Breast Lifts in Orange County

Breast Lift Specialist Orange County

Serving Newport Beach, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Los Angeles County

Unfortunately for our bodies, gravity is always pulling. This leads to drooping eyelids, drooping faces, drooping tummies, and yes, drooping breasts. Big breasts tend to droop or sag more than small breasts as time passes, but no breast is immune. There are other important reasons that breasts can droop. Pregnancy is a major cause of breast drooping (medically referred to as “ptosis”). I’ve recently written several articles about “The Mommy Makeover,” a combination of procedures (including breast enhancement) designed to counteract the effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some women develop breasts with unsatisfactory shapes, often with ptosis, right from the start, during puberty. Other women experience severe breast drooping after losing large amounts of weight. Fortunately, procedures are available to improve all of these problems.

Breast drooping, or ptosis, is usually improved with a surgery known as a mastopexy, or breast lift. A mastopexy can raise the nipple and the areola (the darker skin around each nipple) to the appropriate height. It can help to restore cleavage, lift the breast off the chest wall, and improve the appearance and feel of breast fullness. If the areola diameter is too big, the areolas can be reduced to a more pleasing size. Many women tell me that it’s much easier to find properly fitting bras, and attractive swimsuits or clothing, after undergoing a breast lift.

The first step is to determine whether you actually need a breast lift, or if your breasts are simply “empty” or “deflated,” as can often occur after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Many patients who see me in my Orange County office requesting a breast lift actually benefit more from a breast augmentation. It’s important to consult a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery if you’re thinking about enhancing your breasts. Your surgeon must have the necessary education, training, experience, and judgment to help you to decide which procedure will provide the improvement you desire. Certainly, there are many women who do require a lift, and others who benefit most from breast augmentation in combination with a breast lift. A breast lift alone may not be able to restore the volume and upper breast fullness that some women seek. For such patients, adding implants to a breast lift can produce beautiful results.

Any breast lift will create come scarring on the breast. In most patients, the scars fade and become fairly inconspicuous with passage of time. Some patients, however, will form scars that remain more visible (but not in clothing or a swimsuit). There are different types of lifts, each producing different degrees of scarring. Many factors determine which type of lift is appropriate for any given patient.

When ptosis, or breast drooping, is quite severe, patients require a traditional type of mastopexy, or lift. This type of lift creates more scars, but is also very powerful. The breasts can be totally reshaped and repositioned with a full mastopexy. Once again, it may be helpful to add implants as well to improve upper breast fullness and cleavage.

I often perform a modified type of breast lift for my patients undergoing breast augmentation who also require slight tightening of the breast skin and slight elevation of the nipples and areolas. This is referred to as a “concentric mastopexy.” This type of lift creates a scar around the areola only. Since the scar is at the border of two different colors and textures of skin, it tends to blend in well. Photos illustrating this can be seen on my website

If your breasts are heading south, or if you’re unhappy with them in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at 714-835-6500. We can arrange a free consultation, where I can help you to decide the best way to obtain the improvements you want. I evaluate and treat patients from all over Newport Beach and Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and LA County, as well as patients from other states, who are dissatisfied with their breasts. I look forward to helping you too.

Posted in Breast Lift Surgery, Home, Mommy Makeover | No Comments »

Orange County Mommy Makeover Surgeon: Breast Enhancement

Mommy Makeover Surgeon- Dr. Andres Taleisnik

As many women know so well, there can be a physical price to pay for having children. Unfortunate changes often occur in the breasts, abdomen (tummy), or other areas. I recently wrote an article about The Mommy Makeover, a combination of plastic surgical procedures designed to help women to regain their pre-pregnancy figures (or even better). A Mommy Makeover almost always includes a tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty), and procedures to improve the breasts. I also wrote recently about the tummy tuck component of The Mommy Makeover in greater detail. This article addresses the enhancement of the breasts after pregnancy.

