Breast Lift Archives | La Jolla, San Diego | Tim Sayed, MD, FACS
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Misconceptions About Breast Augmentation and Lift

Most women dream about having the full and perfectly rounded breasts we all see in movies and magazines. This concept of beauty and feminine body figures has been around for decades, which is why thousands of women decide to undergo plastic surgery every year to get the curvy figure of their dreams.

Though most patients are familiar with the concept of breast surgery, you might not know there is more than one way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Breasts come in different sizes and shapes, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula that works for all patients. 

Today, two of the most sought-after breast procedures are augmentations and lifts. Both surgeries achieve extraordinary results, but they serve different purposes. If you are considering breast surgery, understanding your options is crucial to help you make the right decision.

What Is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation is the most popular plastic procedure in the U.S. This surgery is one of the safest, quickest, and most effective alternatives to improve breast symmetry, volume, and shape. During surgery, breast specialist Dr. Tim Sayed inserts saline or silicone implants to achieve the appearance you discussed during your consultation. Breast implants also come in different sizes and shapes, so Dr. Sayed will help you select the best choice for you. 

Augmentation surgery is the ideal choice for healthy patients who want to address their breasts’ size or shape, but it has little effect on their position. If you are happy about your breast volume but think they look a bit droopy, you might want to consider a breast lift.

What Is a Breast Lift?

A breast lift is the leading solution for sagging breasts, medically known as ptosis. Flattened, deflated breasts can result from multiple factors, including aging, weight loss, breastfeeding, and even genetics. Breast ptosis can make you look significantly older, with issues like excess fat and downward-pointing nipples. These can be impossible to hide, even when you are fully dressed.

With a breast lift, Dr. Sayed removes excess skin, improves contours, and addresses nipple position to enhance your breasts’ appearance. This treatment is an excellent alternative for healthy women who struggle with sagging breasts, especially after having children.

Can I Combine Breast Surgeries?

Absolutely. Dr. Sayed can perform a lift and augmentation concurrently to simultaneously resolve multiple concerns. Pairing surgeries is an excellent way to save time and money because it only requires one recovery period, making it ideal for your busy lifestyle.

Your Breast Specialist in San Diego and Newport Beach, CA

If you think any of these treatments will help you improve your figure and boost your confidence, why not schedule a consultation to clear up all your doubts? Our team at Tim Sayed MD Plastic Surgery will be happy to see you in either of our two convenient locations. Contact us when you are ready to learn more.

After Breast Implant Removal: Here Are Your Options

Breast augmentation via implants remains one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures in the U.S., with over 190,000 operations performed annually. However, due to changes in lifestyle preferences, body image desires, or even health concerns, around 35,000 patients a year opt for breast implant removal. The FDA has recommended a checklist that patients should review before considering breast augmentation that speaks to current understanding of breast implant illness symptoms and other concerns.

Many patients are understandably concerned about their options after breast implant removal and what their breasts will look like. Here, Dr. Sayed discusses post-breast implant removal options and what patients can expect from the procedure.

What Happens to the Breasts After Implant Removal?

The concept behind breast implants is to add volume and shape to the breasts. As such, when a surgeon removes the implants, that volume and shape are lost. This then leaves the breasts looking deflated and unshapely, something patients are understandably concerned about.

Fortunately, there are several options available to restore an appealing look to the breasts after breast implant removal.

Breast Lift

Probably the best option available to people after a breast implant removal is a breast lift.

Breast lift surgery removes excess skin and positions the breast in a higher, more youthful, and appealing position on the chest wall. When done by a highly experienced plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Sayed, a breast lift should also reposition the areolas and nipples in a more forward-facing, youthful setting.

In many cases, a breast lift is all that is required to restore desirable aesthetics to post-implant removal breasts.

Breast Implant Removal in Newport Beach, CA

Just as opting for breast implants is a significant life decision, so too is getting them removed. We strongly recommend discussing your breast implant removal procedure with several qualified and recognized surgeons before committing to the procedure. This way, you can find the perfect surgeon to help with the procedure and follow-up treatments so that you get the results you desire.

Fat Grafting to the Breast

Fat transfer breast augmentation essentially uses liposuction to take fat from other parts of your body and inject it into your breasts. While it can provide some volume improvement to the breast after the deflation associated with implant removal, it is not a perfect substitute for the shape of an implant and there are some trade-offs. However, most patients who elect fat grafting to the breasts are glad they did, as it provides additional shaping and volume that they would otherwise not have with implant removal, especially those patients who had larger implants and smaller natural breasts.

