Augmentation Mastopexy – Breast Lift with Implants

If you are concerned about one or more of the following, mastopexy with breast implants may be an option for you:

— You are unhappy with the downward pointing position of your nipples
— Your breasts are sagging
— Your breasts have lost their contour or shape
— You are unsatisfied with the size of your breasts.

Augmentation mastopexy (Breast lifts with implants) are best suited for patients in good physical health, who don’t smoke and who have realistic expectations about the outcome of the procedure.

Individual factors and personal preferences will help you and Dr Lim to determine your appropriate breast size, the location of the incisions required and whether the implant will be placed on top or underneath the pectoral muscle.

After making an incision, Dr Lim removes excess breast tissue and skin and creates a pocket either in front of the muscle or behind it into which the implant is inserted. Dr Lim inserts the implants, ensuring they are evenly placed, and repositions the nipples and areolas to suit the new size and shape of the breasts. If required, the areola may also be made smaller at this time. The procedure usually takes one to three hours to perform.

Dr Lim will discuss with you the best method, type of implants, placement and the required incision for your desired outcomes during the consultation process.

Silicone gel-filled implants are popular in Australia as they are known to achieve a more natural result, while some people feel more comfortable with saline-filled varieties due to negative implications associated with older silicone implants. Modern silicone gel implants are far more robust and are approved by the TGA.

At My Klinik, Dr Lim uses both cohesive silicone gel and saline breast implants depending on the patient’s needs. He also uses either nano-textured (Motiva) or micro-textured (Mentor) breast implants that are considered to be the safest available textured implants with respect to BIA-ALCL. We recommend keeping up to date with the latest advice from the TGA. Dr Lim also uses smooth breast implants.

Choosing the type, size and shape of your desired implants is an important and personal decision. Dr Lim is very experienced and will guide you through the decision-making process during your breast augmentation consultation. Dr Lim will help you to select the most optimal implant depending on your chest size and your breast base measurements and considering all the risks.

Your first consultation with Dr Lim will take around 45 minutes and you are most welcome to bring a support person with you. Due to social distancing measures as a result of COVID-19, the support person may not be able to enter the rooms (depending on the number of persons in the rooms at that particular time).

Dr Lim will take the time to discuss the procedure with you, the changes you desire, and any other issues related to the appearance of your breasts that you feel are important to you. This will help Dr Lim understand your expectations and determine if they are achievable.

Dr Lim will explain the risks of surgery and discuss the methods of breast lift surgery with you. Your breasts will be assessed, and a few measurements and photographs will be taken to plan the procedure. You will have the opportunity to try implants of different sizes so that you have some idea of what the final result may look like. Wearing a fitted top to the consultation will assist with this.

You do not have to make the decision to proceed with the surgery at this initial consultation. You will be given a written quotation and information to take home to read.

Dr Lim will examine your breasts and consider factors such as the size and shape of your breasts, the quality of your skin and the position of your nipples and areolas.

Please come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medical history. This will include information about any medical conditions you have, medications you are currently taking, allergies you have, other medical treatments you have received and any previous surgery or mammograms you have had.

Please discuss with Dr Lim any plans for significant weight loss or future pregnancies. Current surgical techniques may retain the ability to breastfeed, but Dr Lim will discuss this in more detail with you. A second consultation is required if you wish to proceed with surgery.

In some cases, Dr Lim may recommend a baseline mammogram or ultrasound before surgery. Following breast lift surgery, you will still be able to perform breast self-examination and should do so every month. You will still be able to have regular mammograms after surgery.

Avoid products that contain aspirin, vitamin E, glucosamine, herbal supplements, fish oil or krill oil for four weeks before surgery. We also strongly recommend avoiding alcohol, and not smoking for eight weeks before and after surgery. Smoking can negatively affect the healing process.

On the day of surgery, patients should wear comfortable, loose clothing that does not need to be pulled over the head or face. Don’t wear any make-up, jewellery or nail polish.

We want to make this experience as supportive as possible — you will be given all pre-operative instructions prior to your procedure but please don’t hesitate to call My Klinik if you have any questions or concerns before your surgery.

