Saggy Breasts needing a lift? – An Internal Bra can help avoid Bottoming Out after Breast Surgery

If you have saggy breasts, then you might be considering getting a breast lift. An internal bra lift is a fairly new type of breast lift that you should consider when doing your research. It can be done alone or combined with breast augmentation or reduction.

The internal bra lift is an option for women who want the most durable and significant breast lifting possible. Your inner breast tissue is tightened, lifted, and supported with strong sutures. The deep tissue is reshaped in a hammock-like shape to hold the breasts up and keep them up. This leads to maximal lifting and long-lasting perkiness. It’s like a breast lift with extra support.

The term ‘internal bra’ is used commonly in breast surgery and involves multiple techniques to provide internal suspension much like a bra would to the breast. This will ensure that in the longer term the effects of gravity are minimised and the result that was achieved immediately after surgery is maintained over the years.

Dr Hunt prefers to avoid using foreign materials in an Internal bra lift

Different techniques can be used that involved the use of your own tissue, potentially sutures or stitches as well as the use of a number of mesh-typed materials that include mesh made from dissolving suture material, mesh that is made from silk as well as using what is known as a dermal substitute.

The challenges of using foreign material are that delayed infection and rejection rate are high so Dr Hunt’s preferred technique is to use the patients’ native tissue to provide internal support in combination with a series of sutures. When patients are researching the internal bra technique, it is imperative that people understand what is being used to achieve the result and be comfortable with the use of that method or material.

Some surgeons use a silk mesh or a cellular dermal matrix (ADM) to create an inner hammock for support. However, Dr Hunt and Dr Maryam avoid these to reduce the risk of infection and breast deformity. Synthetic mesh is reserved for more complicated cases or breast revision cases.

What Is an Internal Bra Lift?

Internal bra surgery is a technique used to provide internal suspension to the breast tissue to maintain the results that are achieved in the short term into the longer term. It can be used in breast reduction, breast lift, as well as breast augmentation and can involve manipulation of the breast tissue as well as internal sutures or the use of internal sling material.

An internal bra lift is a fairly new and innovative type of breast lifting technique (mastopexy). It can be done alone, through a periareolar incision, or as an add-on to other breast surgeries. It can be added to a traditional breast lift, breast augmentation, or breast reduction. The internal breast fat and tissue are lifted, fixed high up with sutures, and held up with hammock-like support created from your own connective tissue.

The key feature of an internal bra lift is the hammock-like support. It is thought to delay sagging and provide more durable results, as the tightened tissue holds the breasts up against gravity. As the name implies, it’s like having your breasts supported with a bra on the inside. The internal bra lift provides more long-lasting results and prevents the breasts from sagging too fast.

An internal bra mastopexy can be done with any type of cosmetic breast surgery, with or without implants. If you get implants, then internal bra lifting helps reduce the risk of implants bottoming out. The suturing technique tightens the breast pocket around the implant, and the hammock holds it from below.

Dr Hunt and Dr Maryam both offer inner bra lift surgery for their patients in Sydney, New South Wales. It might be combined with any other type of breast surgery, with or without implants, to ensure maximal lifting from the inside.

Benefits of Internal Bra Lift

There are several advantages of internal bra lift that make it a popular surgery among our breast surgery patients in Sydney, New South Wales.

If you get an internal bra mastopexy, then you should expect:

A breast lift that lasts longer
A boob job that lasts longer
Less risk of implants bottoming out
Effective breast lifting
More support at the inframammary fold to hold your breast shape and implants
Perky and tighter breasts
Forward-facing nipples

The benefits of an internal bra lift include all of those you get with a traditional breast lift and some more. It’s an excellent procedure to reverse the signs of breast ageing, fix south-pointing nipples, and make the breasts tight and perky.

Internal Bra Lift vs Traditional Breast Lift

An internal bra lift and a traditional breast lift are not necessarily mutually exclusive. The internal bra support can be added to a traditional breast lifting technique to maximise durability.

The internal bra lift is considered to be more durable than traditional breast lifting. The inner tissue hammock provides extra support to the lower part of the breasts. It holds them up, counteracting the effect of gravity, and preventing them from sagging. This extra support at the inframammary line also helps prevent breast implants from bottoming out.

What is used for the Internal Bra?

The patients’ own breast tissue can be used to form an internal sling or internal bra and this is Dr Hunt’s preferred technique. This is then reinforced with dissolving sutures which will dissolve over 3 to 6 months by which stage the body’s own collagen has created its own internal bra support structures.

Who Needs an Internal Bra Lift?

Regardless of the type of breast surgery you’re planning to get, an additional internal bra lift is worth consideration.