Want to Learn More? Get In Touch with Us Today!

Reach out to Dr. Tim Sayed in Newport Beach or La Jolla, CA at (858) 247-2933 or via this online form to arrange a consultation to discover how we can help you look and feel your best.

Will I Need a Lift After Breast Implant Removal?

Breast implant removal is the process of getting breast implants taken out from the breasts.

While there are several reasons compelling patients to undergo the procedure, some of the most common causes include:

  • Breast implant illness
  • Change in lifestyle
  • Fluctuations in body weight

Regardless of the motivation driving you to consider removing your breast implants, it is essential to know how the procedure will affect the appearance of your breasts once the implants have been removed.

Here, Dr. Tim Sayed discusses what happens to the breasts after implants are removed and whether or not patients will require a breast lift to optimize the aesthetic results of the procedure.

What Happens During Breast Implant Removal?

Breast implants provide volume and shape to the breasts with artificial structures placed in between the soft tissues of the breast, skin, and musculature.

As such, when these implants are inserted, the skin and surrounding musculature of the breasts and chest wall must adapt to the implants, which often means they will stretch to compensate for the added volume.

Furthermore, the weight of the implants will cause the breasts to sag more than usual.

When these implants are removed, the surrounding soft tissue will lose volume and likely appear deflated.

The extent of this depends entirely on the size of the implants themselves – the bigger the implants, the more the skin is stretched, and the more significant the difference will be when the implants are removed.

Will I Need a Breast Lift?

In his extensive experience, Dr. Sayed notices that patients from breast explant removal get the most satisfying results from the procedure when it is combined with a breast lift.

A breast lift is a surgical operation that removes excess soft tissue from the breast area and upper chest, which positions the breasts higher on the chest, makes them firmer, and positions the nipples and areolas in a forward-facing setting.

Essentially, a breast lift reverses the aesthetic and physical effects removing the implants has on the breasts.

However, it’s important to note that a breast lift isn’t necessarily required – there is no added health benefit to getting a breast lift after breast implant removal. However, the appearance of the breasts can be significantly improved with a post-implant removal lift.

Breast Lift and Breast Implant Removal in Newport Beach, CA

If your breast implants are causing discomfort or getting in the way, don’t hesitate to consider breast implant removal. It is a highly satisfying and effective procedure, that when combined with a breast lift, will leave you looking and feeling younger, lighter, more confident and more athletic.

Reach out to Dr. Tim Sayed in Newport Beach or La Jolla, CA, by calling (858) 247-2933 or via this online form to arrange a quick virtual consultation to discover how we can help you look and feel your best.

Will a Breast Lift Make You Look Younger?

When most people think of aging, gray hair and wrinkles first spring to mind. But many of Dr. Sayed’s patients struggle with the changes that occur in their bodies’ contours over time.

With age, and particularly following pregnancy, the breasts begin to stretch and change shape from their original perky setting on the chest to more of a drooping appearance. Fortunately, this effect is easy to counteract with a breast lift.

Here, Dr. Tim Sayed of Tim Sayed MD Plastic Surgery in La Jolla and Newport Beach, CA, looks at why the breasts show signs of aging and how a breast lift can rewind the clock.

What Happens to the Breasts Over Time?

All skin gradually stretches over time. This phenomenon occurs because the body slows the production of structural proteins such as collagen and elastin, compounds essential for resilient and youthful skin.

On your face, lost collagen and elastin leads to wrinkles and fine lines, which Dr. Sayed can address with either a facelift or dermal fillers.

Skin laxity leads to drooping, low-hanging breasts, which a breast lift can resolve. Weight gain, pregnancy and simple aging can all affect the elasticity and skin redundancy of the breasts, leading to what plastic surgeons call “ptosis” (which the rest of us call “sagging”).

How Does a Breast Lift Make You Look Younger?

The breasts are a defining feature of a woman’s body. Firm, uplifted breasts signify, to many, youth and confidence, which is why many middle-aged women or moms come to Dr. Sayed seeking a solution to their deflated, sagging breasts.

In performing a breast lift, Dr. Sayed will excise excess skin and sometimes a small amount of fat from around the breasts. Having completed this step, he then repositions the breasts higher on the chest wall and fixes them in place with dissolvable sutures that will disappear over time as your breasts heal.

The breast lift procedure can make you look years younger, while instilling an essential confidence level that many patients find difficult to feel with drooping, low-hanging breasts. In some cases, lifting the breasts also helps the patient feel fitter and look more slender.

Can Other Procedures Help Enhance My Breasts?

They certainly can!

For many women, a breast lift helps set the breasts higher, but many enjoy the comprehensive results from a breast augmentation as well.

Breast augmentation increases the breasts’ size and definition, and you can have it done concurrently with a breast lift for an even more dramatic difference.

Breast Lift in Newport Beach, CA

If your breasts make you look or feel older than your years, you’re not alone. These concerns are prevalent among women as they age, and Dr. Sayed offers a brilliant solution in a breast lift. Reach out to us in Newport Beach or La Jolla, CA, by calling 858-247-2933 or through our website to arrange a quick virtual consultation to discover how we can help you look and feel your best.

What Breast Surgery is Right for You?

Breast surgery is by far the most commonly performed category of plastic surgery. Breast surgeries generally include breast implant removal, breast augmentation, revision breast surgery after prior augmentation, breast reduction, and breast lifts. The most popular of these is breast augmentation with implants, with over 320,000 procedures performed each year in the U.S.

Increasingly, there are more women seeking nipple surgery as well. But with so many breast surgery options to choose from, which one is right for you?

Here, Dr. Tim Sayed of Tim Sayed Plastic Surgery in La Jolla and Newport Beach, CA, looks at the differences between each breast surgery and how you can choose the appropriate procedure for your goals and desires.

Breast Implant Removal and Revision

First time breast augmentation (see below) remains incredibly popular, but a new trend has been growing in the last few years, with more and more patients looking to revise their prior breast augmentation. Sometimes this means the patient will consider new implants, but in others, patients have decided that breast implants are no longer for them. This may occur if the patient develops a capsular contracture (a phenomenon where scar tissue encasing the implant begins to distort the shape or feel of the device), or if an implant has leaked, or if the patient has a recalled device (Allergan textured implants, which are no longer on the market), or increasingly, if the patient is concerned about health issues and wishes to explore if her body will feel better without implants. There are various tradeoffs when exploring whether implants are for you, or whether you would prefer to go “implant free.” These tradeoffs include concerns about health, cosmetic appearance of the breasts, and recovery processes. Dr. Sayed is known for providing very detailed and informative consultations to help you navigate some of these challenging decisions.

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation was the poster procedure of plastic surgery during the ‘80s and ‘90s. With celebrities and pop icons going for the procedure, the public quickly followed.

Breast augmentation increases the size of the breast by introducing implants, or in some cases, the patient’s own fat, obtained through liposuction. There is a broad spectrum for how large or small implants can be, whereas fat grafting may have more limited availability in thinner patients.

If your goal is simply larger breasts, then breast augmentation is likely the procedure for you.

Breast Reduction 

For some women, overly large breasts cause health problems and aesthetic concerns. Breasts that are too large can cause severe back pain, shoulder and neck problems, issues with posture, and discomfort during exercise and daily life.

If naturally large breasts are a concern for you, then breast reduction surgery is the procedure. Expert plastic surgeons such as Dr Sayed can remove tissue from the breasts that make the breasts smaller but enhance the shape and position of the breast to be very aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.

Of note is if your breasts feel too large due to breast augmentation in the past, plastic surgeons can successfully remove implants with implant removal surgery. In most cases following implant removal, however, women require a breast lift.

Breast lift

Breast lift surgery is rapidly growing in popularity. Over 110,000 breast lifts are performed yearly and for a good reason.

Often, mothers of women experiencing aging desire a more youthful appearance to their breasts but don’t necessarily want larger breasts. A breast lift is perfect in this instance. A staple procedure in a mommy makeover, a breast lift removes excess skin above and around the breasts, which pulls the breasts higher on the chest, creating a younger, firmer, more pleasing appearance.

If you want to enhance how your breasts look and feel, but don’t want to make them any bigger or have implants used, then a breast lift is the way to go.

Breast Surgery in Newport Beach, CA

No matter what your concern is with your breasts, there is a procedure that can solve your problems.  All you need to do is consult with an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Tim Sayed. Reach out to Dr. Tim Sayed in Newport Beach or La Jolla, CA by calling 858 247 2933 or via this online form to arrange a consultation to discover how we can help you look and feel your best.

 

What Is Included in a Mommy Makeover?

Childbirth is a miracle. Bringing new life into the world is a moment for rejoicing and celebration. However, there is no denying the stress that pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing have on your body.

Fortunately, plastic surgeons like Tim Sayed MD, of La Jolla, CA, can help cosmetically improve some of the changes that occur with childbearing with a comprehensive set of procedures called a mommy makeover.

