Breast Lift
What is a Breast Lift?
As its name suggests, a breast lift is a surgical cosmetic procedure that changes the shape of the breasts so they appear more lifted on the chest. Also referred to as a mastopexy, the purpose of a breast lift is to remove excess skin and restore a more youthful appearance. This procedure is typically a great option for patients who have sagging in their chests due to age, pregnancy, weight loss, or it may just be the way your breasts have always been.
Is a Breast Lift Right For You?
A breast lift can be a great option to help patients feel more confident and comfortable with the appearance of their chests. A breast lift may be a great option for those struggling with flatter breasts that sag significantly due to aging, pregnancy, or weight loss, nipples that point downward, or if one breast is lower than the other.
Though these results are completely natural, you don’t have to live with them if you don’t want to. We can help you restore your breast’s appearance. If this is something that interests you, your next step is to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced providers to discuss your options.
Types of Breast Lifts
Periareolar Lift
Also called a donut lift, if you’re experiencing minor sagging and are concerned about the size of your areolas, a donut lift could be the best option for you. This procedure starts and ends with an incision around your areola.
Lollipop Lift
If you have moderate sagging–which usually comes with aging, pendulum-shaped breasts, this lift could be a good option. A lollipop lift includes an incision around the areola and another towards the breast crease.
Anchor Lift
For those with extensive sagging, an anchor lift helps remove excess skin while raising the breasts. This is done with three incisions–one around the areola, another down to the breast crease, and another along the crease–all of which are easily hidden by a bra or bikini top and will fade over time.
Breast Lift vs. Breast Augmentation
It is fairly common for patients to confuse breast lifts and breast augmentations when the reality is that they are two completely different procedures serving different purposes.
A breast lift is done for patients who want to raise their breasts to improve sagging caused by loss of volume or elasticity. Breast lifts may make the breasts appear perkier due to sitting higher on the chest, but they do not add any fullness to the breast tissue. It’s actually more common for breasts to appear smaller due to loss of excessive skin. If your primary concern is to increase the size or fullness of your bust, it’s worth your while to look into an augmentation instead.
A breast augmentation is done to make the breasts appear bigger or fuller. During a breast augmentation, an implant made up of either silicone or saline is placed in the breast to add volume to the breast, make the breasts appear more symmetrical, or add size. It’s also common to receive a bit of a lift as the implant will make the breasts appear slightly higher. With that said, augmentations do not provide a significant change to the nipple’s height, so patients should not get them if their primary concern is sagging.
When to Get Both
Getting both a breast lift and an augmentation is a great option if both fullness and sagging are concerns of yours. If you want to make your breasts appear larger while addressing excess skin to get a noticeable difference, you might want to discuss combining a breast lift with a breast augmentation. Depending on your goals and medical history, you and your provider can decide if you can have both a lift and an augmentation at the time of your surgery.
Your Breast Lift Consultation
Once you decide to move forward with your breast lift procedure, your first step is to meet with one of our providers for a consultation. Planning effectively for a breast lift means having a thorough understanding of your concerns and goals. You and your provider will discuss these expectations, and create a customized surgery that will provide your desired outcome. At your consultation, your provider will also ask about your health history, current medications, and previous surgeries to ensure there are no complications. For your safety, it’s important to answer your provider honestly, as any unknown health issues could impair your recovery.
A Look at the Breast Lift Procedure
After you schedule your surgery, your next step is to meet with a nurse for your first pre-op two to four weeks before the procedure. At this appointment, you and the nurse will discuss your current health and health history to make sure there are not any conditions that might complicate your breast lift procedure. The nurse will also give you your pre and post-op care instructions while answering any questions you might have. This is when you’ll learn what you should and shouldn’t do while you recover from your surgery.
Your second pre-op is with your surgeon, which will also take place two to four weeks before surgery. Your surgeon will walk you through your procedure again and answer any additional questions you might have. On the day of your visit you will meet with OR nurses to prepare you for surgery. You’ll then have the opportunity to discuss any previous anesthesia issues with the anesthesiologist. Following that, your surgeon will make any markings if necessary, and answer any last-minute concerns or questions.
Breast lifts are outpatient procedures, which means that you will be able to go home after surgery. For your safety, we advise you to have a friend or loved one pick you up after the procedure and spend at least one night with you afterward.
Breast Lift Risks and Recovery
Breast Lift Risks: No surgery is without its risks, and that includes a breast lift. We want you to be completely informed before you decide to take the next step. At your consultation, you and your provider will discuss the potential complications and side effects of a breast lift. They will address any questions and concerns you may have. As always, your safety comes first. We take every precaution to reduce the likelihood of complications and to help you feel as comfortable as possible throughout your procedure.
Breast Lift Recovery: After a breast lift, patients can expect to return to work and resume most normal activity after four weeks with full results appearing after six months. It’s common for patients to experience swelling and tenderness in the area. To ensure a smooth recovery, it is very important to follow your provider’s aftercare guidelines as instructed. This means avoiding any strain or high-impact activities during the initial four weeks of recovery. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your healing process, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Is It Time to Get a Breast Lift?
Only you can decide whether a breast lift is right for you in the first place, and whether this is the right time to get one. If you’ve felt concerned or self-conscious about sagging breasts, it’s normal to want to do something about it. We’re here to make sure you have all of the tools you need–including information, expert physicians, and total agency–in order to make the right decision for yourself.