How to Know if an Internal Bra is Right for You
Do you find yourself lifting up your breasts when you stand in front of a mirror? If you are considering a Breast Lift, then you should know about a novel approach called the “internal bra” for lifting the breasts.
Let’s figure out if an internal bra is right for you. The Galaflex internal bra used in plastic surgery has revolutionized our approach to breast aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. Read below to understand how the internal bra works and when we use it!
What is an internal bra?
An internal bra refers to absorbable mesh (GalaFLEX) made by Galatea Surgical. It is FDA-approved for tissue support. This mesh gets replaced by your own internal scar tissue. It leaves behind a structural support that is four times stronger than your own tissues.
The mesh is made from a polymer called P4HB. This material is also used to make the suture that we use in surgery. The mesh is a scaffold of woven P4HB that is shaped and serves like a hammock to support the lower pole of your breast. This hammock of mesh is replaced by a strong scar that provides more support to your breast that your skin alone can.
Who is a good candidate for an internal bra?
Skin with extensive collagen damage does a poor job of remaining tight or lifted. Stretch marks on your breasts from puberty, pregnancy, or weight changes indicate torn dermis (damaged collagen in your skin). That is why it looks like a jagged tiger stripe. Stretch marks form when your skin tears because it cannot expand or stretch fast enough.
As a result, the dermis literally tears underneath the intact, pigmented epidermis. Damaged collagen loses strength and struggles to hold up your breast over time. To address this, women with extensive stretch marks may benefit from a Breast Lift with an internal bra. The GalaFLEX mesh offers the ability to support their breast from the inside out.
Another group of women who could benefit from an internal bra are women who have had breast implants in the past and developed capsular contracture. The GalaFLEX mesh provides internal support as an internal bra after we remove the firm capsule and inflamed tissues. It also helps prevent the capsule from thickening or contracting again.
Lastly, women undergoing a Breast Reduction surgery with a propensity for keloid scarring also may benefit from the internal bra. The GalaFLEX internal bra provides support to the breast during surgical recovery and takes tension off of the healing tissues.
If you are having breast implants, sometimes we recommend GalaFLEX to support the lower pole of your breast and stabilize the implant if there are tissue quality concerns. This approach keeps the implant from making your breast sag from the weight of the implant on thin and stretched out skin.
When are you not a good candidate for an internal bra?
GalaFLEX mesh is not recommended for everyone. For example, your soft tissue envelope (meaning your breast tissue, skin, and fat) may have good support. In that case, additional mesh is typically not needed.
There is no need to add additional time and dissection to a surgery when you have a favorable breast and skin envelope. The best way to know for sure is through a consultation. Make sure you speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced with GalaFLEX internal bra techniques in breast surgery.
Our all-female team is here to answer all of your questions. Call (919) 797-0996 to schedule your Breast Surgery consultation today!
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If you are looking for the best plastic surgeon and the best Botox injector for you, be sure to do your research! We hope our all-women, all-star team can help you regain your confidence and move forward as the brightest version of you.