Many women who were entirely satisfied with their breast size and shape prior to pregnancy complain of decreased volume, emptiness of the breasts, or sagging afterwards. Fortunately, I can offer surgical options to improve each of those problems. It is important to consult a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, as I am, since the surgeon must have the training, knowledge and experience to provide an individualized plan for every patient, since every woman’s needs and desires are unique.

Some women complain to me that their breasts are “saggy” after pregnancy, when they are actually just “empty.” Such patients may do extremely well with breast augmentation alone, using either saline or silicone implants (I’ve discussed the differences in a prior article). The implants can restore fullness, which is usually quite lacking in the upper breast and cleavage area in particular. There may be choices as to the final size or volume of the breasts as well. When you meet with me for your consultation, I will help you to determine whether augmentation alone will achieve your goals.

While augmentation alone may be sufficient for many women, there are certainly others who might benefit from a lift, or mastopexy, with or without implants. If the nipples are on the lower part of the breasts, or point downwards, a lift could be helpful. A lift is often beneficial if the nipples are near or below the level of the inframammary fold, which is the crease or fold beneath each breast.

If the breasts already have enough volume, a lift alone may be fine. Often, however, it’s not possible to restore the degree of fullness in the upper breasts that many women want without using implants. Such patients are candidates for an “augmentation mastopexy,” or lift plus implants.

There are also different types of lifts that can be used. If there is significant drooping (breast “ptosis”) or laxity of the breasts, a larger, more traditional type of mastopexy, or lift, must be used. Such lifts create more scars (which usually fade and become fairly inconspicuous as time passes), but are also more powerful, reshaping a severely saggy breast very nicely. If a more minor degree of lifting or tightening is required, there are lifts that involve, for example, scars only around the areolas. These are known as “concentric mastopexies,” “crescent lifts,” and others.

The good news is that a caring, well-trained plastic surgeon can improve MANY of the unwanted body changes that accompany pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. As you might imagine, it’s critical to seek a surgeon who is not only well-trained and certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, but who will also take the time to evaluate your specific issues and desires, and to review them with you in an understandable fashion so that you can make the best possible choices. I take pride in caring for my patients with more individualized and complete attention than can be found anywhere else, as you’ll discover when we meet. Please call my office at 714-835-6500 to schedule your free consultation.

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The Mommy Makeover

Mommy Makeover Specialist

Orange County, Newport Beach, Riverside County

Having children is a wonderful experience for most women, but it often leads to many undesired changes in their bodies. Some women are fortunate (not many!), since their bodies recover almost to the pre-pregnancy shape. Most never quite regain the figures they had before giving birth.

Common unwanted changes include deflation or emptying of the breasts, sagging of the breasts, and development of stretch marks or loose skin and muscles on the tummy. These problems can develop even with an excellent diet, vigorous exercise, or use of creams and other “potions.” Fortunately, as a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Andres Taleisnik, M.D. frequently helps women in Orange County to regain their more youthful, pre-pregnancy bodies.

The popular term today for a combination of surgeries designed to reverse or improve the damaging effects of pregnancy is “Mommy Makeover.” Dr. Taleisnik often performs abdominoplasties (tummy tucks) together with breast surgery (breast augmentation, breast lift, or both) to provide a rapid and dramatic appearance improvement. Liposuction, such as for the hips or flanks, can be added as well.

For most women who are in reasonable health, it’s reasonable to do the various procedures at once. This results in a single anesthetic, a single recovery period or absence from work, and a lower overall cost than doing procedures separately. Dr. Taleisnik will help you to determine which procedures will be most beneficial for you, and whether you’re a candidate for the full “Mommy Makeover.” Please call his assistant Linae at 714-835-6500 to schedule your free consultation with Dr. Taleisnik.

Please watch for future articles on the individual surgeries that make up the “Mommy Makeover.”

Posted in Abdominoplasty, Breast Augmentation, Home, Liposuction, Mommy Makeover | 1 Comment »

Orange County Breast Asymmetry

Most women have some degree of breast asymmetry. This is natural, and it’s rare for a woman to have breasts that are exactly the same. There may be differences in size between the right and left breast, or differences in shape or the degree of ptosis (drooping). Sometimes, the differences are  significant enough that correction or improvement is desired. As an Orange County plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, specializing in cosmetic breast surgery, I frequently perform surgeries to help such patients.

