Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

With age, repeated pregnancies, breast feeding and weight loss, the breast will sag.
The breast feels empty and the nipple will move down. Breast lift will resume the youthful shape and position of the breast, the breasts becomes higher and feel firmer.
The size of the breast does not change. If the patient wants larger or smaller breasts, this can be done at the same surgery.

Indications and Pre-Operative Consultation:

The candidates are patients with:
- Empty breasts with over stretched skin envelope.
- Sagging breasts with nipples at or below the inframammary fold.

Dr. Halaseh will advise the patient about the type of incisions needed. 

1. In mild cases with small breasts and minimal sagging a doughnut (concentric) incision is made around the areola and the patient ends with a faint scar at the areolar margin. (Periareolar Incision)
2. For more advanced cases the incision around the areola is extended down to the inframammary fold.
3. In severe cases an additional incision is made in the inframammary fold. (Anchor Incision)

Breast augmentation with implants are sometimes advised to give fullness and firmness to the breast. The size of the areola can be reduced during the surgery. The patient should refrain from smoking in the peri-operative period.
If you intend to have more children, it is better to postpone the surgery as the breast might sag again.

Procedure

The operation is done in the hospital under general anaesthesia. It takes about 2 - 2.5 hours to perform. The extra skin is removed, but not the breast tissue. The wounds are closed with intradermal sutures and steristrips, so there are no stitches to remove later on.

Post-Operative Care

• The patient usually stays in the hospital for one night.
• The post-operative pain is minimal.
• The patient can shower on the second day of the operation.
• A compression bra is recommended for a few weeks.
• Most scars will mature and look better with time.
• The patent is given local silicone gels or silicone sheets to apply to the scars.
• The patient can go back to work in 4-7 days.
• The patient can exercise in 3-4 weeks.
• The ability to breastfeed is not affected with a breast lift.

Breast Reduction

Indications and Pre-Operative Consultation

Large breasts can be problematic, apart from the cosmetic appearance they can give rise to different types of medical problems:
- Neck and shoulder pain.
- Rashes and fungal infection underneath the breasts.
- Respiratory problems due to mechanical pressure on the chest.
- Posture changes.

- This operation is usually recommended for mature women, but it can also be performed in younger women with severe symptoms.
- The type of the incision is discussed with the patient.
- In moderate sized breasts a scar around the nipple and extended down to the inframammary fold is recommended.

- In more severe cases the incision can extend in the inframammary fold (Anchor shaped incision).
- The size of the post-operative breast is discussed with the patient.
- The size of the areola can be reduced if found over stretched.
- A pre-operative mammogram is advised after the age of 35 years or with a family history of breast cancer.

Procedure

The operation is done under general anaesthesia. It takes around 3 hours to perform.
In this operation we remove skin, fat, and glandular breast tissue, so the patient will end up with a smaller, lighter breasts that fits the rest of the patient's body proportions.
The wounds are closed with intradermal stitches and steristrips to the skin, so there will be no stitches to remove.

Post-Operative Care

• The post-operative pain is minimal and oral medications are usually enough to control the pain.
• The patient usually stays in the hospital for one night.
• The patient can shower the following day.
• A compression bra is recommended for a few weeks.
• Most scars will mature and fade away with time.
• Local gels or silicone sheets are prescribed to help improve the scars.
• The patient can go back to work in 7-10 days.
• Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting is avoided for 4 weeks.
• Patients at child bearing age must be warned that they might find it difficult to breastfeed.

Gynaecomastia Correction

• Gynaecomastia is the enlargement of the male breast tissue. Gynae means "woman" and matos means breast in Greek.
• It is a very common condition and is present in at least 30% of men.
• It usually starts showing during puberty and it stays permanently.
• It could be due to an increase in breast tissue or an increase in fat tissue.
• A proper diagnosis must be made first. 

Treatment:

In mild cases or cases with mainly fatty component, liposuction alone is the recommended treatment. This procedure will take less than one hour.

Dr. Halaseh uses vaser liposuction exclusively for this condition.

If some breast tissue persists after this, it can be removed through a small periareolar incision
(at junction of dark skin of areola and lighter breast skin, where the scar will be hardly noticeable).

Rarely and only in severe cases a skin excision has to be done.