Breast Uplift
A mastopexy, or uplift of the breasts, is a procedure done on patients to correct the sagging of the breast tissue by tightening the skin of the breast. There are many reasons why the tissue of the breast begins to sag. The most common reason is simply age. With the passage of time, the tissue of the breast, due to gravity, will begin to sag. This occurs especially in people with larger breasts as the added weight causes the breasts to drop further than they otherwise would if the breasts were smaller. Another common reason is pregnancy and nursing. When an individual becomes pregnant and the breasts swell, they increase in size rapidly. After the development of the milk subsides, the breasts will shrink. Because of the rapid increase then decrease in breast size, the skin of the breasts is stretched causing the breast tissue to sink downward into the stretched skin. The breasts experience a similar stretching during weight gain and loss as well.
The Breast Uplift Procedure
The operation consists of making the skin of the breast tauter without removing any of the existing breast tissue. Although it is impossible to synthesize the natural support of the breast, surgeons are able to reform the breast in order to tighten the skin and elevate the breasts for a younger look. The operation is typically conducted in a hospital under general anaesthesia and the surgeons will usually recommend one night’s stay in the hospital following the surgery although in selected cases, a one day stay might be sufficient.. The procedure is done by removing the excess folds of skin from the lower breast area and the breast is reformed moving the nipples to the center of the new breast. The procedure is, as mentioned before, most successful on women with smaller breasts and it should be kept in mind that it is best to have the procedure performed after the patient is finished having children and breastfeeding as continued nursing can lead to increased dropping of the breasts after the surgery. Although keeping this in mind, it is also important to note that the mastopexy procedure does not typically adversely affect a patient’s ability to breastfeed.
The procedure results in a scar that is located around the nipple areola complex. The scar consists of three parts, a part located under the nipple areola, the vertical scar which runs down the breast and another scar which is placed underneath the breast. The resulting three subparts make the final scar resemble the shape of an anchor. The visibility of the resulting scar largely depends on the quality of an individual’s skin and the way in which their body develops scar tissue. However, in order to avoid overly conspicuous scarring, surgeons use dissolving sutures that are placed underneath the skin. This prevents the appearance of stitch marks and minimizes visible scarring.
In addition to scarring, it is common for the patient to experience some numbness in the breast area, particularly around the nipple where the incisions were made. This occurs because of the stretching of the nerves during the procedure but is temporary and resolves itself with a few weeks.
Preperation Before Surgery
As with any procedure, surgeons will encourage the patient to stop smoking before and after the procedure as smoking decreases circulation which is necessary for adequate and timely healing of the wounds. In addition, the doctor will recommend a replacement be found for any contraceptives that an individual is currently taking as contraceptives have been shown to increase the chance of vein thrombosis after a procedure. There are also other side effects to the procedure, although they are all quite uncommon. These are bleeding which can occur due to the breaking of blood vessels during the procedure. This rarely occurs as surgeons are very careful to both avoid blood vessels as well as nerves during the surgery. Infection also has the possibility to occur although it is, again, quite rare. Infection can typically be treated with antibiotics although it will likely hamper recuperation as well as increase the visibility of any final scars.
Immediately following the procedure, the breasts will appear to be somewhat square in appearance and flatter than normal. The surgeon does this deliberately in order to take into account the effect of time and gravity on the breast which will inevitably cause the breast to begin to drop once again. In this way, the surgeon is able to provide a better, longer lasting result for the patient. Some patients also decide to receive silicone implants during this procedure but patients should be aware that the use of silicone transplants may increase the likelihood that the breasts will begin to drop sooner than they otherwise would. The exacerbated sagging is, of course, due to the added weight of the implants although this can be partly mitigated by the frequent use of a bra with good support.
Many patients undergo this procedure and the vast majority are very pleased with the result. However, it is important to note that, as mentioned before, the shape of the breast is very dependent upon the quality of the individual’s skin. The main skin characteristic which will affect the result is skin elasticity. If patient’s skin is more elastic, the breasts are more likely to begin to droop more rapidly after the procedure than they otherwise would if the skin was firmer. In patients with firmer skin, the breasts are more likely to retain their desired shape. The resulting shape of the breast is not something that can be determined by the surgeon before the surgery and so cannot be controlled. Some patients decide to return for a repeat procedure to tighten the area. Because the drooping of the breasts after the surgery is not something that can be foreseen by the surgeon, there is an additional cost attached to the operation. Some patients also, depending on the quality of their skin, experience more visible scarring then others. Lastly, patients should be aware that eventually gravity will again take its toll on the breasts and they will once again begin to droop. The effect of time on the skin is inevitable and it is not the result of an error on the part of the surgeon.
Our Practices
Mr Fourie practices at Nuffield Health Hospital, Leeds, conveniently situated in the city centre near Leeds General Infirmary and at Barnsley Medical Consulting Rooms in central Barnsley.
Cosmetic Surgery Procedures
Mr LeRoux Fourie offers a wide range of cosmetic surgery and non surgical treatments and below is a brief outline of each
Inverted Nipple Correction
Many women find their nipples to be a great cause of embarrassment as they do not project past the breast and remain inverted. Mr Fourie is able to correct this problem using a quick and reliable treatment that can be done in as little as thirty minutes
Prominent Ear Correction
Although having prominent ears typically causes no physical discomfort as such they can sometimes lead to a lack of self-confidence and be on the receiving end of cruel jokes. Sometimes just one ear is the problem but usually both will be pinned back. It is also possible to perform other types of ear surgery to the lobes depending on the complexity of the case.
