breast-procedures

Breast Lift Surgery

Indications for a breast lift include:

  • Sagging of breast tissue.
  • Downward facing nipple.
  • Restoration of breast shape after breastfeeding.
  • Skin stretch following weight loss.

A breast lift, or mastopexy, involves repositioning the breast tissue and nipple on the chest wall, restoring a youthful appearance and feel. Consequently, there is improved upper breast fullness and cleavage with centralization of the nipple over the projecting breast tissue. Nipple sensation is retained and scars fade with time. There are many causes for breast decent, or ptosis, and these must be carefully taken into account when deciding on the optimal surgical procedure. Common causes include post-pregnancy volume loss, weight loss and aging. In some instances, the native breast tissue volume is insufficient to create the desired result. In these cases, a breast implant (silicone or saline) may also be required to achieve the desired volume, shape and projection. Anticipating this requires expertise and careful consideration on the part of the surgeon.

An aesthetically pleasing breast lift involves addressing the breasts themselves as well as the surrounding tissues, a component that is often ignored. A beautiful painting is complemented by the frame, which in this case is the axillary, or armpit, and lateral chest “bra fat”. Your initial consult will include an evaluation of these regions as potential targets for treatment. This attention to detail can significantly enhance a breast surgery result.

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The Breast Lift Procedure

RESTORE YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE & FEEL

Breast shape changes with time and life events like pregnancy and weight loss. In patients who have adequate breast volume, restoring the breast to a natural shape and position is possible without an implant. Your breasts, tailored to you.

Types of Breast Lifts

Measurements will be taken to facilitate incision location, lift technique and implant choice, if required.

The incision is disguised in the upper areolar margin and generally heals very well. The crescent lift is only used in cases that involve minimal nipple malposition.

The incision is disguised in the areolar margin with a vertical extension to the breast crease, allowing the skin to be more aggressively tightened while simultaneously elevating the nipple and areola. There is less scarring than the anchor lift and the areola can often be reduced in size if the patient desires. This technique is useful in patients with mild to moderate breast ptosis.

The incision is similar to the lollipop incision in that it is disguised in the areolar margin with a vertical extension to the breast crease. There is an additional horizontal incision that is hidden in the breast crease, which allows for maximal skin removal, tightening and nipple/areolar repositioning. The areolas can be reduced in size if the patient desires. This technique is useful in patients with moderate to severe breast ptosis.

What to Expect

All procedures are done in a balanced and natural esthetic.

Consultation

During the in-depth consultation, we will thoroughly review your goals and expectations. Patients are encouraged to bring photographs of several breast results that best represent their desired look. These will not only help me understand the result you have imagined but also shape our discussion on how your goals will be achieved. In some instances, this may necessitate just a lift. In others, a lift as well as an implant will be required. This is a decision we will make together after a thorough discussion of the risks and benefits of each portion of the procedure.

During your consultation, many measurements are recorded, which ultimately facilitate incision location, lift technique and implant choice, if required. Implants are either silicone or saline, and this is a decision that we will make together. Breast implants have been rigorously studied, demonstrating saline and silicone to have equivalent safety profiles.

Surgery

Surgery is performed at an accredited surgery center in Newport Beach, California, USA and typically lasts 1-3 hours depending on the degree of shaping required to achieve your desired look. Under the care of a Board Certified Anesthesiologist, general anesthesia (fully asleep) is used to ensure maximal comfort and safety.

There are several different ways to approach a breast lift and the incisions used will depend on the existing breast size and shape. Three typical lift procedures include the crescent lift, lollipop lift, and anchor lift. Care is taken to place the incisions in existing creases so as to minimize the long-term visibility of scars.

PRE-OPERATIVE GUIDANCE

1. Stop all Aspirin, Motrin, Aleve, Fish Oil, Supplements with Omega 3, Ginger, Garlic, Ginkgo Biloba and Turmeric – as these will thin the blood and complicate the surgery. You may take Tylenol as needed.
2. Medications – please notify us of any medications or supplements that you take regularly so that we may advise you appropriately.
3. Please fill all prescriptions prior to surgery so that they may be started immediately upon returning home.
4. Please no recreational drug use or smoking 4 weeks prior to and after the surgery.
5. Please have lab work completed 1-2 weeks prior to surgery.
6. Contact us immediately if you have any change in your health between your pre-operative visit and the surgery date.
7. Arrange for a driver to pick you up from the surgery center. Uber or Lyft are not acceptable. The driver does not have to remain onsite during surgery. they will be called when you are ready to be discharged from the recovery unit.
8. Make sure you have a responsible adult stay with you for the first 24-48 hours following surgery – this is for your safety.
9. DO NOT EAT OR DRINK AFTER MIDNIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY.

