Dr. Bae:
Hey Greg. Thanks for joining me.

Greg:
Absolutely. It’s always great to be here, especially, from month to month when we do these, I compile a list of questions that my friends ask me. They sort of think because I know you, I know all of the things that you know, which is not necessarily true.

Dr. Bae:
Yeah, you’re a plastic surgeon adjacent. You just skipped the whole med school thing.

Breast lift without an implant?

Greg:
Exactly. I had a pride party a few weeks ago and a question. One of my friends who just turned 50 was there and she wanted to actually talk to you. She wants her breasts perkier, but she does not want her breasts larger and she didn’t know, would she have to get some kind of implant to make them perk up or is there a way to do a lift without… She really doesn’t want to go bigger.

Dr. Bae:
Right. So, absolutely. There’s definitely a way to be perkier without going bigger. And so instead of getting breast implants, you would get a breast lift, but it’s not just straightforward. Like what type of breast lift? Everybody’s a little bit different. And some people think that we just decide, okay, we’re going to do this type of breast lift on you just like how we feel that day. We’re going to do that type or that type. But it really is how droopy the breasts are and if you’ve had kids and your breasts are pendulous, my favorite word, after breastfeeding, that can make them a little bit droopier. And so it really just all depends on how droopy they are and basically where the nipple is in comparison to that fold onto the breast. It’s called the inframammary fold.

Where’s the nipple?!

Dr. Bae:
So, basically if the nipple is just below the inframammary fold, then maybe just have a little bit of droop and so that would be one type of breast lift. If it’s further below the fold, then that’s a different type of breast lift. We have to remove more skin to get them back up to where they need to be. And if they’re pointing down and really droopy, then that means we have to remove even more skin, which means we have to make even more incisions. So, that brings me to the different types of breast lifts. One is the one that needs the least amount of lift is maybe you just need a little crescent of skin taken off the top of the areola and that can help just reposition the nipple a little bit. So that’s really just, you want the nipple to be in a better position, but your breasts look fine otherwise.

Dr. Bae:
Now, if you have a little bit more droop, then you have to remove more skin. You can also take skin from around the areola and just basically take a donut of skin and that’s why we call it a donut lift. And that helps tighten up the breast skin and brings up the breast and the nipple at the same time. If you have a little bit more droop, then we’ll do what’s called a lollipop incision where we make an incision around the areola and then up and down and that’s just to take out more skin to give you more of a lift. And if it’s as droopy as you’re worried it is, then we would do an anchor lift where we make an incision around the areola, a vertical incision, and then an incision under the breast. And by removing all of that extra skin, we can bring the breast back up to where it is. And remember, we’re not reducing anything we’re not taking on any breast tissue. We’re just tightening up the skin envelope to give them that perkier breast that they’re looking for without fat injections, without an implant if they choose.

Greg:
So you’re able to keep all of their breast tissue that they naturally have and you’re just able to bring it up into a position where it was when they were 22, rather than my friend, she’s 50. Okay, that makes sense to me, but I’m glad I did not try to explain this to her at my pride party. It would have been very strange.

Dr. Bae:
Especially since there might have been alcohol involved at the pride party.

Greg:
Might have.

Dr. Bae:
So you might not have gotten all that clear. Might have.

Greg:
No, there for sure was.

Breast lift vs Breast reduction

Dr. Bae:
But that’s actually, you bring up a good point. So if they are looking to get a breast reduction, it’s actually the same types of incisions and so the only additional thing you’re doing is you’re taking out breast tissue in addition to doing the lift. So a breast reduction includes a lift, a lift doesn’t necessarily have to be a breast reduction. So very, very key point a lot of patients don’t understand before they come in to see me.

Greg:
Awesome. Well, tell my friend and everybody out there watching these videos how they can communicate with you the best and get in and see you.

Dr. Bae:
They can easily just text us at the office. They can text our office number (415) 923-3005. They can call that number too. They can also direct message us through Instagram @realdrbae. And of course, they can always watch us on social media, realdrbae, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and check pricing at realdrbae.com/pricing. We’re very easy to get ahold of.

Greg:
Awesome. Thanks so much, Dr. Bae.

Dr. Bae:
Thank you, Greg.

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

The post What kind of breast lift do you need? first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

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.

Types of Mommy Makeover

In our practice, a Mommy Makeover can include a breast procedure (a lift, an augmentation or both), a tummy tuck, but also some other procedures. With pregnancy, the labia minora can stretch and cause discomfort during sex. Or possibly the labia can appear too bulky in underwear or bikini bottoms. For this reason, there are Mommy Makeover procedures that also include a labiaplasty.

With weight gain and loss during pregnancy and afterwards, the buttocks can become deflated like the breasts. That’s why we offer a Brazilian Butt Lift with some Mommy Makeover procedures. The benefit of performing these procedures in combination is that it leads to one recovery instead of multiple recoveries.

Mommy Makeover

As stated above, this procedure includes a breast lift, aug or both along with a tummy tuck. To help the patient understand all of their options when it comes to the breast procedure, we’ve divided every Mommy Makeover into type 1, 2 and 3.

Type 1 refers to a breast lift only. This is necessary when the patient has pendulous, droopy breasts after breast feeding. But they have enough breast tissue so that an implant isn’t necessary. Type 2 refers to a breast augmentation alone. This is necessary when a patient has deflated breasts and needs more volume, as with an implant. And type 3 is a combination of the two – when a patient has droopy and deflated breasts. A lift will improve the shape of the breast and an implant will restore volume.