Male Breast Reduction
Gynecomastia is the medical term for male breasts and can be a very humiliating condition for men and can make them very self-conscious. Because of this, some individuals decide to undergo a male breast reduction procedure in order to remove the excess tissue and, occasionally, even skin from the area of the breasts.
Liposuction / Liposculpture / Body-Jet Lipo
You can now experience the latest advancements in cosmetic surgery with the revolutionary Body-Jet Water-jet assisted liposuction procedure. The gentle water jet washes away the fat without damaging the underlying structures such as the blood vessels and nerves which means less recovery time and bruising.
Non Surgical Treatments
Antiwrinkle Injections
It is inevitable that as we age lines and wrinkles will become visible and to some this is of concern. Lines around our eyes can develop as can lines on the forehead. The prescription injection treatment we all know as BOTOX® is now formally approved for cosmetic use and is called a new name which is VISTABEL®. VISTABEL® is a treatment that is used to relax the frown lines that can trouble our forehead as well as crows feet which can develop around the eyes.
Excessive Sweating
Our body uses sweating to help control body temperature and is normal human function however some people suffer from excessive sweating which can lead to severe embarrassment and anxiety. Following a consultation if your suitable we can provide a treatment that will prevent your excessive sweating that involves BOTOX® being injection into your arm pit.
DermaRoller
Genuine Dermaroller™ Therapy™ can offer a significant improvement in appearance for those who suffer from acne scars, sun damaged skin, fine lines and wrinkles and stretch marks. The DermaRoller procedure stimulates your skin to help with the regeneration and repair of itself and is a natural and safe way to create smoother, brighter and healthy skin.
Fillers
Dermal fillers can be used for many different non surgical enhancements and anti ageing treatments. They can be used for lip enhancement to create subtly increase the volume of the lips, smoothing lines around the lips, nose and cheeks as well as many other areas of the face and body to improve the appearance of the skin.
Mole Removal
It is very common for moles, lesions or cysts and can appear in many different places on the face and body. Sometimes they can be in a prominent position which can cause frustration or self awareness. Mr Fourie is able to assist in many different types of these problems and would be happy to perform many of these in the minor theatre or treatment room if he is able.
Mr Fourie
About Mr Le Roux Fourie
Mr Le Roux Fourie is a Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon based in West Yorkshire. Mr Fourie was born and raised in South Africa and underwent his medical and post graduate training in South Africa, obtaining his basic Medical Degree in 1979. Thereafter he served as a Medical Officer in the South African Defence Force Medical Corp, before starting training as a registrar in Plastic Surgery at the University of Stellenbosch in CapeTown. He qualified as a Plastic Surgeon in 1987 and was appointed a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Number One Military Hospital in Pretoria, where he served as full-time Consultant for three years reaching the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1991 and 1992 he was in full-time Cosmetic Surgery Practice in Pretoria.
In 1993 Mr Fourie joined the Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns at Pinderfields General Hospital as the second consultant to be appointed after the tragic murder of the two previous Plastic Surgeons. He helped establish the current Department of Plastic Surgery from two members to the current seven consultants. During his time in Pinderfields General Hospital he established a Breast Reconstructive Surgery Service, which works mostly with the Breast Surgeons in dealing with primary breast reconstructions and delayed breast reconstructions after breast cancer.
Mr Fourie has been in part-time Private Cosmetic Surgery Practice in Methley Park Hospital, Nr Leeds since 1993.
Since April 2008 Mr Fourie has been in full-time Private Cosmetic Surgery Practice in Methley Park Hospital.
Special Interests
Mr Fourie is an experienced Breast Surgeon dealing with congenital breast problems, acquired breast problems such as breast reconstructions after cancer surgery (both immediate and delayed) and cosmetic breast surgery.
He has published articles regarding nipple areola reconstruction and has developed a tattooing technique which is now used by Cosmetic Tattooists in the UK.
He has been involved with the Allergan Implant Corporation in a ten year follow-up study of the long term effects of silicone breast implants which was published in the International Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Mr Fourie further specialises in Facial Aesthetic Surgery and is one of the first surgeons to use the MACS (Minimum Access Cranial Suspension) face lift technique in the UK in October 2002. His long term results using the MACS face lift were presented at the Summer Meeting of the British Association of Plastic Surgeons in Dublin in 2005.
Publications and Presentations
Mr Fourie was awarded the BAPRAS prize for the best clinical paper read at the British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Anaesthetic Surgeons Summer Meeting in Windsor in 2005.
He was awarded the BAAPS prize for the best paper read at the 2007 Conference in London. The Hackett Prize for the best paper at the BAAPS Conference 2007 was awarded to Mr Fourie.
Mr Fourie has lectured on nipple areola reconstruction and tattooing techniques, the treatment of pressure sores, wound infections and wound problems, facial aesthetic surgery and body contour surgery.
Mr Fourie has appeared in the Discovery Channels series on cosmetic surgery. He also featured on BBC's Inside Out in October 2007.
Mr Fourie has published papers in International Peer Review Journals on topics such as Breast Reconstruction, Breast Implants, Cosmetic Breast Surgery, Nipple Reconstruction and Facial Plastic Surgery
Charity Work
Mr Fourie does voluntary charity work in Africa as part of the Facing Africa Team involved in the treatment of noma (www.facingafrica.org). This is based at Yakatit 12 Hospital in Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia where reconstructions are done on patients suffering from Noma
Qualifications
MBCHB.
FCS (SA) PLAST
FRCS
BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons)
BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons)
BAHNO (British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists)
GMC Specialist Register - Registered as a Specialist Plastic Surgeon on GMC full registration. The GMC registration is 3633562.
Contact Form
Patient Finance
