After having a baby, it's common for breasts to go through a number of changes, and not all of them are desirable. Breastfeeding can cause your skin to sag and become stretched. Nipples that once pointed out and up may begin to point downward, causing your breasts to become cone-shaped.
You may even lose volume in your breasts when the breastfeeding stops. This apparent shrinkage can be frustrating if you've gotten used to having fuller breasts for breastfeeding.
The desire to get back the pre-baby body can be strong. Exercise can help restore some shape and volume to the rest of your body, but you may find that this does not affect your breasts. If you want your breasts to return to their original state, a surgical procedure may be necessary. Fortunately, there are multiple surgeries that can help you get your pre-baby body back.
A breast lift is a procedure that is designed to eliminate the sagging problem that many women experience when the skin stretches from breastfeeding. During the lift, the doctor removes any excess skin, then stretches and tightens the skin that is left. When the lift is finished, the breasts are more youthful in appearance.
This procedure does not involve any implantation. Instead, it is a reshaping of the breast. Like many surgeries, the lift starts with anesthesia to help you stay comfortable. You'll be asleep throughout the entire procedure.
The procedure usually involves just three incisions: one around the areola, one starting at the areola and going to the crease of the breast, and one at the breast crease. During the surgery, your areola may be reduced in size by excising skin from the areola. This is sometimes necessary for mothers because breastfeeding can cause the areola to enlarge.
After this is done, the areola is moved upward and the extra breast material is cut away. This procedure works best and lasts longer for small breasts, but all women can take advantage of the breast lift procedure. The lines made by the incisions are always somewhat visible, but many people find that they fade with time. Often women report that they can barely see the lines.
Breast augmentation is an excellent option if you feel like your breasts have shrunk since their breastfeeding experience. Breast augmentation is done with implants made of silicone or saline water.
As with the breast lift, breast augmentation is done under anesthesia. You'll have the option of having your implant placed above the pectoral muscle or below. The option your doctor recommends will depend on your lifestyle, figure and other factors. The location of the incision depends on the final position of the implant.
The incision is made and the implant is inserted. Sometimes the procedure involves placement of a test implant to determine which type of implant and how full it should be.
The permanent implant might be an inflatable implant or pre-filled. This can affect the incision size.
Often, breast implants and breast lifts are performed together to remake the entire physique. Patients who have breastfed their children often see a complete and astonishing change in appearance after their surgery.
Just how natural a breast implant or breast lift feels depends on the type of implant used, placement of the implant, your own body, and your lifestyle. You'll be able to go back to work in as little as one to two weeks, but you might take as much as three weeks before you're able to function entirely normally. Still, many women agree that the recovery time is worth it, and the rewards are clear.
Breast lift and augmentation surgery can help you get your pre-baby body back! If you're ready to start feeling like yourself again, contact Dr. Elliott Rose at the Aesthetic Surgery Center for an appointment and consultation today.