Here, Dr. Sayed takes you through what procedures a mommy makeover can include and how these can help restore your pre-childbirth physique. Most of the same approaches are available for any patient who is a good surgical candidate for cosmetic contouring of the tummy and breasts, whether from weight changes, aging, or other factors. In other words, Mommy Makeovers are not just for mommies!

What Happens During Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Nursing?

To improve some of the body changes that occur after pregnancy, we first must identify what changes occur in your body during the process.

One of the first changes is the swelling of the lower abdomen, where the child develops in your uterus. For many women, the strain of carrying a growing baby can lead to a separation of the lower abdominal wall. This phenomenon leads to a weaker lower abdomen, with reduced structural support to the spine and internal organs.

The breasts enlarge with the arrival of milk, which can cause stretch marks and take away the firm, round breasts of youth. Nursing further impacts the breasts’ appearance.

During childbirth, the birth canal and vagina stretch permanently. Women have several choices to address each of these physical changes. What are some procedures you might wish to include in your mommy makeover?

Tummy Tuck

The tummy tuck is a staple procedure in a mommy makeover. This procedure treats the extended and stretched skin of the lower abdomen while reinforcing the abdominal wall, addressing any structural issues that arose during the pregnancy.

Liposuction

Liposuction is also a standard mommy makeover procedure that touches up the abdomen and helps new moms get back to the smooth, flat stomach they enjoyed before becoming a mommy.

Breast Lift

Most mothers decide to get a breast lift in their mommy makeover to counteract the drooping and stretching that occurred during pregnancy and nursing.

Vaginal Rejuvenation

Vaginal rejuvenation is one of the less-talked-about mommy makeover procedures, but it shouldn’t be. Being happy and confident in your appearance can go a long way toward having an active and healthy sex life, and vaginal rejuvenation after childbirth helps fix many issues later down the road. Labiaplasty is a procedure commonly performed to improve the outward aesthetic appearance of this area, and can have significant impact on a woman’s confidence in her intimate life.

Mommy Makeover in Newport Beach, CA

If you’re a new mother and find yourself concerned about any aspect of your post-birth physique, reach out to Dr. Tim Sayed in Newport Beach or La Jolla, CA, at 858-247-2933 or through our website to arrange a convenient virtual consultation to discover how we can help you look and feel your best.

Breaking Down SoCal Breast Lift Costs: What Will You Pay?

The cost of a breast lift in SoCal isn’t black and white. Rates can vary from practice to practice, and even two patients seeing the same surgeon can end up with very different price tags. Why? Several factors come into play when determining the cost of this transformative procedure: a practice’s location, the type of anesthesia necessary for your procedure, the surgical venue you choose, your surgeon’s rate, and pre/post-op expenses tend to be the most significant deciding components of how much you’ll pay.

During your no-obligation consultation, Dr. Sayed, a board-certified plastic surgeon, will cover all the information you need to know about your breast lift, including estimated costs. We strongly encourage you to ask any questions you have about pricing, insurance, and financing before you make your decision.

Below, we’ll break down the different costs of a breast lift in Southern California. If you have any further questions or would like to schedule a consultation at our San Diego or Newport Beach, CA, offices, give us a call at 858-247-2933 today.

Extent of Your Breast Lift

Perhaps the most significant factor in determining breast lift costs is the extent of your procedure. Patients with severely drooping breasts may require a breast lift in combination with breast augmentation. If this is the case, the overall price will increase, though combining the procedures is a far more cost-effective option compared to performing them separately. If you choose to undergo your lift as part of a mommy makeover, cost assessments can also vary.

If you receive a breast lift alone, the procedure time can vary depending on your desired results. Minor breast lifts can take half the time of a full breast lift, such as an inverted-T mastopexy, requires. Therefore, minor lifts (like a crescent breast lift) tend to cost between $6,500 to $7,500, while major ones (such as an anchor lift) could range between $9,000 to $12,000.

Your Surgeon’s Expertise

Working with a highly skilled, experienced, and trained surgeon sometimes affects the cost of your procedure. Board-certified surgeons, like Dr. Sayed, invest in continuing education, the latest cutting-edge techniques, and providing their patients the highest levels of care. We work with all our patients to ensure procedures are affordable while not cutting any corners to ensure your safety and ideal results.

Just as with nearly everything else in life, when it comes to cosmetic surgery, you get what you pay for. Though the fees for working with an expert surgeon may be relatively higher, the extra cost provides you with the best quality treatments, techniques, and personalized care from an experienced doctor.