As you’ll see below, type 1, 2 and 3 can be applied to all three kinds of Mommy Makeover that we offer in our practice.

Mommy Makeover Plus

This is a breast procedure (type 1, 2 or 3), a tummy tuck and a labiaplasty.

Mommy Makeover Deluxe

This includes type 1, 2 or 3 breast procedure as above, a tummy tuck and then a Brazilian Butt Lift to restore volume and lift to the buttocks. A Brazilian Butt Lift is the liposuction of all available fat from the torso with subsequent injection into the buttocks. Check out the video below for more details!

Video describing the 3 types of a Mommy Makeover

Check pricing for a Mommy Makeover from Dr. Kaplan by clicking here.

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

The post 3 types of a Mommy Makeover [video] first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

Breast lift technique

If you have very minimal droop, you may only need a large implant to provide the lift necessary. As you’ll see in the video below, the patient got 425cc silicone implants. They gave her a lift without additional incisions.

If there’s just a slight droop of the areola, skin above the areola is removed. This incision is relatively invisible as seen in the photo below. Look closely, because it’s pretty hard to see!

If you have more droop than that, but not too much, a periareolar incision, or “donut” incision may be all you need. This is when your surgeon removes excess skin from around the entire areola only. Therefore, 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 surgeon will insert the implant 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. Also known as a Wise pattern lift. 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 stress 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!

Breast Lift Technique Video

To check pricing on breast procedures from Dr. Kaplan, click here.

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

The post Which breast lift technique is right for you? [video] first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

If you’re looking for breast lift pricing and want to avoid implants, you’ve come to the right place! With enough breast tissue, you may have all the volume necessary without implants…you just need a breast lift.

How to get the breast lift you need

Droopy breasts are a result of loose breast skin. Think of the breast skin as a “skin envelope” around the breasts. By tightening the breast skin through a breast lift, the existing breast tissue remains but is lifted. It’s important not to remove any breast tissue to retain the volume and therefore, no implants would be necessary.

For a small amount of breast droop, meaning there’s not a great deal of loose skin, a lift can be easy. Simply remove excess skin from around the areola, tighten the skin envelope and lift the breast. The great thing about this technique is the minimal scarring. The incision is around the areola which is well camouflaged. This is referred to in layman’s terms as a “donut lift.”

If the breast has more droop than that, then the doctor can perform a “lollipop” incision. Done with an incision around the areola and then going down towards the fold under the breast. Unfortunately the vertical scar going towards the fold under the breast is the most visible.

So while she may have more scars, she has beautifully shaped, full breasts!

Lastly, with a great deal of droop, more skin needs to be removed. This is done with an “anchor” incision. This scar results from the removal of excess skin around the areola and the lower half of the breast. You get the greatest lift from this procedure but with more resulting scars. The patient above, and below in the video, had the anchor lift. So while she may have more scars, she has beautifully shaped, full breasts!

The biggest benefit to a breast lift without implants is the ability to avoid any risks associated with foreign material such as a breast implant. That reduces your risk of infection and the need to remove the implant and scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture).

Video of a breast lift without implants

To check pricing on a breast lift from Dr. Kaplan, click here.

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

The post Breast lift pricing without implants [video] first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.

Pain point: surgical vs non-surgical

Let’s say a patient is trying to decide between liposuction or non-surgical fat freezing with CoolSculpting (CS). First and foremost is education. I emphasize to the patient that these procedures are not equivalent. CoolSculpting won’t produce the same results as liposuction. Even the folks at CoolSculpting would agree.

So I ask, what’s your pain point? If they’re a candidate for both procedures, what’s more important to them? Getting a 25% fat reduction (CS) without surgery or 85% with liposuction (surgery)? What’s a greater concern? Surgical downtime (liposuction) vs no downtime (CS)? Obvious results (lipo) vs more subtle results (CS)?

The decision is ultimately up to them if they’re a candidate for both procedures but it’s critical they have reasonable expectations regarding the results.

Pain point: shape vs incisions?

Here’s another example from a recent patient. She wanted a breast lift. She was very clear that she wanted perky breasts (improved shape) without implants. Forgoing implants in a breast lift is totally reasonable because the success of the lift is mostly dependent on removing excess skin. If minimal skin needs to be removed to tighten the “skin envelope,” fewer incisions are required. And conversely, more skin removal, more incisions.

If someone has a slight droop or ptosis to their breasts, an incision only around the areola (well hidden) allows the removal of enough skin to give an adequate lift. See photo above. If they have more droop, they’ll need a “lollipop” lift (see below). That’s an incision around the areola and extending down to the fold under the breast. If they have a greater degree of droop, then they’ll need the “anchor” incision which includes the “lollipop” incision plus an incision within the fold under the breast.

With that background, they have a decision to make. Is their pain point achieving the perkiest breast possible? Then that may require the “lollipop” or “anchor” incision to remove more skin. If they want fewer incisions, they need to understand they won’t get as much lift. So again, what’s your pain point? Nicely shaped breasts with more incisions that will fade with time or droopy breasts with fewer incisions? The pain point, and resulting answer, is different for everyone!

To check pricing on any of these procedures, click here.

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

The post What’s your pain point when it comes to cosmetic surgery? first appeared on Plastic Surgeon San Francisco | Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery.