Breast

About Breast Augmentation in Fort Myers FL

Considering breast augmentation in Ft Myers? Contact Audrey Farahmand, female board certified plastic surgeon. Breast Augmentation surgery is performed to increase the breast size by placing saline filled implants through a one-inch incision in the natural fold underneath the breast. The implant is typically placed underneath the muscle. Women also undergo breast augmentation after having children as their breasts have lost volume with respect to the skin. Breast Augmentation can also correct uneven breasts. It is performed as an outpatient procedure. Patients are usually able to return to work after a few days following the breast implant procedure. They are restricted from lifting heavy objects for four weeks.
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About Adjustable Breast Augmentation

Patients now have an opportunity to change the size of their breasts after the surgery is complete. The augmentation is performed just as a standard breast augmentation. A special saline implant is used with a small port which is buried underneath the skin. The port is not visible but can be felt with the fingertips. During post-operative visits, if the patient desires to make the breasts larger or smaller, a tiny needle can be inserted through the skin, into the port, and saline can be added or removed. This allows the patient to be in total control of her size. After a period of approximately three months, the ports are removed through the old incisions. The second procedure takes twenty minutes to perform but is performed with sedation for the patient’s comfort. And, the patient is back to work the following day.
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About Breast Lift Surgery in Fort Myers FL

Considering a breast lift in Ft Myers? Contact Audrey Farahmand, female board certified plastic surgeon. This is technically referred to as mastopexy. Over time, women’s breasts lose elasticity with gravity, age, and following pregnancy. This produces a sagging appearance to the breasts and a lowering of the nipple. To correct this process, a mastopexy (a.k.a. breast lift) is performed to remove excess skin, reposition the nipple, and to increase the fullness of the breast. Mastopexy can be performed with or without an implant. The incisions are around the areola, below the areola in a vertical line between the areola and the breast fold, and a small horizontal incision in the breast fold. Women who need only minimal lifting may be candidates for minimal scar techniques such as “doughnut mastopexy” where the scar as placed only around the areola, or “crescent mastopexy” where the scar is placed around the areola only around the top half of the areola. Patients are back to work after a week or two following breast lift surgery. They are restricted from lifting heavy objects for four weeks.
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About Breast Reduction Surgery in Ft Myers FL

Considering a breast reduction in Ft Myers? Contact Audrey Farahmand, female board certified plastic surgeon. Women with large breasts can suffer from back pain or neck pain as a result of the increased weight of their breasts. Breast Reduction surgery involves removing excess skin and breast tissue while repositioning the nipple and areola. The incisions are placed around the areola, underneath the areola in a vertical line from the areola to the fold underneath the breast, and in a horizontal line in the fold underneath the breast. In appropriate candidates, vertical breast reductions can be performed which eliminates or minimizes the horizontal portion of the incision. The nipple and areola are repositioned by remaining attached to the breast tissue underneath and the breast tissue/nipple/areola unit is moved and reshaped. The skin envelop is then sutured around the new breast mound. Because the nipple remains attached to the breast tissue, sensation and sensitivity remain normal following recovery. Most patients are back to work after a week or two.
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Breast Reduction – Home Care Instructions

For the first postoperative week, patients should rest and sleep elevated at 30 degrees. You should not lay flat in bed. Thirty degrees elevation can be achieved in a recliner or using several pillows behind you back and shoulders. If you do not have a recliner, you must position pillows in bed so that you will not roll off your pillows and lose elevation.
Do not lift arms over the head for the first 2 weeks. You may move the shoulder to avoid stiffness. Avoid lifting anything over 5-10 pounds for the first 3 weeks.
You will be returning to the office for a postoperative check 24-48 hours after your surgery. After your appointment, you will be allowed to shower.
Most patients find that wearing a bra provides support to the breasts and reduces pain, so a comfortable sports bra is recommended to be worn for the first few weeks. Avoid underwire bras. These are not allowed for the first 6 weeks.
Avoid strenuous activity such as jogging, swimming, skiing, tennis for the first 3-4 weeks after surgery.
Begin your postoperative antibiotics the night of your surgery and finish the entire prescription.
The following symptoms are completely normal:
One side hurts more than the other.
The feeling of Rice Krispies to the breasts. This is a small amount of air and will resolve in 2 weeks.
Swelling to the top portion of the breasts is normal. This will resolve at about 6 weeks.
Electric shocks, tingling, temporary numbness, hypersensitivity to the nipples, all of which are normal due to the stretching of nerves.
Uneven swelling or bruising.
Constipation from pain pills. Plan on using a laxative if you have not moved your bowels in 2 days.
Itching from the pain pills is also very common, and we recommend that you take Benadryl 25-50 mg every 4-6 hours for itching. This medicine is available over-the-counter. The side effects are sleepiness, and you are not allowed to drive while taking your pain pills or large doses of Benadryl. Driving is allowed as soon as you stop your pain medicines.
Postoperative bruising is normal, and this will vary from patient to patient.