Differences in size are often improved with the use of breast implants. Different volumes or implant shapes can be used on each side, generally improving the symmetry. Usually, other modifications are needed a the same time in order to maximize the results. The position of the inframammary fold (the crease beneath the breast) may need to be raised or lowered. Changes might be necessary within the breast tissue itself, such as to allow a “cone-shaped” breast  to become more rounded. 

Some Orange County patients benefit from a mastopexy, or breast  lift. There are different types of mastopexies that are possible. Some patients may require a lift on both sides, with one side lifted or tightened more than the other. Some patients may require a lift on one side only. Yet other patients may benefit from a reduction on one side, and a lift or even augmentation on the other side.

Surgery for breast asymmetry is specialized, and every patient in Orange County is completely unique. It’s important to consult a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, as I am. It’s just as important to find a surgeon who will take the personal time with you to determine the best way to address your asymmetry.

Dr. Andres Taleisnik

Posted in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Home | 1 Comment »

Breast Implants: A Shape for Every Patient

When considering breast implants, one shape (or size) does not fit all. Patients are well aware that implants are available in two major categories: saline or silicone (I’ve discussed saline and silicone implants in a previous blog article). Most patients are not aware, however, of the various shapes of implants to consider. 

Most implants used for breast augmentation are round, whereas a smaller percentage have a “teardrop” shape. The “teardrop” implants, sometimes referred to as “anatomic” implants, are thicker (project or stick out more) towards the bottom of the breast, and thinner (project less) at the top of the breast. In theory, this could provide a more natural breast shape. In actuality, other factors are far more important in determining whether the breast appearance looks “natural.” Round implants don’t mean that the breast will look round. If the space for the implant (the implant pocket) is created properly, and the size chosen is appropriate, the round implant can provide an extremely natural appearance. I’ve stopped using the teardrop implants in recent years, mainly because the teardrop implant must have a textured, or rough, outer surface. The textured surface is necessary to keep the implant from rotating in the pocket, which might put the thicker and thinner parts of the implant in the wrong places. In my experience, the textured implants don’t settle into the breast as easily and naturally as the smooth implants. As a result, I mainly use smooth round implants. It doesn’t matter if a round implant rotates in the breast pocket, since this would not affect breast shape.

Another factor to consider is the “profile” of the implant. This term refers to the relationship between the diameter of the implant and its projection (how far it protrudes from the chest). The standard implant  has a “moderate” profile. There are also “high profile” implants that have a narrower diameter, with greater projection, for any given volume as compared to the moderate profile implant. A high profile implant might be ideal, for example, for a patient with a narrow chest wall. The high profile implant would allow such a patient to use the desired volume without the implants being too wide for her chest. There also exists a profile in between the high and moderate profile implants, referred to as “moderate plus profile.”

The “art” of breast augmentation involves consideration of implant texture, shape, and size among many other factors. Every patient is unique, and requires an individualized assessment and plan to achieve the best possible results from surgery. During your consultation, I’ll discuss these and other issues and decisions that will help you to achieve the appearance you’ve dreamed about.

Andres Taleisnik, M.D. is a board certified plastic surgeon in Orange County who offers a wide range of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, such as liposuction, tummy tuck surgery (”abdominoplasty”), breast lift surgery, and breast augmentation surgery. To learn more, contact Dr. Taleisnik to schedule a complimentary consultation.

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Silicone vs. Saline Breast Implants

Patients often ask me whether they should choose silicone breast implants or saline implants. There is not a single “correct” answer, since every woman has different anatomy and preferences. The main difference between the two is that silicone implants are softer, while saline implants are firmer. This difference can be especially noticeable for thin patients with little breast tissue, since they will have less coverage or “padding” over the implants, which will therefore be easier to see and feel.

