Internal Bra

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Internal Bra Austin Plastic Surgeon

An internal bra is a surgical technique that corrects the breast implant pocket to improve the placement of the breast implant. The internal bra technique can be performed with or without a supportive mesh that may be a biological tissue or absorbable mesh. An internal bra provides structure to the capsule of tissue around your implant by tightening it to keep it securely in place. When an implant shifts inside the breast, a condition colloquially known as “bottoming out,” lateral displacement (too far apart), or when they move closer together (symmastia), we can correct the position of the breast implant with an internal bra.

The team at Austin Plastic Surgeon has helped thousands of patients improve their body proportions with customizable breast procedures. The treatment safely and effectively provides structure to your breasts for a perkier, more youthful physique.

Contact us online or call to schedule an appointment and learn how we can help you accentuate your natural curves:

About the Internal Bra

An internal bra lifts and adjusts the position of the breast implant pocket with an absorbable mesh scaffold, biologic mesh, or specialized sutures to add support to the breast implant to create a precision pocket. Unlike a traditional breast lift, where the focus is on the breast skin, an internal bra is focused on controlling the position and placement of your breast implant. Your surgeon does not remove excess skin during the procedure. Instead, they fortify and tighten the inner breast tissue to correct the position of your breast implant. The internal bra can also be used to treat rippling that can often be seen in Ozempic breasts. The support meshes will add a layer around the implant to decrease visible rippling from breast implants after weight loss or natural aging process.

Breast Ptosis

Weight changes, pregnancy, hormones, and aging can all cause your breasts to sag. As you age the collagen proteins that provide structural support to your skin decline and gravity pulls on the breasts, resulting in a droopy appearance. Aging can also cause the Cooper ligaments – connective tissues that help the breasts hold their shape – to lose their ability to hold your breasts in a lifted, upright position. (1) The type of internal bra you receive will depend on the severity of your breast ptosis and nipple-areolar complex (NAC) – the position of your areola in relation to your lower breast poles and inframammary fold (IMF). The Regnault classification system determines the severity of your breast ptosis at different levels:

  • Mild ptosis: The areolas are directly aligned with the IMF.
  • Moderate ptosis: The areolas are slightly drooping beneath the IMF.
  • Severe ptosis: The areolas droop far below the IMF and are pointed downward.

The internal bra is used to help support the soft tissue during a breast lift. The concept is to help take some of the weight off the breasts so that this skin is not solely responsible for supporting the breast tissue.

Internal Bra After Weight Loss

Patients who recently experienced massive weight loss may struggle with droopy, thin skin that is unable to support their implants. If you are taking weight loss medications such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), the rapid loss of weight can cause sagging skin and what is colloquially known as Ozempic breast. By supporting your breasts with an internal bra, we can rebalance your body’s proportions to help you feel more at home in your body. We can also combine the procedure with a breast augmentation to increase the size of your breasts with implants and emphasize your curves.

Read more about Ozempic breast, Ozempic face & body, and Ozempic butt.

Types of Internal Bras

Prophylactic Internal Bra

If you have large breast implants, you may experience stretched skin and ptosis over time from both the weight of the implant and the natural decline of collagen in your skin. Absorbable mesh can help you extend the results of your previous implant procedure and prevent your ptosis from progressing.

Revision Breast Surgery

If you previously had a breast augmentation or breast lift, we can create a “belt” effect by tightening the capsule that surrounds your implant with special sutures. We can also exchange your breast implants, if necessary, to help you achieve a younger silhouette. An internal bra can prevent your implants from slipping out of place and provide a more lifted, youthful appearance.

Subfascial Breast Augmentation

If your breast implant was placed between the fascia and the chest muscle (subfascial placement), we can use mesh to provide additional support. Although placing the implants beneath the chest muscle can prevent implant movement, it can result in patients losing the support of the muscle. An internal bra with mesh will supplement it for a natural lift.

Internal Bra Support Options

  • OviTex: We can use OviTex to provide additional support to the breast poles. We can use surgical mesh for breast reconstruction if you need a more comprehensive breast lift or a stronger lift. (2)
  • GalaFLEX™: The mesh comes in a variety of sizes and shapes for both 3D (curved mesh) and low-profile procedures. It not only stimulates collagen and molds to your breast tissue, but the 3D technology provides lift and support.
  • Durasorb: The mesh stimulates collagen production and soft tissue growth over time. It naturally molds to your breast tissue for a soft, plump breast contour.

Ozempic Breast

  • Rippling occurs when a breast implant becomes stretched and small lines or divots in the breast implant protrude through the skin. This is more common in patients with a lower body mass index (BMI).
  • Breast Ptosis: Weight changes can result in sagging skin that causes the breast poles to droop. This can increase your perceived age and affect the way your clothes fit. With an internal bra, we can provide natural support to help you look your best.

Internal Bra Benefits

The benefits of an internal bra lift include:

  • Improved support: We can correct droopy breasts or displaced implants with an internal bra.
  • Enhanced contour: We can enhance the symmetry of your breasts and correct any irregularities.
  • Natural-looking results: We can customize your internal bra to suit your unique body proportions.
  • Long-lasting structure: The support that the internal bra provides can last for several years if you maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle.
  • Minimal scarring: We take care to make incisions along the areola and beneath the breast for a discrete look and minimal scarring.
  • Increased self-confidence: Improving the shape, position, and feel of your breasts can help you maintain a more positive body image.

Candidates & Consultation

Suitable candidates for an internal bra would like to restore a full, youthful, perky look to their breasts. Patients should be in good health without any underlying conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure that could affect their ability to heal. During your consultation, we will examine your breasts to determine whether your ptosis is mild, moderate, or severe. If you have additional questions about breast implant exchange or a breast lift to remove excess skin, please come prepared to discuss them. We can customize the procedure to suit your needs.