Visualizing the volumetric breast change on your own body can be invaluable to the surgical planning process! The Mentor™ 3D Breast Simulator app will facilitate the creation of a “wish picture” prior to your pre-operative visit and works best for augmentation and/or lift procedures. Simply take three pictures as instructed and begin simulating the desired look of your new breasts. When finished, you can securely send your photos to us at info@donaldmowldsmd.com.

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1. Take a shower using anti-bacterial soap – No lotions, hair products, powders, perfumes or makeup.
2. Wear loose comfortable clothing to the surgery center. We recommend wearing zip-up or button-up shirts and loose, comfortable pants.
3. Female patients will be given a urine pregnancy test at the surgery center.

We are here to help you through your recovery. Please do not hesitate to call our office.

Recovery

Patients are discharged home the same day and generally experience very minimal discomfort, often returning to light work within a week following surgery. Post-operatively, patients are advised to avoid strenuous exercise or heavy labor for 6 weeks following the procedure in order to ensure proper healing. I ask that my patients wear a supportive bra with underwire for 6 weeks following surgery.

POST-OPERATIVE GUIDANCE

1. Prescriptions provided at your pre-operative appointment should be filled prior to surgery and started when you arrive home. Take the first antibiotic dose at dinner time.
2. Please take a daily stool softener (e.g. Colace) or laxative (e.g. Senokot) while taking the pain medication. Stop if stools become loose.
3. Do not take Aspirin, Motrin, Aleve or herbal medications as these interfere with your blood’s ability to clot.
4. Bruising is a normal part of surgery. Over-the-counter Arnica can help expedite its resolution.
5. Continue to remain hydrated following the surgery.
6. Resume your regular diet, there are no restrictions. If you become nauseous, carbonated beverages and crackers may help settle the stomach. Zofran (Ondansetron) will be prescribed and can be taken as well.
7. Make sure you have a responsible adult stay with you for the first 24-48 hours following surgery – this is for your safety
8. Keep all dressings in place, clean and dry. We will remove them at your first post-operative appointment.
9. Sponge bath only. Do not shower, soak or swim until cleared.
10. Sleep on your back preferably at a 45o angle until cleared for side sleep.
11. If you had a breast augmentation, you will be placed in the underwire bra you were instructed to buy immediately following surgery. Wear this at all times.
12. If you also had a breast lift or underwent a breast reduction, you will be placed in the underwire bra you were instructed to buy at your first post-operative visit. You will wear this for 6 weeks.
13. Ambulate throughout the day to prevent blood clots in your legs.
14. Do not lift anything heavier than a purse and no pushing, pulling, exercise or any activity that may raise your blood pressure until cleared.
15. No smoking – this inhibits wound healing, causing undesirable complications.
16. Driving – Do not drive or perform any tasks that require coordination or judgement for at least 72 hours after general anesthesia or while taking narcotic pain medication.
17. Please call the office if you experience fever, chills, increased pain, wound drainage or if you have any concerns. Our office hours are Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm and Friday 9am-12pm. To reach me after hours, please call the office and follow the prompts.

Results

The results are expected to be long lasting provided patients maintain an active lifestyle and avoid significant change in natural breast volume (i.e. substantial weight change and pregnancy). Skin gradually loses its innate elasticity as we age, which unavoidably compromises the robustness of the result in time. As such, patients may desire additional revisionary procedures to re-elevate and tighten the breasts.

FAQs

A breast implant is used to augment the existing breast volume. In many instances, the existing breast tissue is deficient at the top portion of the breast. If there is sufficient breast tissue, a mastopexy will lift and reposition the existing breast volume to this area. In situations where the native breast tissue is insufficient, a mastopexy alone will result in a concavity at the top of the breast. In these instances, an implant is required to augment the shape.

I take implant choice very seriously as I believe that this is the key to a successful surgery. During your consultation we will spend time discussing your vision and how this can be achieved. I take several measurements of your breasts and chest during the consultation and we will discuss how these influence our implant choice. Finally, we will review pictures that are representative of the look you are trying to achieve.

Using all of this information, we will decide on a range of implant shapes and sizes. During your surgery, I have your pictures in the room and use them for reference as I try the different implant sizes we discussed until a match is determined. In this way, your wishes are my guide during surgery. Implant size and shape is a choice we make together. Some patients become fixated on achieving a specific bra cup size. I steer my patients away from this thinking because it is poorly standardized and has high inter-brand variability. A visual representation removes this ambiguity, allowing me to better understand what you want to achieve so that we can develop an accurate operative plan.