Dr Lim performs all surgeries at fully accredited hospitals — Lakeview Private Hospital and Westmead Private Hospital. Mastopexy (Breast lift) surgery is performed under general anaesthetic as a day surgery procedure.

Please contact the hospital a day before surgery to confirm your admission and fasting time. On entering the hospital, you need to report to the admissions desk and the staff will direct you through the admission process. Dr Lim and the anaesthetist will both see you prior to surgery and Dr Lim will make some markings on your breasts.

After the procedure, you will spend some time in the recovery room where you will be closely monitored until you are fully awake and returned to your rooms. You will have elastic bandages or garments around your breasts and you will have surgical drains on both sides to drain away fluid that may accumulate.

The first days after surgery are usually the most uncomfortable and painful, particularly when you are moving around or coughing. Like most operations, it is not painless; you will be prescribed pain medication during this period and Dr Lim will provide a prescription for you upon discharge. It is normal to feel tired and a little slow for a day or two following a general anaesthetic.

You will have surgical tapes over your incisions and will be able to shower 48 hours after surgery. Your bruising will subside over the next two weeks, while swelling will take a month or so to go down. Avoid straining, bending and lifting during this time as these activities may increase swelling or cause bleeding. You may be required to wear a crop top or a sports bra day and night for the first three months after surgery — Dr Lim will advise you on this.

While Dr Lim does his best to minimise scarring, it is an inevitable part of surgery. Scars will be red and raised for several months but will flatten and fade over time.

It is not uncommon to experience occasional shooting pains and aches around the nipples and breasts after the operation.

Everyone is different, so the recovery period following this procedure varies from person to person — most patients are back to their normal routine in approximately three weeks.

Your breasts will be sensitive for around one month following surgery and they should be handled according to your own level of comfort — sexual activity should be restricted for at least a few weeks.

To protect the breasts while they are healing, avoid strenuous exercise or lifting anything heavier than a kilogram for three to four weeks. You should also avoid driving for at least one to two weeks.

Returning to work depends on the demands of your job — you may be able to return to light work within one to two weeks. Dr Lim will discuss your individual situation with you before and after your surgery.

We endeavour to make sure our patients are as informed as possible. While some of the potential risks seem frightening, it is important for you to be aware that they can occur. During consultation, Dr Lim will take you through the risks involved.

Some of the possible complications are:

— Infection
— Temporary or permanent loss of sensation in the nipple and areola
— Temporary or permanent skin discolouration and pigmentation changes
— Accumulation of blood (haematoma) in the breast which requires drainage
— Asymmetry
— Fat necrosis
— Partial or total loss of nipple and areola tissue
— Inability to breastfeed
— Keloids and hypertrophic (or raised) scars
— Rippling of the implant
— Shifting, rupture or leakage of the implant
— Capsular contracture (internal scar tissue that constricts the implant).

Over the last decade, some types of breast implants have been associated with the development of a very rare form of lymphoma called BIA-ALCL — Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. It is important to highlight that this is very rare, with about 600 cases reported worldwide in 2019 from an estimated 40 million women with breast implants.

While research in understanding BIA-ALCL is early, it seems to be connected with implants with a rougher texture. Dr Lim uses either nano-textured (Motiva) or micro-textured (Mentor) breast implants with low surface roughness as these have been shown to be the safest implants available on the market worldwide. The  Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has more information on BIA-ALCL or you are welcome to call My Klinik if you have further questions or concerns.

Naturally, breasts are slightly different in size and this persists after the procedure. While you will be slightly swollen following the surgery and it may take a few months to see the ultimate result, the immediate effect of this surgery is dramatic and the benefits will be obvious straightaway.

Although the increase in breast volume will be permanent, your breast size and shape will continue to be affected by the changes that ageing, pregnancy/breastfeeding, weight loss and weight gain can produce in all women. The results of mastopexy (breast lift) surgery may not be as long-lasting in heavier-breasted women.

Dr Lim will monitor your progress carefully and our staff will stay in contact with you during the post-operative period. You will be seen at frequent intervals over the first twelve months and Dr Lim recommends a yearly breast ultrasound.

Your relationship with Dr Lim and the nursing staff does not end once you have had the procedure. If you have any questions or concerns after your operation, you are always welcome to call My Klinik.