Cosmetic Breast Surgery

A breast lift raises the breasts to a more youthful position by removing excess tissue and skin and reducing the size of the areolae.  This can be done alone or in combination with a breast augmentation.  

For severe sagging, Dr. Holcombe uses a full breast lift technique, which leaves an "anchor pattern" scar around the areola, down to the crease of the breast and through the crease.  For mild or moderate sagging, he may also be able to accomplish the breast lift through a peri-areolar, or "donut", technique in which the scar is only around the areola.  

Dr. Holcombe will discuss the best approach for you during your initial consultation, and we will show you "before and after" photos so that you can visualize the results.

A breast augmentation uses either saline or silicone breast implants to improve the size, shape or symmetry of breasts.  Once you have decided to pursue breast augmentation, there are several decisions we will discuss with you: 

• Saline or silicone implants 
• Implant size 
• Implant positioning 
• Size and location of your surgical scar

Dr. Holcombe will spend time walking through each of these decisions during your initial consultation, and we will also show you implants that you can try for size.  We will review the risks of surgery in detail, show you "before and after" photos and answer any questions you may have. 

We most often operate at St. Joseph Outpatient Surgery Center with you going home the same day.  If you have high risk medical conditions, St. Joseph Hospital is another location where we operate.  We will let you know the location of your surgery on the day of your consultation. 

Please be prepared to check into the surgery location at least one hour before your scheduled surgery time.  

You will need to be fasting for at least 8 hours prior to the surgery, and some medications may require you to fast up to 12 hours prior to surgery.  You will receive specific instructions prior to your procedure date.

Please provide us with a complete list of your medications during your initial consultation, and please let us know if you have any changes to your medication prior to surgery.  This will allow us to give you the best instructions to prepare for surgery and recovery. 

You will wake up from breast surgery in an ACE wrap, and we will ask you to continue using that compression dressing for the first week following your operation.  At your one week follow up, you can usually transition into a sports bra with gentle compression until you are one month out from your surgery.  We do not always use drains, but if Dr. Holcombe decides that you will need surgical drains then we will give you detailed instructions for caring for the drains and we will see you regularly until the drains can be removed.  You will need to avoid strenuous activities, including exercise and heavy lifting, for the first month after surgery.