You’d be a good candidate for an internal bra lift if:

You are getting a breast augmentation, breast reduction, or traditional mastopexy
You have mild to moderate breast ptosis
You want more breast implant support
You want to make your breast lift last longer
You want more inframammary fold support
You want to achieve maximal lifting and support when having an inverted T incision

An internal bra lift is a great add-on to any cosmetic breast procedure. It’s perfect for women who don’t have severe breast ptosis, yet still need significant lifting and breast support.

A good candidate for mastopexy, of course, needs to be in good general health. You will also have to quit smoking at least 4 weeks before your surgery to avoid any complications.

How Is an Internal Bra Lift Performed

Patient Case Study – Breast reduction with internal bra – F cup to D cup result 5 yrs post-surgery with maintenance of shape and elevation of the breast as it is supported internally by an internal bra of breast tissue

An internal bra lift is done at the hospital, usually under general anaesthesia. This means that you will be put to sleep before the procedure and won’t feel anything during. The steps of the procedure depend on whether you are getting an internal bra lift alone or with another cosmetic breast procedure. Nevertheless, regardless of the combination, the surgical technique usually goes like this:

Through the breast incision, your plastic surgeon will release the breast skin from the underlying tissue. He or she will then manipulate the deeper layers, which include muscle, fat, and connective tissue. They will cut any excess tissue and tighten the rest. The connective tissue will be used to create hammock-like support that holds the breasts up in a high position. Your surgeon will then use strong sutures to fix everything to the chest wall.

After the breast is lifted to satisfaction, your surgeon will have to remove the excess breast skin. The skin is then tightened and the breast lift incision is closed with thin sutures.

Internal Bra Lift with Implants

If you’re getting implants with your internal bra lift, then the implants will be inserted before the inner breast tissue is tightened. The breast tissue will be tightened around the bra to fix it in its place. An internal bra lift allows maximal support at the bottom pole of the breast implant, effectively preventing bottoming out.

Risks and Complications of Internal Bra Lift

Internal bra lift is a generally safe procedure with minimal risks and complications. Some of the rare post-op complications that might occur with an internal bra lift include:

Wound infection (increased risk with synthetic mesh)
Loss of sensation around the nipples
Inability to breastfeed
Bleeding
Haematoma formation (blood collection)
Seroma formation (fluid collection)
Excessive scarring

Some of the long-term complications of internal bra lift and breast implants include:

Deformity due to fibrosis (especially with synthetic mesh)
Capsular contracture
Implant bottoming out (risk is less than with traditional bra lift)
Implant rupture
Implant malposition
Loss of sensation in part of the breast

To reduce the risks of internal bra lift, even more, you should have a surgeon that is experienced in cosmetic breast surgery. Our surgeons, Dr Hunt and Dr Maryam have developed techniques to lift the breasts internally without a mesh. This is proven to reduce the risk of infection and breast deformity due to internal scarring.

Costs and Prices of Internal Bra Lift – How much is an Internal Bra Surgery?

In all his breast surgery Dr Hunt provides this internal bra technique at no extra charge. Dr Hunt considers it a part of a surgical technique he used to create results for patients that will look good in the short term, the medium and the longer term and is a standard part of his surgical technique in all of his breast surgery cases.

Preparing for Your Surgeon Consultation

Your consultation will start with a few questions about your general health and your desired cosmetic goals. Expect Dr Hunt to ask you questions like:

What exactly is bothering you about your breasts?
What shape of breasts do you wish to have?
What size of breasts do you wish to have?
How important is a significant cleavage to you?
Do you have a problem with getting breast implants with your lift?
Do you have a problem with having a scar along the lower pole of your breast?

Then, Dr Hunt will examine your breasts to know exactly what can and cannot be done. He will then give you your options and you can discuss and choose a suitable surgical option together.

An internal bra lift is almost always an option, regardless of what cosmetic breast procedure you’re getting. It is one of the ways to make your bob job last longer.

Internal Bra Lift FAQs – Questions about an Internal Bra

Can you breastfeed after an internal bra lift?

It is still very possible that you will still be able to breastfeed after an internal bra lift. Even though some of the milk ducts will be damaged, enough of them will stay intact so that you’ll be able to nurse your baby. Make sure you discuss this thoroughly with Dr Hunt before deciding on getting cosmetic breast surgery.

How long does an internal bra lift last?

An internal bra lift is very durable. It can last up to 10 years or even more. Naturally, the breasts will still sag as the years pass and you will likely need breast revision surgery after a decade beyond your original procedure.

Can you get an internal bra lift without implants?

You can get an internal bra lift with or without implants. Implants are sometimes necessary if you have deflated breasts. In such cases, an implant will restore the lost breast volume and emphasize your cleavage more. That’s why most women who choose to get an internal bra lift combine it with breast augmentation.

Is an internal bra lift better than a traditional breast lift?

Each procedure has its strong points. An internal bra lift is perfect for women who need moderate lifting but want to avoid a visible scar. A traditional “inverted-T” breast lift, however, is more extensive. It allows more lifting and is hence a better option for women with severe breast ptosis.

How long does internal bra surgery take?

The time for the procedure varies depending on your individual anatomy and the specific procedure that is being done. If you are getting breast augmentation with your breast lift, then expect the procedure time to be longer – maybe 2 to 3 hours.

How do I keep my breast implants ‘perky’?

The effect of gravity cannot be turned off after surgery and to support the breast tissue the surgeon will use the internal bra technique. The added support offered by external bra as appropriate size and fit in the longer term will ensure that the results of breast surgery be at breast reduction, breast lift or breast implants remained in an elevated position. If you don’t wear a bra and offer support to the breast on a regular basis then the effects of gravity will be more extensive and the implant and breast tissue will tend to drop.

What is an inframammary incision?

Surgeons will call the fold underneath the breast the inframammary fold (IMF). When we placed a breast implant via an incision in this fold we term that incision location as an inframammary incision.

What does breast implant bottoming-out look like?

The challenge with breast implant surgery is that the skin envelope that contains the breast tissue now needs to carry the volume of the breast tissue and the breast implants. At times, the implant can slip from behind the breast tissue and descend below the fold underneath the breast and this creates the deformity known as a ‘double-bubble’. In other cases, the breast implant weight can create too much stretch on the lower pole of the breast with the appearance of the breast tissue descending below the nipple and the nipple appearing too high on the breast mound. The appearance is described as ‘bottoming-out’.

How do you fix bottom-out breast implant?

There are multiple techniques to address the bottoming-out of a breast implant and it certainly will require revisional surgery. The primary objective of the revisional surgery though will be to achieve the desired breast cup size for the patient and this may involve increasing the size of implant potentially decreasing the size of implant or using internal suspension techniques to support the implant. Revisional breast surgery is far more complicated than the initial implant insertion and needs to be specifically tailored to the patients’ needs as well as their tissue volume.

Will bottoming out get worse?

Once the process of bottoming out has begun it is a slow but steady descent of the implant. The only solution is to provide long-term external support to minimise the progression of bottoming out and the only way to correct the problem is through a surgical revision.

How do I keep my breast implants from dropping?

Support is the key to avoiding descent and dropping breast implants as well as natural breast tissue. Dr Hunt’s advice to his patients is that they continue to wear an appropriate size and fitted bra to offer external support to the breast in the longer term.

Are there internal stitches with breast augmentation?

Following a breast augmentation, a pocket has been created to place the implant. The lower portion of this pocket needs to be supported in the longer term by re-establishing an internal bra. The internal bra would involve sutures and stitches that will re-attach the ligaments and breast tissue to the chest wall to minimise the chance of bottoming out and double-bubble deformity.

Is an internal bra lift painful?

The use of an internal bra technique does not increase the postoperative pain from my patients and this worthwhile procedure does not increase the length of recovery. Like any other surgery, an internal breast bra lift can be associated with a certain level of pain. In most cases, the pain is very well tolerated. Regular painkillers, like paracetamol, are usually enough to help you through a painless recovery.

Is breast lift safer than implants?

Both breast implants and a breast lift are safe procedures with a similar risk profile. However, implants tend to bring along more long-term complications. This includes implant malposition, bottoming out, capsular contracture, and implant rupture.

When can you stop wearing a sports bra after breast augmentation?

In the short term after breast augmentation for approximately 6 weeks, I encouraged my patients to wear a soft, non-structured no-wire bra. The sports bra allows freedom of movement as well as the resolution of swelling in the first six weeks. After the six-week period when swelling has resolved patients can purchase bras and at that stage, Dr Hunt would encourage them to use any form of bra that suits their lifestyle, needs and requirements.

Medical Sources about an internal bra and breast surgery:

About Dr Jeremy Hunt – Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Dr Jeremy Hunt is a specialist plastic surgeon performing breast, body, face and nose surgery in Australia. He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing plastic surgery in Sydney.

Careful, considerate and honest, Dr Jeremy Hunt works with you to find a solution that is optimal for your body and your lifestyle. Every patient is unique and, through his expert guidance, can achieve good results.

Dr Hunt’s personal, one-on-one service and attention to detail has given thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia the aesthetic results they desire.

Dr Hunt’s qualifications and education

Dr Jeremy A Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from some of the world’s very best plastic surgeons.

Next Step – Make an Enquiry or Request a consultation with Dr Hunt

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Find out more about pricing, medical payment plans and paying for your surgery
Request more information about the procedure – call on 1300 157 200 or contact us

If breast reduction is something you’re considering, Dr Hunt can thoroughly explain all the options to you in a one-on-one consultation.

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Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health professional.

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Internal Bra Lift: A More Durable Breast Lift Technique