Dr. Farhad Rafizadeh enjoys an extensive experience in breast surgery in Morristown New Jersey. He can offer the safest and most efficient procedures to patients who make the trip to Morristown to see him. Why do most plastic surgeons suggest a two-stage procedure when it comes to breast lift and augmentation or implant exchange? When a large implant is used over the muscle, most of the blood supply going from the muscle to the overlying skin is interrupted. The blood supply going to the nipple is now mostly coming from the surrounding skin. To do a breast lift, one needs to cut around the areola. If this cut is deep below the dermis and the skin has to be mobilized substantially, the blood supply to the areola and nipple will be compromised. The tension on the skin resulting from the lift will also contribute to less blood getting to the nipple. Many factors can influence the decision about doing this procedure in one or two stages. The most conservative approach is to do the breast lift first and follow with the augmentation or the implant exchange in a month or two. These are situations in which one may consider doing the procedure in one stage. 1) If the lift is minimal and the areola doesn’t have to be moved a long distance, the dermal connection from the surrounding skin to the nipple could be mostly preserved. 2) If no capsulectomy is necessary the capsule would allow some additional blood supply to the breast tissue and the nipple. 3) If the patient accepts a smaller implant to reduce tension in the skin closure. 4) If the patient is young and healthy with no history of smoking, or diabetes. I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you liked this answer and if there are any other questions.
Common Questions Patients Search About Breast Surgery
How much does breast augmentation cost in New Jersey?
Primary breast augmentation in Northern New Jersey typically runs $8,500 to $12,500 all-in, depending on implant type (saline, silicone gel, or Ideal Implant) and whether the case is combined with a lift. Dr. Rafizadeh quotes a flat price during the consultation that includes the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, the facility, and follow-up visits. Revision breast surgery costs more because the planes are scarred and the operation typically takes longer.
Is silicone or saline better for breast implants?
Both are FDA-approved and safe; the right choice depends on the patient's anatomy, preference, and how she values certain trade-offs. Silicone gel feels more like natural tissue and is the default for thinner patients with less native breast coverage. Saline ruptures are obvious immediately (the breast deflates), so some patients prefer that built-in monitoring. Dr. Rafizadeh also offers the Ideal Implant — a structured saline implant that feels closer to silicone with the safety profile of saline.
What's the difference between a breast lift and a breast reduction?
A breast lift (mastopexy) raises the breast and nipple position without removing significant tissue — ideal for women whose breasts are the right size but have descended. A breast reduction removes excess tissue along with raising the breast — appropriate for women whose breast size causes back, neck, or shoulder symptoms. The incisions are similar; the volume removed is what differs. Dr. Rafizadeh's North Jersey patients often combine elements of both when needed.
Is a breast lift easier to recover from than implants?
Recovery is similar in length (about 2–3 weeks back to non-vigorous activity), but the comfort curves differ. Implant patients report more pressure and chest tightness for the first week as the muscle accommodates. Lift patients report more skin tightness and incision care — the muscle is undisturbed but the skin envelope is reshaped. Both groups are typically back to office work in 7–10 days when surgery is performed under Dr. Rafizadeh's local-anesthesia-with-sedation protocol.
What is the 45-55 rule for breasts?
It's an aesthetic guideline: the ideal breast shape has roughly 45% of the volume above the nipple and 55% below, with the nipple sitting just above the inframammary fold. The rule helps surgeons decide implant placement, lift technique, and how much to elevate the nipple-areolar complex. Dr. Rafizadeh uses the 45/55 ratio as one of several proportional anchors during planning, alongside chest width, sternal notch-to-nipple distance, and the patient's own preferences.
How long do breast implants last?
Modern silicone and saline implants are not lifetime devices but are designed to last 10–20 years. Many patients get longer than that with no issue; some need an exchange sooner due to capsular contracture, rupture, or simply wanting a size change. The FDA recommends MRI or ultrasound screening for silicone implants starting at 5 years post-op, then every 2–3 years. Dr. Rafizadeh discusses long-term monitoring as part of every breast augmentation consultation.
What is the hardest cosmetic surgery to recover from?
Among breast procedures, breast reduction typically has the most involved recovery because of the tissue removed and the size of the incisions, but most patients say the pain trade-off is worth it given how much physical relief they feel almost immediately. Tummy tuck and combined mommy-makeover procedures rank higher overall on the difficulty curve. Compared to those, isolated breast lift or augmentation recovery is relatively gentle.
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