While there is no formal expiration, breast implants are not forever devices. The FDA recommends MRI screening for silicone implant integrity at 3 years and every other year thereafter. Saline implant rupture is easily detected as an immediate loss of breast volume.

Approximately 40% of women with breast implants will undergo additional surgery within the first 10 years to revise the size of the implants or shape of the breasts, however this is not mandatory. The native breast tissue changes with time and life events such as pregnancy, which commonly motivate women to seek revisionary procedures.

Absolutely. Several studies have examined the ability of patients to breast feed following mastopexy and mastopexy/augmentation and clearly demonstrate success in patients where techniques that preserve the glands and ducts beneath the nipple were used. The techniques I use leave the breast tissue and ducts intact.

The incidence of a change in nipple sensation following breast mastopexy or mastopexy/augmentation is less than 2%. A majority of these patients experience hypersensitivity/hyposensitivity that resolves with time with a smaller percentage experiencing complete loss of nipple sensation.

The human body responds to implanted foreign objects by depositing a layer of scar tissue, commonly referred to as a capsule. As it pertains to breast implants, for reasons that are largely unknown, this scar tissue can shrink and squeeze the breast implant, causing an unnatural appearance and ultimately discomfort. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict who will experience a capsular contracture. Although the percentage of patients who ultimately get a capsular contracture is low (2-15%), it is a risk that we will discuss. Fortunately, this condition is not dangerous to your health and is remedied by removing the scar tissue and replacing the implant.

Typically, a week off of work is sufficient. At three weeks you can begin light exercise., however I ask that you avoid any heaving lifting or stooping for 6 weeks. You may drive when you are no longer taking pain medication and you feel safe to do so.

Studies show that mammography is an effective means of screening for breast cancer in women who have breast implants. Special views are required so that the breast tissue can be completely imaged so it is important to make sure that your imaging center has experience with women who have breast implants.

The FDA recommends MRI screening for silicone implant integrity at 3 years and every other year thereafter. Studies show that the risk of silent rupture of silicone gel implants is approximately 15% at 12 years. This guideline is not meant to supersede the need for yearly mammography and breast examination as a part of formal breast cancer screening.

Request Consultation

BREAST LIFT SURGERY

Receive an in-depth consultation where we will thoroughly review your goals to personalize a plan focused on a natural and aesthetic result. Dr. Donald S. Mowlds, MD is located in beautiful Newport Beach, CA but is also available via a virtual consultation for out-of-town patients.

Breast Procedures

Before & After

Stunning, natural results from patients.

breast lift before and after
breast lift before and after
breast lift before and after
breast lift before and after
breast lift before and after
Breast Procedures

All procedures are done in a balanced and natural esthetic.

Breast augmentation utilizes silicone or saline implants to enhance both breast volume and shape.

A breast lift, or mastopexy, involves repositioning the breast tissue and nipple on the chest wall, restoring a youthful appearance and feel.

Breast implants are not lifetime devices. As such, many women ultimately require revisionary breast procedures to replace their implants. Breast shape changes with time so revision breast surgery often includes additional procedures designed to create a natural, youthful breast.

Implant removal surgery involves removing existing breast implants and the surrounding scar tissue (capsule). The breasts are often re-shaped to optimize aesthetics.

During breast reduction surgery, breast tissue and skin are removed, contouring the breast into a smaller more aesthetically pleasing shape.

Restoration of form and function is one of the tenants of plastic surgery and breast reconstruction, specifically, epitomizes this mantra.

Capsular contracture, a complication that can occur in patients following breast implant augmentation, can be a source of discomfort and frustration. As a part of the normal healing process, the body creates a layer of scar tissue, or “capsule” around the implant. This capsule can become tight or thickened, causing the breast to feel firm, appear distorted or even become painful.

Patient Reviews

Tanji L.

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His personality and bedside manner were amazing, and I knew right away he was the Doctor for me

As a woman in her 40’s, I was in need to redo my breasts. I needed a lift, with high profile implants. I went to three top plastic surgeons in the area, who all said it would be a difficult surgery to do. Each of them used words like challenging, difficult, and weren’t interested in performing the surgery. I was so discouraged, then a friend had me look up Dr. Mowlds saying how he is the best. So, I went in thinking he probably would turn me down too, but to my surprise, he said, “Yes” very confidently. I loved this about him. My surgery went amazing, and the outcome was far beyond my expectations. Dr. Mowlds is the best plastic surgeon you could ask for. Search no more. Go see Dr Mowlds for his expertise and knowledge. So grateful for Dr. Mowlds.

