the operation

The main reasons for mastopexy are aesthetic. The circular lift can be used for:

• raising the nipples to the desired level;
• removing excess skin;
• eliminating breast asymmetry;
• light lift;
• reducing the size of the areola.

To make the effect after surgery more effective, the surgeon must examine the breast and measure all the necessary parameters. To determine where the nipple will be, the doctor must determine at what level the skin fold under the breast is, and then make preliminary markings. The lines will help the surgeon perform the operation faster, since he will not have to guess by eye where and how long to make the incisions.

T-cut

It is useful for patients with severe ptosis to know how a breast lift using the anchor method works, since this technique is the most effective for this situation. The surgical technique is very complex, but the final result is impressive. During the operation, a considerable amount of tissue is excised. This technique involves the largest number of cuts, but you should not be afraid of any marks. As with other types of lifts, much depends on the skill of the surgeon and the patient's approach to rehabilitation. If everything was done correctly, then only thin pale stripes will remain at the incision sites, which are very difficult to see.

Recovery time

The first day the patient is in the hospital under the supervision of doctors. Vomiting and nausea after recovering from anesthesia are a normal reaction of the body to the surgery experienced. Once the effect of the analgesics wears off, the patient may experience chest pain and swelling will become more noticeable. To reduce the intensity of these symptoms to a minimum, in the postoperative period you need to:

• wear special underwear;
• try not to raise your hands;
• do not make sudden movements;
• stick to positions that place the least amount of stress on the seams.

If no complications arise on the first day, the patient is discharged the next day after surgery. At home, it is important to follow all doctor’s instructions so that the stitches heal faster and there are no complications.

The surgeon will explain what you need to do at home after surgery. The list of standard recommendations includes the following tips:

Scars will be fully formed after 4 months. After the same period, the swelling will completely subside, and only then can the results of the procedure be finally assessed.

How is the operation performed?

Since on average the procedure lasts 1.5-2 hours (sometimes longer - up to 3), general anesthesia is most often used. The operation itself is simple:

1. Based on the markings, the surgeon makes incisions around the nipple.
2. The skin ring is removed.
3. The nipple and tissue edges are sewn together.
4. The seams are treated with an antiseptic.
5. A surgical plaster is placed on top of the sutures to prevent the edges from coming apart due to tension during the first time after surgery.

Self-absorbable threads are used to stitch tissue inside the wound, and the external seam is made of nylon. In some cases, a special tube is inserted into the wound, through which excess fluid drains.

How to prepare for surgery

In order for surgery to be successful and without risks, you need to properly prepare for it.

First of all, you need to undergo medical examinations to make sure there are no contraindications. The second part of the preparation consists of some restrictions on food and habits that need to be introduced a few days before the procedure.

Medical examination

First of all, you will need to do a number of tests:

You will also need to know exactly your blood type and Rh factor. In addition to tests, you need:

• mammography;
• fluorography.

You will need to visit a GP to check your general health. Consultations with a surgeon and mammologist are also required. If the patient has vascular diseases or chronic diseases, it is necessary to undergo examination by specialized doctors. You need to do all the tests and see the doctors 14 days before the intervention, this is how long the results are valid.

Restrictions before surgery

Some time before the operation you will have to give up a number of habits and change your diet: