3 Things to Know About “Anchor” Mastopexy
A breast lift removes a small amount of excess skin to reshape and reposition the breasts for a more youthful, natural breast appearance. There are 4 typical breast lift incision techniques and, while periareolar or lollipop incisions are shorter incisions, anchor mastopexy is often the ideal technique for achieving optimal improvement for some patients.
Female plastic surgeon Dr. Emily J. Kirby regularly performs breast lifts using the anchor technique to achieve optimal results for her patients, and she shares 3 things you should know about this procedure here.
This technique may provide optimal reshaping
An anchor breast lift is best if you have significant breast sagging or desire substantial reshaping. Whether you want to improve your breast appearance due to age, gravity, or the after-effects of pregnancy or weight loss, the anchor technique allows for comprehensive adjustments, and this may be necessary to achieve noteworthy improvements to the shape and position of your breasts and to restore youthful contours.
Many patients think we remove the nipple with the anchor technique to reshape the breast and put it back on once we create the desired shape and fullness. There is a technique to remove the nipple; however, it is not often used. We keep the nipple and areola attached and rotate it into position using carefully designed incisions.
Scar care is key
Anchor mastopexy scars may seem intimidating at first, as there are 3 incisions on the breasts that form the “anchor” shape:
- 1 incision that encircles the areola, the colored circle surrounding the nipple
- 1 vertical incision that extends from the areola to the natural crease under your breast (inframammary fold)
- 1 horizontal incision along the inframammary fold
Anchor incisions and their initial scar appearance are typically bright pink or a deeper brown; however, proper scar care helps these marks fade and blend to your natural skin color.
At our Fort Worth plastic surgery practice, Dr. Kirby offers FDA-cleared Embrace® scar therapy to ensure breast lift scars fade as much as possible. The flexible, comfortable silicone strips cover the incisions to improve scar formation by reducing tension at the suture line while protecting and hydrating healing skin. Silagen® silicone scar gel with mineral-based SPF is another favorite post-operative scar treatment.
Patients who follow scar care protocols typically have thinner, less visible breast lift scars than patients who skip this critical step.
You can get implants, too
An anchor breast lift may be combined with breast augmentation using saline or silicone breast implants for added lift and to enhance breast volume and fullness. This procedure combination is ideal for patients with deflated breasts who may not have enough natural breast tissue to achieve the volume they desire. Breast implants also help correct asymmetry and balance natural body proportions.
Anchor breast lift with Dr. Kirby
From your initial consultation to celebrating your final results, Fort Worth Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Emily Kirby considers every aspect of your breast enhancement so you enjoy safe, personalized results. Dr. Kirby and her expert medical team invite you to schedule your breast lift consultation at our Fort Worth plastic surgery practice to learn if anchor mastoplasty is right for you. Call or text us at (817) 292-4200 or contact us online today.
