Age, pregnancy, weight loss and many other factors can all contribute to changes in breast size and shape. Volume and nipple position are at the cornerstone of what defines a youthful breast and time can undermine that youthful profile. Yet sadly, the shape, symmetry, and positioning of your breasts can change quickly, losing volume and elasticity, showing unwelcome signs of drooping and sagging (ptosis); while nipples can descend and point down instead of out. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom at Bloom Plastic Surgery in Chicago, IL can help restore the size, shape, and symmetry of your breasts through combination surgery of breast augmentation (enlargement) and mastopexy (breast lift). More commonly known as an Augmentation-Mastopexy, which combines enhancing lost volume with either a breast implant, fat transfer or autoaugmentation with a lifting procedure to recenter the breast in the appropriate position on the chest.

If your breasts have lost volume due to a combination of childbirth, breastfeeding, weight loss, or aging, augmentation-mastopexy surgery can offer you naturally-beautiful breasts that either restore or enhance your natural physique.

Planning for a Successful Augmentation- Mastopexy

An augmentation-mastopexy is a highly customizable procedure with a range of options that enable you to choose exactly the size, shape, and feel of your new breasts. While the number of options can seem, at times, overwhelming, our goal is to walk you through each step of the planning process to ensure that you understand all of the options, the benefits and risks of each one, and how each option will impact your results, in order to ensure that your surgery results in the shapely, curvaceous physique you want.

Implants are available in silicone or saline.

• Silicone implants enable a natural look and feel, and are usually less likely to cause rippling or other unwelcome side effects that may impact the look of the breast. Silicone implants can offer moderate to ultra-high profiles, and are available in pre-filled sizes ranging from 175cc to 800cc.
• Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water after placement to a precise, customizable size. In case of a leak or rupture, the saline can be naturally reabsorbed by the body. Saline implants offer a moderate to high profile. Saline implants require a smaller incision and are easier to remove, but they are more prone to visible rippling.

Profile: The breast “profile” indicates the distance the implant will project from the body. In other words, a moderate profile implant will create a less prominent silhouette than a high profile implant.

Shape: Implants can be either spherical (round) or teardrop-shaped (anatomical). Round implants offer a soft, full, and round shape, while teardrop implants may offer greater stability and flexibility of shape over the more traditional round implants.

Texture: Implant may come with a smooth or textured surface. Whether smooth or textures is better often depends on the shape of the implant you want, the amount of natural breast tissue a patient has prior to surgery, and the assessed risk for capsular contracture (a complication in which the pocket of scar tissue around the implant hardens and squeezes the implant). Dr. Bloom exclusively uses smooth implants in his cases for their low risk profile.

Implant placement: Sub-muscular placement involves placing the implant underneath the chest muscle, while sub-glandular (sub-mammary) placement involves placing the implant between the chest muscle and breast tissue.

Incision placement: Your specific breast lift procedure will be individually-tailored depending on the degree of ptosis (drooping) you are experiencing and will most often be determined by the position of the nipple. If ptosis (sagging) is minimal, Dr. Bloom will utilize a dual plane technique combined with appropriate implant selection to lift the breasts without additional scarring. However, in patients with more significant ptosis an additional incision may be required to complete the augmentation-mastopexy procedure. This can be completed as a crescent lift, periareolar, circumvertical (lollipop lift), or a traditional anchor (wise pattern).

• Crescent Lift: For mild ptosis, Dr. Bloom will excise a crescent-shaped amount of skin from the top of the areola, using an incision along the areolar complex where the skin color changes in order to hide the scar.
• Circumareolar Lift: Also known as a Benelli lift, this lift involves excising a doughnut-shaped amount of skin around the areola. A purse-string type suture pulls and tightens the skin for additional lift. This procedure can also be used to reduce the size of the areola. Again, the incision is made around the areolar complex to minimize visible scarring.
• Vertical Lift: Appropriate for patients with more extensive ptosis, a vertical or “lollipop” lift removes excess or lax skin around the areolar complex and in a vertical line down to the crease underneath the breast
• Full Lift: This lift is appropriate for patients with extensive ptosis, and can completely change the appearance of severely drooping breasts. Also known as an “anchor lift” or wise pattern, the full lift involves removing excess skin along incisions around the areola, down the breast, and along the breast crease.

The Augmentation-Mastopexy Procedure and Recovery

An augmentation-mastopexy surgery usually lasts about 2-3 hours, and can be performed as an outpatient procedure under IV sedation or general anesthesia. After the procedure, the breasts will be softly bandaged with a soft bra to help the breasts heal in the proper shape. Dr Jacob Bloom utilizes techniques that do not require a drain after surgery. You should keep the bra and bandages on for at least two days, or until your first post-operative visit. Patients can begin showering within two days, facing away from the water while bathing. Patients should avoid submerging in water such as a bathtub, Jacuzzi or swimming pool, for at least 2 weeks until the incisions are waterproof. The most common side effects of an augmentation-mastopexy augmentation are moderate discomfort and mild swelling; Dr. Bloom will prescribe pain medication to help alleviate discomfort. Most patients find they need about a week of downtime before returning to light activities; all patients should avoid strenuous activity for at least four to six weeks to allow all swelling to subside and ensure complete healing. Dr. Bloom places incisions around the areola and underneath the breast to minimize scarring, and although scars are permanent, even scars in visible areas will fade over time until they are a barely noticeable to a fine white line.

Why Choose Dr. Bloom?

Why select Chicago-native Dr. Jacob Bloom as your cosmetic surgeon? Because you shouldn’t trust something as important as your appearance to just anyone! When you choose Dr. Bloom, you are choosing a warm and caring surgeon whom you can trust to make your health, your comfort, and your beauty his number one priority!

Lead plastic surgeon at Bloom Plastic Surgery in Chicago, IL, Dr. Jacob Bloom is Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. His extensive knowledge of today’s advanced surgical techniques, coupled with his years of medical training in New York and Harvard University, allow him to create customized treatment plans that can match the unique goals of each and every patient, while delivering long-lasting results that will subtly—yet still dramatically—enhance your natural beauty.

If you are interested in learning more about how to improve your physique through breast lift with Dr. Bloom, we encourage you to contact our office to schedule your consultation today. We look forward to hearing from you!