or 
Surgery
Can Lift Breasts Without Unsightly Scar
Improved Procedure Also Can Add Better Shape To Breasts
POSTED: 2:18 PM EST December 15, 2003
UPDATED: 5:39 PM EST December 15, 2003
NEW YORK -- For women who are considering a breast lift, there's now a new procedure that can help take away the droop -- as well as the large scars.
The procedure, called mastopexy, involves a surgeon making a keyhole incision, removing the skin at the bottom of the breast, moving the nipple higher, and closing the incision.
The result is one scar around the nipple, one at the base of the breast, and a vertical scar running down from the nipple to bottom of the breast. The vertical scar is usually the most visible.
"A lot women don't want to do any kind of lift no matter how far down their breasts are because of that scar, that 'stigmata' of having a lift," said Dr. Barry DiBernardo of Mountainside Hospital.
Now, there's a new procedure to lift breasts without the vertical scar.
First, the surgeon creates a hole where he thinks the nipple should be. Then he makes a horizontal incision lower down and removes most of the skin. He snakes the patient's nipple under the skin and sutures it into the newly created hole up top. Then he pulls the suture sight down like an apron.
The procedure leaves one small scar beneath the breast and one around the nipple -- but no vertical scar in front.
DiBernardo also says the procedure has an additional benefit aside from getting rid of the unsightly scar.
"We can actually shape the breast tissue and secure it up to the chest wall, we can get a more rounded shape and also get more fullness to the upper breast," DiBernardo said.
The procedure costs between $5,000 and $10,000. Women who are in their late 30s, or early 40s, and have finished breastfeeding are ideal candidates, DiBernardo says.