MANILA, Philippines—A woman’s breasts change over time; they often lose their youthful shape and firmness. The changes along with loss of skin elasticity can result from pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuation, aging, gravity and heredity.

Take the case of Carissa Muñoz, 34, who gave birth to a son 14 years ago. Since then, she has started wearing wonder bra to lift her bosoms.

“After giving birth, my breasts sagged. Bagsak talaga!” Muñoz, an interior designer, says.

So when a friend, who underwent breast lift surgery or mastopexy, broached the idea, Muñoz “got excited.” She immediately visited her friend’s doctors, Alfredo Volante Callanta and Edwin del Rosario of iPrime Center for Surgical Aesthetics.

After a few days of consultation and medical examination, Muñoz was given the Breform, a surgical breast support in the form of a permanent internal bra system, which restores breasts to their natural youthful shape, without the use of silicone or saline implants.

Introduced in the Philippines by doctors Hans de Bruijn and Siegmund Johannes of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, iPrime is the country’s first center to offer the procedure, which costs P100,000-P200,000.

The four- to five-hour procedure utilizes a mesh implant made from polyester, a biocompatible synthetic material which has been used in cardiovascular and other surgeries for over 40 years now. It has found its place in cosmetic surgery as an excellent material for permanent soft-tissue augmentation, according to the study of Bruijn and Johannes.

“Polyester is a non-biodegradable material that won’t cause any deformity. You can leave it inside the body and won’t cause any allergic reaction. It’s safe,” Del Rosario says.

Because the mesh is constructed from feather-soft polypropylene, the Breform internal bra system “causes no breast hardening and is not palpable under the skin,” Callanta says. “The device cannot be felt underneath the skin, nor is the functionality of the breast affected.”
“It does not impair any regular breast exam method, nor does it affect future surgical procedures like lump removal,” Callanta adds.

Candidates

The Breform is a highly individualized procedure and one should do it for one’s self, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or try to fit any sort of ideal image.

The procedure is best suited for women with ptosis (sagging or drooping) or hypertrophic (very large) breasts that require breast reduction. “The patient undergoing this procedure must be of post child-bearing age and must be in an ideal, stable weight,” Callanta says. “She has to have medical clearance. We also thoroughly explain to her the procedure and give her time to think about it. When she returns, we explain everything again. Surgery usually takes place after three days.”

“All surgeries involve risks,” Del Rosario says. “So we identify risk factors like hypertension. It’s also important that patients give us full disclosure of whatever medical problems they have or medicines they’re taking to prevent problems.”

After undergoing Breform, a patient can stay overnight at the clinic or go home, Del Rosario says. But one has to rest for a week, at least. Smoking before and after the procedure is not allowed. When taking a bath, avoid the chest part from getting wet for the sutures to heal faster and to avoid accumulation of fluids on the breasts.

Antibiotics and pain relievers should be taken for a week. One should wear bra with no underwire for two to three weeks.

In the case of Muñoz, who underwent the Breform three weeks ago, the pain is “bearable.” Three days after surgery, she had a checkup and even went shopping. But she was not allowed to do strenuous chores during those weeks.

Scars

Since the Breform device is within the breast taking up the weight of the breast tissue, one does not have any stress on the breast skin, so a patient will have scars on that area, Del Rosario says. But they will fade over time.

He adds that there is a minimal chance that one might lose the sensation on her nipples after a Breform implant. However, the loss of sensation is usually temporary, with normal sensation returning within six months.

Callanta also assures that the device will not degenerate over time and it does not need to be replaced.

So what sets Breform apart from the traditional breast lift surgery?

“Breast lift gives good results but after a few years, the breasts will sag again. With Breform, one’s bra is inside the breasts,” Del Rosario says. “With breast lift, the problem is the sutures won’t hold very well. There’s nothing to catch the breasts. With Breform, the device anchored to the rib will carry much of the weight. And one of the drawbacks of breast lift is having more scars.”

“Ang niyayabang ng Breform ay nakatayo ang breasts even without a bra,” Callanta says. “But what’s important is we have a happy patient and a proud surgeon.”

“I agree with Dr. Callanta. I feel good with the result,” says Muñoz, who now wears sports bra or nipple patch. “Next time, I’ll try liposuction.”

For more information on the Breform, visit iPrime Center for Surgical Aesthetics at The Courtyard, 26 Sgt. Esguerra Ave., South Triangle 1103, Quezon City. Call 9296614.