Anesthesia and the Surgical Venue

The type of sedation and anesthesia necessary for each patient varies widely. If your procedure requires general anesthesia, the total price will include the cost of an anesthesiologist or a certified anesthetist nurse. Further, depending on where we decide to complete your procedure can affect costs. During your consultation, we will discuss all the options.

Practice Location

Depending on where your surgeon works, prices shift based on local economies, demand, and average incomes. Less expensive rates might be available in some cities, which is why destination surgery has become so popular among cost-conscious patients. Traveling out of town for your procedure can sometimes end up saving you a good chunk of change. In general, urban centers and more metropolitan areas tend to be slightly more expensive, due to practices bearing higher real estate costs and overhead. 

Cost of Materials

If you choose to combine your lift with breast augmentation, as we’ve mentioned, prices usually increase. Prices vary depending on the type of materials required. In general, saline implants are cheaper than silicone (usually around $1,000 less). However, just because the price is lower does not mean a particular implant type can provide your ideal results. Dr. Sayed will listen to what you want your finished breasts to look like, and provide his guidance to help you choose what’s right for you. Any additional cost will be worth it in the long run.

Schedule a Consultation

Though insurance doesn’t usually pay for breast lift surgery, since it’s an elective cosmetic procedure, Dr. Sayed offers a range of financing options to help you achieve the breasts of your dreams. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon with particular expertise in breast anatomy.

If you think a breast lift might be right for you and want to schedule a consultation, please call our San Diego, CA, office at 858-247-2933 or contact us online.

Breast Lift + Augmentation: Why You Might Consider this Duo

Aging, pregnancy, and genetics all play a role in changing the shape of your breasts over the course of your lifetime. If you are worried about breasts that have begun to sag or flatten, you may be weighing the benefits of a breast lift procedure to restore your youthful profile. But while a breast lift is ideal for repositioning the breasts higher on the chest, it will not be able to address volume loss, which is why many women are opting to combine a breast lift with a breast augmentation.

What You Need to Know About a Breast Lift and Augmentation

A breast lift as a standalone procedure may not provide the results you are looking for if your breasts have lost significant volume, which happens to many women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The skin that stretches to provide milk for a baby can fail to bounce back to its pre-pregnancy position, leading to breasts that droop lower on the chest.

Though a breast lift will remove excess skin and move the breasts and nipple-areola complex to a perkier position, it may actually decrease your breast volume slightly. For many women, combining a breast augmentation with a lift is an ideal choice, because the dual procedure creates both an increased breast volume and an enhanced breast shape. Getting breast implants at the same time as your breast lift surgery should not significantly add to your recovery time, and the results can provide a dramatic improvement in the appearance of your breasts.

There are two significant advantages to combining a breast augmentation with a lift in the same procedure: It saves money and will also help you avoid having to undergo two recovery processes from two separate surgeries.

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Breast Lift + Augmentation?

In general, the same characteristics that make a woman a good candidate for a breast lift also qualify her to get a breast augmentation. These include:

  • Overall good health
  • Being a nonsmoker
  • Have no masses in the breasts after an exam
  • Having a positive support network of family and friends
  • Realistic expectations for the results of the surgery

The best way to determine whether you need a breast lift is a simple check called the “pencil test.” To perform this test, place a pencil in the crease beneath one of your breasts. If the pencil rolls away, you still have sufficient perkiness in your breasts. However, if your breast holds the pencil in place, you are a likely candidate for a breast lift surgery.

Recovering From a Breast Lift With Augmentation

For the first few days after your surgery, you can expect some tenderness, bruising, and swelling across your chest, and you may experience mild discomfort as well. These side effects are normal. To promote swifter healing, you will need to wear a specially designed surgical support bra that is sized and measured to fit you.

The length of your recovery time will depend on several factors, including how large your breast implants are. Women who choose bigger implants can expect more tissue stretching. If your job is not physically demanding, you may be able to return to work within a week or two. Women who have a more strenuous job may need to take a longer time off work. It’s also best to abstain from exercising for two weeks and ease back into your workouts after that.

Considering a Breast Lift With Implants? Contact Us Today

Women in the San Diego area who are ready to discuss combining a breast augmentation and lift should contact our office today to schedule a consultation. As a double-board-certified cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Tim Sayed has been honing his techniques for 13 years, and he is skilled at breast procedures. Regain your younger-looking breast silhouette with a breast lift and augmentation.