Tanji L.

Kristina M.

kristina-m-review

I’m over the moon with my results and highly recommend Dr. Mowlds to EVERYONE!

Dr. Mowlds is THE next generation of great plastic surgeons here in Newport Beach! His attention to detail and perfection while remaining realistic in the results obtained, gives you confidence in his consistent outstanding outcomes. It had been 14 years and 2 kids since my last breast augmentation and lift. I was ready for a smaller pair and needed to redo my lift and change out the old implants. I had 6 other consultations all with World Renowned plastic surgeons and knew without a doubt Dr. Mowlds was the best choice. I was comfortable from start to finish and the staff took such good care of me on the day of surgery and made any butterflies immediately disappear. After a 5.5 hour reconstructive surgery, I was amazed at how gentle Dr. Mowlds was since my pain level was well below what I had anticipated. After 3 days, I didn’t even need to take Tylenol. Now I feel lighter, my clothes fit better and I feel like a whole new person.

Kristina M.

Jessica T.

jessica-t-review

I am SO HAPPY with my new body!!

Dr. Mowlds replaced my breast implants and gave me a full tummy tuck. My scars are so minimal! The man has good hands! He took so much time to listen to me, care about my concerns and really understand the results I was hoping for. Can I just say, THIS MAN DELIVERED!! He actually gave me better results than I was hoping for. Finally a man who keeps his word! Hahahaha! His assistant, Mallory, also took so much time with me, checked in, listened, always responded to my messages right away and was just so sweet!! Two of my friends have also gone to him for breast augmentation because of how pleased I am with my experience and results. Thank you, Dr. Mowlds, for my reconstructed body-ody!! It’s amazing now bc of your skill and artistic craftsmanship!

Jessica T.

T. Hunter

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Dr. Mowlds is patient, kind, and he listens! And best of all he delivers!

Absolutely AMAZING! I had a breast reduction and revision done by him. I’ve wanted smaller, more manageable breasts since I developed at 16. I had a breast reduction done in the past by a Beverly Hills surgeon who didn’t listen and thought she knew better than me. We all know what it feels like to feel disappointed and unheard. I told Dr Mowlds, he heard how important it was for me to get what I always dreamed of. And he has changed my life! I have gorgeous breasts (exact size I asked for). I can do so much I was never able to do. Run, surf, snowboard. I feel free and so so thankful! 5 stars! He’s the best of the best! Highly recommend!

T. Hunter

Kailee F.

kailee-f-review

Dr. Mowlds took the time to listen to my concerns, answer all my questions, and explain the process in detail

From the very first consultation, I felt completely at ease. The staff was incredibly supportive and caring, creating a welcoming atmosphere that made each visit a pleasure. I am beyond happy with my breast augmentation and chin lipo. Dr. Mowlds is not only a talented surgeon but also an artist who truly understands how to enhance natural beauty.

Kailee F.

Nicole K.

nicole-k-review

Dr. Mowlds is a phenomenal surgeon and I feel so blessed to have had him do my surgery!!

I had symmastia breast reconstructive surgery done by Dr. Mowlds. I had lived the last 15 years with my breasts looking like a “uni-boob.” I felt so self conscious for many years. I also breast fed 2 kids so I had a lot of rippling and loss of saline in my old implants. Dr. Mowlds was extremely honest, caring and helpful with making the decision to fix my breasts. He listened to exactly what I wanted and his staff was absolutely amazing!! In order to reconstruct my breasts he used galaflex absorbable mesh to separate my breasts and make them normal again. I went with silicone implants this time and could not be happier with my results. Everyday I feel so thankful I can look in the mirror and feel normal. Dr. Mowlds is the ABSOLUTE BEST SURGEON!!

Nicole K.

Andrea R.

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I loved that Dr. Mowlds treated me like a friend who he wanted to have the best experience and results possible

Dr. Mowlds is the absolute BEST at what he does. I had a botched breast augmentation, which was causing me serious health concerns, chronic chest and back pain. I was extremely nervous as I didn’t think my issue could be resolved, let’s just say my breasts needed a lot of work. He is a true artist in his field, and my breasts are proof of that. Dr. Mowlds was professional, warm, knowledgeable, talented, and great at listening to my concerns and helping me understand everything along the way. I have already recommended a few of my girlfriends to go see him.

Andrea R.

@DSMOWLDSMD

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All procedures are done in a balanced and natural esthetic.

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