Do you have droopy breasts? Do you need a breast lift or implants? Maybe both? Keep reading to understand your options. And keep in mind, you don’t have to have implants…but you may want them!

Breast lift or implants?

When a patient has droop to their breasts, they know it because the nipple has dropped below the IMF or inframammary fold. This is the fold under the breast. Typically, a nipple areolar complex positioned at or above the IMF is in an aesthetically pleasing position.

If however, the nipple and surrounding areola have dropped below that fold, most would consider that to be droopy. By performing a “donut” lift or “lollipop” lift or “anchor” lift, excess skin is removed from the breast. This essentially tightens the skin envelope and lifts the breast. If you’re happy with the fullness of the breast at that point, you don’t need implants.

But if the correct position of the nipple leaves you wanting because the breasts still have a deflated appearance, then you can add implants to the mix. In this scenario, implants provide fullness and size, whereas the lift improves shape. Size without shape isn’t a good look. But shape without size may be totally appropriate.

Many women have a large amount of breast tissue, even if they’re drooping. So if there’s enough breast tissue, this will provide a full, perky appearance after the lift. No implant required.

You can check pricing for either procedure from Dr. Kaplan, here.

Click here for the original blog post written by Dr. Kaplan for BuildMyBod.

The post Breast lift or implants or both [video] first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

Breast asymmetry correction is one of the most complex breast procedures around. The complexity is due to the myriad of ways to fix the asymmetry. It’s not just a matter of size, but also of shape. And then you have to get the nipple in a symmetrical position!

Video of breast asymmetry correction

As the video shows, there are many steps to correcting breast asymmetry. First you must identify the problem. Is it only a size discrepancy or a ptotic (droop) issue. Based on the discrepancy, the surgical plan will proceed from there.

The key to success is ensuring a cohesive plan preoperatively. Having a range of breast implants available to improve size symmetry is important. But you may also need to use different techniques for the breast lift to improve symmetry between the nipple position.

This means a “donut” lift to reduce the size of one areola to match the other. It may mean a “lollipop” lift to shift the areola northward. Or it may mean a more extensive “anchor” lift to shorten the distance between the nipple to the inframammary fold. Again, there are many variables and steps to achieving success. Experience matters.

And while experience is key, obviously cost is a realistic matter to take into account. To check pricing on this procedure from Dr. Kaplan, click here.

Click here for the original blog post written by Dr. Kaplan for BuildMyBod.

The post Breast asymmetry correction with implants and lift [video] first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

Breast lift incisions

If you have very minimal droop, maybe just a slight droop of the areola, skin above the areola is removed. This incision is very well hidden as seen in the photo below. Look closely, but it’s pretty hard to see!

If you have more droop than that, but not too much, a periareolar incision may be all you need. This is when excess skin is removed around the entire areola only, so the only scar is around the areola. This is very well hidden because the scar lies within the junction of normal pigmented skin and the darker areolar skin. Hard to believe this incision can fade so well. But it can and will provide more lift to the breasts. The implant is inserted through the incision around the areola.

The next step in the excess skin ladder is the “lollipop” incision. This is an incision around the areola and down to the fold under the breast. The outline of the incision resembles a lollipop as seen below.

And last but not least, if you have a significant amount of droop, then you’ll need the “anchor” incision. This is a combination of the procedures above (incision around the areola and then extending down to the fold under the breasts) plus an incision along the fold under the breast. While this does have the most incisions, it is the most powerful lift.

Don’t be distressed about the incisions. The alternative is to have a misshapen breast that is hanging over your implant. Sure you have more incisions with a formal lift but your breasts look great!

To check pricing on breast procedures from a doctor near you, click here.

Click here for the original blog post written by Dr. Kaplan for BuildMyBod.

The post Different types of breast lift incisions first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

The details in a mommy makeover

The breast augmentation portion of the procedure typically consists of a small incision either in the inframammary fold, around the areola or in the armpit. There are pros and cons for each choice, but the choice is yours depending on your case and what type of incision that you want to live with after surgery.

A gummy bear silicone implant is then inserted to give the perkiness patients desire. They can also choose between shaped or round implants depending on the look they’re going for. In some cases when there is excess droop in the breasts, a lift may be necessary. Depending on how much lift is required, it is performed with an anchor, lollipop areolar (donut) or crescent incisions.

The tummy tuck part of the procedure begins with liposuction of the abdomen and flanks. This extra step can really maximize the results of the tummy tuck. Then, a long incision across the abdomen is made, just below the panty line. The skin is elevated towards the breastbone and then the excess skin is removed. If the patient has any rectus diastasis or abdominal separation that typically results from multiple pregnancies, this is corrected by rectus plication wherein sutures are used to pull the muscles back together. Lastly, in an ideal case, progressive retention sutures are used so that drains are not required.

And wham bam, thank you ma’am, you’re all done! Checkout this video below and to check pricing on a mommy makeover from Dr. Kaplan, click here.

Mommy Makeover: The video

Oh, and for the ladies out there who haven’t had kids – if this combination surgery sounds like what you are looking for, don’t be shy in asking for the Mommy Makeover! Andon’t let the name scare you away; it’s just a name. Getting the combined procedure not only gives you one recovery period, but doing so will also save you money compared to going under for two separate procedures.

Click here for the original blog post written by @japsiecam for BuildMyBod.

The post What exactly IS a Mommy Makeover? first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

The case for a BBL in your 50’s

After pregnancy, women can develop ptotic, pendulous breasts. Getting a breast aug and/or lift is a natural next decision by those patients. Even without pregnancy, a woman’s breasts may start to sag with age, instigating them to consider a breast lift. We wouldn’t think someone getting a breast lift or breast aug due to breast ptosis as an outrageous decision. In this context, a BBL is no different.

As we age, everyone gets a droopy butt as well. Volume is lost and the buttock skin envelope slackens. In the same way a patient would want to restore volume to their breasts, it’s not unreasonable to want to restore volume and perkiness to the buttocks either. While a BBL can be performed by placing implants into the butt, similar to implants for the breasts, the more prevailing technique is fat injections.

The benefit of using fat for a Brazilian Butt Lift is that the patient gets two operations in one. First, they undergo liposuction to the front and back of the torso to collect fat. That fat is then purified and injected into the buttocks to give the patient a fuller, more lifted buttock. This leads to better fitting clothes as well as a “lifted” attitude and outlook. So if someone you know in their 50’s is considering either a breast lift or buttock lift, don’t judge!

Check pricing on a BBL or even a breast aug or breast aug and lift from Dr. Kaplan by clicking on the corresponding links.

Click here for the original blog post written by Dr. Kaplan for BuildMyBod.

The post A BBL can be tasteful – even in your 50’s! first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.