How to Prepare for an Internal Bra

To prepare for an internal bra procedure, you must:

  • Stop taking blood thinners 1-2 weeks before your appointment
  • Cease smoking for approximately six weeks before and after your procedure
  • Prepare your meals ahead of time
  • Arrange for someone you trust to drive you home
  • Avoid drinking alcohol 24 hours before and after your treatment
  • Take 5-7 days off work

You will also need to prepare to take good care of your body before and after your procedure. Eating healthy meals, sleeping 7-8 hours each night, and staying hydrated will help your body heal so you can experience the best results.

Procedure

Internal Bra Austin Plastic Surgeon

We will place you under anesthesia, cleanse your skin, and mark your breasts for surgery. The type of internal bra you need will depend on the shape of your breasts and the severity of your ptosis. There are 5 different types of internal bra techniques to help you achieve your desired look: mesh, skin matrix techniques, sutures, dermal flap, and muscular approach. (3)

During the procedure, your surgeon will make a discrete incision through your previous breast augmentation incision to prevent further scarring and place the absorbable mesh or internal sutures. The two most common types of incisions we perform for internal bras include:

  • Inframammary (IMF): We can make an incision along the lower breast crease.
  • Periareolar: We can make an incision around the areola.

Absorbable Mesh

You will receive absorbable mesh that adjusts to your body’s natural tissue to create structural support that looks and feels natural. Your surgeon will create a natural sling-like support inside the breast. The type of mesh you receive will depend on the aesthetic goals you discuss during your consultation.

Internal Sutures

If you receive sutures inside the breast tissue, your surgeon will place them along the lower fold of the internal breast pocket to support the lower breast pole. The dissolvable sutures allow the breast to heal naturally for a natural-looking lift and perkier appearance.

Internal Bra Recovery

Your recovery time will depend on the type of internal bra you receive and the severity of your ptosis. Most patients return to work and resume their normal routines after 5-7 days. You must avoid strenuous exercise for approximately 3-4 weeks, but you can participate in light exercise such as walking. You will not be able to drive a car, lift heavy objects, or partake in activities that strain your upper body for several weeks while your incisions heal. We can prescribe pain medication to help you manage discomfort during your recovery. You will also need to care for your incisions which will fade into your skin over time. We will provide instructions to help you care for them which may include scar gel and or Silagen sheets to help your skin heal optimally.

Results

After your internal bra procedure, you can enjoy perkier, lifted breasts with a fuller appearance. If you take good care of your skin and maintain a stable weight, you can enjoy your results for several years. Over time, your body will absorb the mesh by breaking it down into carbon dioxide and water. Your body also replaces the mesh with natural tissue for long-lasting results. If you take good care of your body, your results can last 10 years or more.

Corresponding Breast Procedures

Although an internal bra holds the breast implant securely in place, it does not remove excess skin or change the size or shape of your breasts. For this reason, many patients choose to undergo additional breast procedures to meet their body goals:

  • Breast lift: Your surgeon can remove excess skin with a discrete incision along the curve of the breast. We can adjust your skin to raise the position of the entire breast.
  • Breast Implant Exchange: If your implants have a defect or you would like to increase their size, we can replace them for functional or cosmetic purposes.
  • Breast augmentation: If you would like to increase the size of your breasts, we offer saline, silicone, and gummy bear implants for your desired look.
  • Breast Revision: If your breasts have changed shape after weight fluctuations or childbirth, we can perform a collection of procedures to restore your curvy figure.
  • Breast Reduction: We can remove breast tissue for smaller breasts to balance your proportions, reduce back pain, and alleviate neck tension.

Our procedures are customizable, and during your consultation, we can discuss your specific goals to determine the best procedure for your needs. We can customize the type of implant and incision pattern to help you accentuate your natural curves.

Cost of an Internal Bra in Austin

The cost of your procedure will depend on the type of internal bra you need, the severity of your breast ptosis, and whether or not you need additional procedures to meet your body goals. We can provide an all-inclusive quote during your consultation.

Contact our office or call to schedule an appointment:

FAQ

Will I be able to see or feel the internal bra mesh?

No, you will not be able to see or feel the mesh. You can enjoy a natural look and feel because the mesh molds itself to your natural tissue.

Can you adjust the mesh for different bust sizes?

Yes, we can adjust the mesh for different bust sizes. We can also provide a curved mesh (3D internal bra) for a natural look depending on your breast shape and size.

Can the mesh move around or shift?

The mesh should not move around or shift. We attach the mesh to the lower breast tissue to prevent shifting or movement that could cause the location of your implant to change. We take care to make internal incisions based on your body type for stable support.

Can I breastfeed after undergoing the internal bra technique?

While no guarantees can be made in individual cases, the internal bra technique typically preserves your ability to breastfeed, as it does not interfere with the milk ducts or glands responsible for lactation. However, it is important to discuss any future breastfeeding plans with your surgeon during your consultation so that they can provide you with appropriate guidance based on your specific circumstances.

References

  1. Norris M, Mills C, Sanchez A, Wakefield-Scurr J. Do static and dynamic activities induce potentially damaging breast skin strain? BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. 2020;6(1):e000770. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000770
  2. Faulkner HR, Shikowitz-Behr L, McLeod M, Wright E, Hulsen J, Austen WG. The Use of Absorbable Mesh in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A 7-Year Review. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 2020;146(6):731e736e. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/prs.0000000000007384
  3. Wallace L, James. Internal Bra: A literature Review and Sub-Classification of Definitions. Aesthetic plastic surgery. Published online January 8, 2024. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-023-03802-4