Interview with Plastic Surgeon Dr. Matěj Patzelt, Ph.D.
Dr. Patzelt, what influenced your decision to pursue plastic surgery, aesthetic medicine, and reconstructive plastic surgery?
I decided to study medicine as early as the 8th grade in high school when we were studying the human body in biology. I got into plastic surgery during my medical studies. I’ve always enjoyed fixing things because I like delicate, patient work, and that’s exactly what you find in plastic surgery. It’s the only medical specialty where we truly create something new and reconstruct, often literally from nothing.
Many experienced surgeons influenced my journey in plastic surgery, from Professor Sukop, to Professor Dušková, who taught me facial reconstruction, to Mrs. Zárubová, from whom I learned breast reconstruction. In aesthetic surgery, which is part of plastic surgery, I learned the most from Dr. Zárubová and Dr. Payer.
You have experience in many types of plastic surgeries, including the most in-demand, breast augmentation. But breast surgery includes many variations. What is the difference between a classic augmentation with implants and augmentation with a lift?
Breast augmentation is simply the enlargement of the breasts, usually with implants. It’s suitable for women who have firmer breasts, so there’s no need to raise the nipple and areola higher.
Augmentation with a lift involves essentially two surgeries in one. We enlarge the breasts, remove excess skin, and raise the nipple and areola higher. This restores the shape and firmness of the breasts. It’s suitable for women who not only have sagging breasts but often have emptier breasts where the nipple is usually below the level of the inframammary fold.
For whom is breast lift surgery suitable, and when does it make sense to undergo just the lift without implants?
Breast lift surgery is when we remove excess skin from sagging breasts and raise the nipple and areola higher. It’s suitable for women who have lost volume in their breasts due to breastfeeding or significant weight loss, leaving behind loose skin. During surgery, we remove the skin and restore shape and firmness to the breasts. If a woman is not satisfied with the size of her breasts, then it’s appropriate to complement the lift with breast enlargement, either with implants or with her own fat. However, it’s always important to personally discuss all options with the surgeon and come up with the best solution!
What if women, after childbirth, are concerned not only with their breasts but also with their abdomen? When is the right time for such a procedure?
It’s ideal to come for a consultation about 6 months after finishing breastfeeding and when the woman has reached a stable weight with which she is satisfied. At that point, we can plan the surgery — ideally a “Mommy Makeover,” which involves a breast lift and abdominoplasty. We can also add breast augmentation or liposuction if needed. In some cases, all of these procedures can be done at the same time.