Please call Dr. Farahmand’s office if your breasts become:

One breast twice the size of the other.
Red streaks extending from the the wound
Fevers over 100 degrees (fevers under 100 degrees for the first 48 hours are normal).
Do not take any aspirin products, ibuprofen or vitamin E or any homeopathic medicines 2 weeks prior to surgery and 2 weeks after surgery. Medications for pain and antibiotics have been prescribed to you. If your pain is not that severe, you may take Tylenol.

Breast Surgery – Home Care Instructions

For the first postoperative week, patients should rest and sleep elevated at 30 degrees. You should not lay flat in bed. Thirty degrees elevation can be achieved in a recliner or using several pillows behind you back and shoulders. If you do not have a recliner, you must position pillows in bed so that you will not roll off your pillows and lose elevation.
Movement of the arms is helpful in softening your breasts. By moving your arms, this moves your implants and keeps your pocket open to allow for soft breasts. Avoid lifting anything over 5-10 pounds for the first 3 weeks. If you are active in weight lifting, light weights 2-3 pounds with your arms is allowed after 3 weeks. Avoid power lifting for 6 weeks.
You will be returning to the office for a postoperative check 24-48 hours after your surgery. Massaging in the beginning is painful, so approximately one hour to your appointment have a light meal and a pain pill. After your appointment, you will be allowed to shower.
Intermittent ice to the breasts is helpful for the first 24-48 hours. After this time period, we recommend avoiding ice. Most patients find that wearing a bra provides support to the breasts and reduces pain, so a comfortable sports bra is recommended to be worn for the first few weeks. Avoid underwire bras. These are not allowed for the first 6 weeks.
Avoid strenuous activity such as jogging, swimming, skiing, tennis for the first 3-4 weeks after surgery.
Begin your postoperative antibiotics the night of your surgery and finish the entire prescription.

The following symptoms are completely normal:

One side hurts more than the other.
The feeling of Rice Krispies to the breasts. This is a small amount of air and will resolve in 2 weeks.
Sloshing or gurgling. This is antibiotic solution around your implant. This will resolve in 2-3 weeks.
Swelling to the top portion of the breasts is normal. This will resolve at about 6 weeks.
Electric shocks, tingling, temporary numbness, hypersensitivity to the nipples, all of which are normal due to the stretching of nerves.
Uneven swelling or bruising.
Constipation from pain pills. Plan on using a laxative if you have not moved your bowels in 2 days.
Itching from the pain pills is also very common, and we recommend that you take Benadryl 25-50 mg every 4-6 hours for itching. This medicine is available over-the-counter. The side effects are sleepiness, and you are not allowed to drive while taking your pain pills or large doses of Benadryl. Driving is allowed as soon as you stop your pain medicines.
Postoperative bruising is normal, and this will vary from patient to patient.

Please call Dr. Farahmand’s office if your breasts become:

One breast twice the size of the other.
Red streaks extending from the the wound
Fevers over 100 degrees (fevers under 100 degrees for the first 48 hours are normal).

Do not take any aspirin products, ibuprofen or vitamin E or any homeopathic medicines 2 weeks prior to surgery and 2 weeks after surgery. Medications for pain and antibiotics have been prescribed to you. If your pain is not that severe, you may take Tylenol.