Silicone implants can often look and feel a little more “natural” than saline implants. Since a silicone implant is pre-filled, a larger incision is needed to insert a silicone implant than a saline implant, which can be inserted partially filled. A woman with small areolas (the dark skin around the nipple) may not be able to receive silicone implants through an incision around the areola, and instead may require an incision in the crease under the breasts. There have been questions in the past regarding possible effects of silicone if it leaks. For this reason, silicone implants were available only to women who met certain criteria, and who were enrolled in the large silicone implant studies, until Fall, 2006. After years of extensive testing, including evaluation of the many women who received silicone implants as part of the study, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now allows any woman 22 or over to receive silicone implants. The FDA also recommended that women undergo an MRI examination of the breasts 3 years after receiving silicone implants, then every other year thereafter. Silicone implants are significantly more expensive than saline.

Saline implants remain the most popular choice in my practice. I can obtain very natural and beautiful results with saline implants too in most patients. Many of my patients prefer the firmer look and feel of the saline implants, which may result in a more “youthful” outcome. Most patients choose the peri-areolar incision, which generally is very inconspicuous (more on incisions for breast enhancement in another article). If a saline implant leaks, there are no concerns regarding a foreign substance in the body, since the implants contain only salt water. Saline implants may also be more helpful than silicone to counteract mild drooping or shape abnormalities of the breasts.

During your consultation with me, I will help you to decide which implant type will be best for you. There are a number of other decisions to make as well, including the shape or “profile” of the implants, the incision to use, the size, and others. I will guide you through the entire process, so that you will feel comfortable with your choices, and very happy with your results.

To schedule your consultation to meet with me (no charge), please call my office at 714-835-6500. Please also visit my website at www.ataleisnikmd.com.

Posted in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants | 7 Comments »

Breast Augmentation in Orange County

Few procedures have as great an impact on a woman’s appearance, self-esteem and confidence as breast augmentation. This surgery is generally performed for women age 18 or over, although it can occasionally be appropriate for those under 18 as well. Many women who seek breast augmentation never experienced much breast development. Others complain of decreased breast fullness and volume after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Still other women develop empty, sagging breasts after losing significant weight, or have an unsatisfactory breast shape. Finally, many women who already have nicely shaped and sized breasts simply wish to increase their size. After surgery, my patients often tell me that they feel more feminine, sexier, and more comfortable and confident wearing bathing suits and many types of clothes.  They often undergo breast augmentation seeking to improve the proportions of their figures, balancing their breasts with their shoulders, hips and butts. The results after breast augmentation can be dramatic for all of these reasons, and I receive great satisfaction from the joy my patients express to me after surgery.

There are many options and choices when considering breast augmentation, including whether a breast lift should be combined with the augmentation. Many women who feel that their breasts are droopy or saggy actually just have breasts that are now empty, and can obtain beautiful results with breast implants alone. Others clearly would benefit from a lift with the augmentation. Other considerations include use of saline or silicone implants, standard or high profile implants, incision location, placement of the implant above or below the pectoral muscle, improvement of asymmetries, and determining the implant size that will provide the look YOU are seeking. I will discuss all of these issues in future blogs in more detail.

As you might imagine, every woman has her own goals, concerns and challenges when undergoing breast augmentation. All breast augmentations are unique. It is therefore critical that you select a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  My website, www.atlaeisnikmd.com, reviews my extensive background and training in plastic surgery. I take pride in caring for each and every one of my patients in the most comprehensive, individualized, personalized manner possible. The initial consultation is always with me, not a nurse or assistant. I want to ensure that the patient understands the options and consequences fully, and that I understand what the patient is truly trying to achieve. Whether a patient is seeking breast augmentation, a tummy tuck, liposuction, or any other procedure, every patient has unique preferences and unique challenges. I spend a lot of time with every patient, to an extent that exceeds virtually any other plastic surgery office in Orange County, to be sure that we are both comfortable with our choices, and are striving for the same goals. Every postoperative visit is supervised personally by me as well. From beginning to end, you will be cared for like nowhere else.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation to meet with me, please call my office at 714-835-6500. You can e-mail questions to me from my website, www.ataleisnikmd.com. I answer each e-mail personally.

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