Alexandra Breast Lift: A Hybrid, No-Scar, Better Breast Lift
It is normal to have a specific set of wants and desires when considering plastic surgery. Not being able to find a surgeon to meet those goals can be frustrating. It’s your body; you want it to look perfect. Dr. Kao had one such patient named Alexandra who was fed up with surgeons telling her that it was impossible to achieve the breast lift she wanted without extensive scarring. Instead of doing a traditional anchor breast lift and approaching her breast lift from the typical angle, she pushed Dr. Kao to think outside of the box and develop a unique breast lift technique that he named after her—the Alexandra Breast Lift—(mentioned in a previous blog) to provide this patient and others like her with the beautiful breast appearance they want.
What Are the Downfalls of Traditional Breast Lifts?
A circumareolar breast lift can enhance breasts with mild ptosis and results in almost no visible scarring; however, the lift of the nipple is limited to no more than 2 cm and the procedure often does not create a very perky breast as the breast tissue is effectively lifted. The scar can also be wide, it’s hard to keep the areola perfectly round, and this technique tends to flatten the breasts. An inverted-T lift can repackage breast tissue for a perkier appearance but the scar is an anchor configuration on the breast. The problem arises when you want an improved breast shape, better nipple position, and minimal scarring. Traditional techniques make you choose form over aesthetics, and for some women, this option is less than desirable.
How Is the Alexandra Breast Lift Different?
Dr. Kao specifically designed the Alexandra Breast Lift as a hybrid lift combining the best of the two techniques. It shapes and condenses the breasts without creating any unattractive scars. By combining the strengths of the circumareolar lift and the inverted-T lift, the Alexandra Breast Lift performed by Dr. Kao can dramatically enhance the appearance of your breasts.
First, a circumareolar incision is made to remove a doughnut-shaped area of skin from around the areola. This also allows the nipple-areola complex to be moved up significantly (potentially as much as 8 or 9 centimeters) without causing irregularities, and it leaves almost no visible scars. The skin is then separated from the breast tissue, and the inverted-T technique is used internally to shape and mold the breast tissue. Once your perky, better-defined breast is formed, the skin is redraped. To prolong and maintain your results, a mesh is added as an internal bra beneath the skin. This provides additional support to the breast tissue.
Am I a Candidate?
Dr. Kao believes that the best results are achieved when the correct procedure is performed on the right patient. The Alexandra Breast Lift can be performed with or without implants and can provide beautiful results on specific patients. However, if you aren’t the right patient for this technique, Dr. Kao will evaluate your needs and develop a treatment plan that works for you. Stay tuned for our next blog on breast lift candidates and the consultation process.