Breast Augmentation – Frequently Asked Questions

1. What incisions are used for breast augmentation?
Currently there are 4 types of incisions. Transaxillary (under the arm), Periareolar (around the areola) , Inframammary (underneath the breast), and Transumbilical (through the belly button).

2. Should my implant be placed over or under the muscle?
There are many advantages to placing an implant underneath the muscle. The main reason is that it provides more tissue coverage to provide a more natural-looking breast . Another advantage is that sub-muscular placement is associated with less chance of capsular contracture (overabundant scar tissue surrounding the implant). Patients with saggier breasts may benefit more from placing the implant above the muscle to allow the implant to drop behind the nipple.

3. How do I know what size to pick?
When you see Dr. Farahmand for a consultation, you will be given a chance to try on different sizers to determine which implant would look best on your frame. Dr. Farahmand will guide you in this decision. Women with wider torsos require more volume to achieve their desired cup size. Generally 200cc equals one cup size.

4. What implant types are available to me?
Currently saline non-adjustable, saline adjustable, and silicone implants are available. Patients desiring to have silicone implants must meet certain criteria in order to receive silicone implants. Implants come in round, shaped, smooth, and textured varieties.

5. What is an adjustable implant?
An adjustable implant is a saline implant which can be filled with more saline after the operation. In other words, after the patient is healed, if she desires the implants to be larger, the implant can be filled in the office through a small butterfly needle. No anesthesia or cutting is needed for these fills. Saline can also be removed this way as well. This type of approach ensures that the patient achieves the size that she desires.

Frequently Asked Questions about Breast Lift Surgery

Q: How do I know if I need a breast lift or just an augmentation or both?
A: Generally, what determines if a patient needs a breast lift is the position of the nipple with respect to the breast crease (the crease underneath the breast). If the nipple hangs below the breast crease, the patient would look better with a breast lift.

Some patients are borderline for needing a lift, meaning that they can have just an implant but the implants will sit slightly lower on their chest.

Q: Where are the incisions for breast lifting?
A: Generally, the incisions for breast lifting are around the areola (the colored skin surrounding the nipple), vertical to the breast crease, and one horizontal within the breast crease.

Q: Will I still have nipple sensation after breast lifting?
A: Most patients still have nipple sensation after breast lift surgery although it will be somewhat diminished.

Q: Will my breasts sag again years after I have a breast lift?
A: Provided that the patient’s weight stays stable and a conservatively-sized implant or no implant is used, the breasts should not sag again over time unless large implants are used. Weight loss, poor skin elasticity, and again- large implants can cause the breasts to sag over time after a breast lift.

Breast Reduction Surgery

This 60 year old woman was desiring a breast reduction. Dr. Farahmand performed a breast reduction. Her post-operative pictures were taken three months after surgery.

Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast Lift; 43 years old

This 43 year old was a 34 B cup and was desiring some more fullness and better symmetry with her breasts. Dr. Farahmand performed a breast augmentation with silicone and a left breast crescent mastopexy (breast lift).

Breast Augmentation; 41 years old, A to C

This 41 year old was a 34A cup desiring to be a C cup. She was desiring a round look to the breasts. Dr. Farahmand performed a breast augmentation with 350cc Saline implants.

Breast Augmentation; 24 years old, C to D

This 24 year old was a 34 C cup desiring to be a medium D cup. She was desiring a very round look to the breasts. Dr. Farahmand performed a breast augmentation with 475cc Saline implants.

Breast Augmentation; 51 years old, A to B

This 51 year old was a 34A cup desiring to be a full B cup. Dr. Farahmand performed a breast augmentation with 275cc silicone implants.

Breast Augmentation; A to B/C

This 46 year old was a 34A cup desiring to be between a B and C cup and she was desiring a “natural” look. Dr. Farahmand performed a breast augmentation with 325cc saline implants.

Breast Augmentation

This patient is a 43 year old female who desired a larger cup size. Dr. Farahmand performed a breast augmentation on her with saline implants. Her post-operative photos were taken one year after her surgery.