Breast & Body Procedures

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Dr. Tijunelis in Lake County, Libertyville IL.

Meet Dr. Tijunelis

We provide plastic surgery services to the Libertyville, IL area. If you would like more information on tummy tucks, liposuction, face lifts, breast enlargements, or any other plastic surgery services, please contact us.

Breast Lift

At a Glance:

Description:	Used frequently with breast augmentation to lift and reshape sagging breasts, repositioning the nipple.
Length:	1 to 3 hours.
Anesthetic:	Mostly general; may have deep sedation with local anesthesia.
Outpatient vs. Inpatient:	Mostly outpatient, rarely inpatient.
Side Effects:	Temporary bruising, swelling, discomfort, numbness. Permanent scars.
Risks:	Thick, wide scars; skin loss; infection. Asymmetry. Permanent loss of feeling in nipples or breast.
Recovery:	Back to work: 1 week or more. Strenuous activities: 4-6 weeks.
Duration of Results:	Variable, depending on the patient. Results may be altered by excessive weight loss or gain, pregnancy, breast feeding.

Breast lift surgery, or mastopexy, restores a more youthful appearance to a woman’s breasts. Over the years breasts can lose their shape and firmness due to pregnancy, nursing and loss of skin elasticity, causing them to sag. Mastopexy will raise and reshape breasts—slowing the effects of aging and gravity. This procedure can reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple.

Mastopexy will raise and reshape breasts—slowing the effects of aging and gravity.

Mastopexy is commonly performed in conjunction with breast augmentation (implants) to increase breast firmness and size. This may appeal to women who have lost breast volume after pregnancy. Pregnancy and nursing often result in stretched skin and therefore decreased volume.

The best candidates for mastopexy are healthy, emotionally-stable women who are realistic about what the surgery can accomplish. The best results are usually achieved in women with small, sagging breasts. Breasts of any size can be lifted, but the results may not last as long in heavy breasts.

Many women seek mastopexy because pregnancy and nursing have left them with stretched skin and less volume in their breasts. However, if you're planning to have more children, it may be a good idea to postpone your breast lift. While there are no special risks that affect future pregnancies (for example, mastopexy usually doesn't interfere with breast-feeding), pregnancy is likely to stretch your breasts again and offset the results of the procedure

The Procedure

Breast lifts are usually performed under general anesthesia at the hospital or in our outpatient facility. Local anesthesia may be used with a sedative if the incision is small; you’ll be awake but relaxed, and will feel minimal discomfort.

The surgery may take between 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. A more common approach involves an incision along the natural contour of the breast where excess skin will be removed. The nipple and areola are then repositioned. The skin surrounding the areola is brought together to reshape the breast, with stitches around the areola and the lower breast area.

Possible Complications

As with any surgery, there are possible complications. A patient may suffer an adverse reaction to the anesthesia (rare), or experience bleeding and infection following a breast lift, causing scars to widen. Poor healing and wider scars are more common with patients who smoke.

Because milk ducts are left intact, mastopexy will not affect your ability to breast-feed.

For best results, follow your physician’s advice both before and after surgery.

After Surgery: What to Expect

After surgery, your stitches will be covered with gauze and an elastic bandage or a surgical bra will hold the breasts in place. Your breasts will be bruised, swollen, and you may experience some mild discomfort for a couple of days. You may opt to have a pain pump inserted after your augmentation. Dr. Tijunelis will prescribe medication for pain, nausea and vomiting, and antibiotics. A soft support bra replaces the bandages or surgical bra after a few days. In the recovery stage, it is important to wear the bra at all times.

After a week or two, the stitches will be removed. Some noticeable, permanent scarring is normal, but easily covered by your bra or bathing suit. The scars may be red and lumpy for a few months, eventually fading and becoming less obvious. The procedure can also leave you with unevenly positioned nipples, or a permanent loss of feeling in your nipples or breasts.

To ensure proper healing, plan to stay at home for at least a week before returning to work. You will need to avoid lifting anything over your head for 3-4 weeks and avoid strenuous sports for a month.