Breast Procedures: Breast Augmentation Mastopexy (SAMBA™)

SAMBA Q & A/ surgery consent

Does the SAMBA™ procedure work for all breast shapes?

The SAMBA™ procedure is intended to lift a breast that has sagged so that the nipple is between 2 centimeters above and 2 centimeters below the crease under the breast.

Please see: Breast ptosis self-diagnosis.

Does the SAMBA™ procedure work without a breast implant?

The SAMBA™ procedure is used with an implant. However, in cases in which a patient does need or desire an implant an areolar mastopexy (AM) alone or combined with an internal breast lift or mastopexy (AMIM) may be applicable. This will suffice in breast in which the nipple is at the level of or above the crease under the breast. For more severe cases of breast ptosis, a Wise Pattern AM or a standard wise pattern mastopexy will be requiredWhy would I have a SAMBA™ instead of just a breast enlargement?

If the breasts have lost their support and the nipple is below the crease or under the breast, a simple enlargement may result in a "double-bubble" appearance.

What is a "double bubble" appearance?

A "double bubble appearance" results when the implant is higher than the breast. An implant, placed beneath the muscle, forms one bubble and the breast is a second bubble below that.

Why is the implant put behind the muscle?

An implant has more support behind the muscle and will not tend to fall over time. Implants in front of the muscle look globular and unnatural. Saline implants tend to show wrinkles at the upper part of the implant when the implant is placed in front of the muscle. These are hidden when the implant is behind the muscle. An added benefit to placing the implant under the muscle is the lower incidence of capsular contracture.

I was told that I could have the implant put in front of the muscle so that I wouldn't need a breast lift?

If the implant is put in front of the muscle, it adds to the weight of the breast and makes it sag even more. This gets worse with time. The best way to reshape the breast is to put the implant behind the muscle and lift the breast so that it returns to its normal position.

How do you lift the breast?

The breast is lifted by removing the skin around the areola.

Where is the scar after this surgery?

The scar is around the areola at the junction of the pigmented and the normal skin of the breast.

Does the SAMBA™ procedure work for all breast shapes?

The SAMBA™ procedure will not work with a larger breast or a breast that has sagged so that the nipple is more than three inches below the crease below the breast. It will not work without an enlargement with an implant.

In these cases, a conventional breast lift with skin excision is used. This leaves a faint vertical scar from the areola to the crease below the breast, as well as a short scar along the crease, in the shape of an inverted "T".