What is Breast Lift Surgery?
A breast lift, also known as a mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that lifts sagging or drooping breasts.
It involves the removal and/or adjustment of excess skin and breast tissue. The result is a perkier, more youthful chest. There are a number of factors that can contribute to a deflated, sagging chest. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, gravity, genetics, dramatic weight loss, and the normal effects of aging can all contribute to breasts that are no longer as firm as they once were. A breast lift will erase these effects, placing the breasts higher on the chest wall with the nipples pointing outwards, instead of down.
Unlike a breast augmentation, a breast lift will not alter the size of your breasts. This makes the surgery an excellent option for women who are satisfied with the size of their breasts, but not their shape or firmness. Patients who want to alter the size or position of their breasts along with their size should consider getting a breast augmentation and a breast lift at the same time.
If you dislike the droopiness of your breasts, you don’t have to merely live with the issue. A breast lift can restore the perky, firm breasts you used to have before children or gravity took their toll. Whether you want to look good in a bikini or to be more physically comfortable while running, a breast lift might be right for you.
Who is a Good Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery?
A good candidate for a breast lift will be in good physical and mental health. The candidate should have a positive outlook and realistic expectations of the outcome of the surgery. She should be getting the procedure for her own personal reasons, and not to satisfy anyone else.
Good candidates have breasts that droop or sag, with nipples that often point down instead of out (the nipples may even be below the breast crease). The breasts may have lost volume and look deflated. They may be difficult to control with a sports bra during exercise. These issues can be the result of circumstances, or of genetics.
While you can continue to breastfeed after a breast lift since the milk ducts are not harmed during the surgery, there is no way to predict how further pregnancies will affect your breast lift. So, it’s a good idea to wait until you are done having children before you have the surgery. Patients should also be near their ideal weight because significant weight fluctuations could alter the results of the surgery.
Contact UsWhat Happens During My Consultation?
During your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will do a physical examination of your breasts.
This may include taking baseline photographs and measurements. The surgeon will evaluate the size and shape of your breasts, as well as your skin condition and muscle tone. He will discuss your surgical options, including incision sites and post-operative care.
How Much Does Breast Lift Surgery Cost?
It’s important to remember that a breast lift is an investment in your body and in your self confidence. Investments that are worth having usually have a significant cost — but they’re well worth it in the long term. The total price for a breast lift includes three different fees: The surgeon’s fee, the anesthesia fee, and the facility fee. During a consultation, pricing can be discussed so that you know what to expect.
Breast Lift Financing
Although a breast lift isn’t typically covered by insurance companies, there are financing options if the cost is too high for you right now. Care Credit offers financing plans with reasonable monthly payments. There are several different payment options, including 6, 12, 18 or 24 month repayment. With these repayment plans, there is no interest if the amount is paid in full before the term is up. The other Care Credit option is 24, 36, 48, and 60 month repayment plans with a reduced interest rate if you pay in full by the end of the term. Care Credit can be an affordable and accessible way to get your breast lift, even if you don’t have the cash on hand right now.
How Do I Prepare For My Breast Lift Procedure?
You will need to stop smoking at least six weeks beforehand, and will stop eating and drinking at an instructed time the night before the surgery. The surgeon might have you stop taking any blood-thinning medications or herbal supplements about two weeks before your scheduled breast lift. Your surgeon may ask you to get a pre-operative mammogram to detect any issues with the breasts before surgery.
Review any paperwork and post-operative instructions beforehand, and make sure you have cold compresses, your pain medication, and button-down shirts on hand at home. You will need to arrange to have someone drive you home after the procedure.
How Is the Breast Lift Procedure Performed?
The surgeon will then make the incision in the manner discussed during your consultation.
There are three breast lift incision options. The first is around the areola (the dark skin around the nipple). The second is around the areola and down to the breast crease, and the third is around the areola, down to the breast crease, and then horizontally across the breast crease in either direction.
After the incision is made, the breast tissue will be lifted along with the nipple and the areola. Excess skin above the nipple can be brought around the nipple and below it, to lift the nipple position. Any remaining extra skin will be removed. The surgeon can also decrease the size of the areola by removing a portion of it along the outer rim.
Once the breasts are in their new position, sutures will be placed to help the breast tissues stay in place. The incisions are then closed and you are taken to the recovery room while the anesthesia wears off.
What is Recovery From Breast Lift Like?
When you are done with the surgery, there might be drains in place to help with fluid build-up.
There will be dressings covering the incision site, and some patients will have a surgical bra or other compression in place to help keep swelling down. The drains will be taken out after a few days, but you will need to continue wearing the support garment for several weeks as instructed by your surgeon.
There may be some swelling, bruising, or discomfort in the two to three days after surgery. The surgeon will recommend a medication to help with any tenderness, and the swelling should begin to go down after about three days. During the first week after surgery, avoid bending over, lifting things, or wearing shirts you have to pull over your head.
Most patients can go back to work within one to two weeks. You will need to avoid strenuous physical activity for four to six weeks. There may be mild changes in nipple sensation for a few months after surgery, but that should return to normal.
What Results Should Be Expected After Breast Lift Surgery?
It can take up to six months for this to happen, and for the scars to begin to fade.
Breast lift results should last for several years, but the surgery will not prevent the natural aging of the breast tissue or the effects of gravity. If your breasts become saggy or droopy over time, you may need to get a second lift to correct it. This is more likely in patients with large breasts or breast implants.
What Are The Risks Of Breast Lift Surgery?
These risks include infection, bleeding, reactions to anesthesia, changes in skin sensation, skin discoloration, breast asymmetry, nipple asymmetry, dissatisfaction with the results, and the need for revisional surgery later.
Select a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for your breast lift-it’s one of the best ways to reduce the risk of complications. Board Certified surgeons have the training and expertise necessary to perform the procedure with meticulous attention to every detail. They use highly trained staff and the best medical facilities to help prevent complications from arising.
Following all your pre- and post-operative instructions will also help prevent complications. Your surgeon will discuss the risks with you in more detail at your consultation appointment.