If you are considering breast lift…
Also known as mastopexy, a breast lift raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour.
A woman’s breasts often change over time, losing their youthful shape and firmness. These changes and loss of skin elasticity can result from pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, aging, gravity and heredity.
Also known as mastopexy, a breast lift raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour.
Sometimes the areola becomes enlarged over time, and a breast lift will reduce this as well. A breast lift can rejuvenate your figure with a breast profile that is youthful and uplifted.
A breast lift is a good option for you if you: are physically healthy and maintain a stable weight, have realistic expectations, are bothered by the feeling that your breasts sag, have lost shape and volume, your nipples and areolas point downward, your breasts have a flatter, elongated shape or are pendulous, when unsupported, your nipples fall below the breast crease, you have stretched skin and enlarged areolas or one breast is lower than the other.
Your surgeon may evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors examine your breasts, and may take detailed measurements of their size and shape, skin quality, placement of your nipples and areolas.
Prior to surgery, you may be asked to get a baseline mammogram before surgery stop smoking well in advance of surgery, avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements.
Breast lift surgery may be performed in an outpatient surgical center, or a hospital. If your breast lift is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
Your breast lift surgery can be achieved through a variety of incision patterns and techniques. The appropriate technique for you will be determined based on:breast size and shape, position of your areolas, the degree of breast sagging, skin quality and elasticity as well as the amount of extra skin.
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.
There are three common incision patterns: around the areola, around the areola and vertically down from the areola to the breast crease and around the areola, vertically down from the breast crease and horizontally along the breast crease.
After your breasts are reshaped and excess skin is removed, the remaining skin is tightened as the incisions are closed.
Some incision lines resulting from breast lift are concealed in the natural breast contours; however, others are visible on the breast surface. Incision lines are permanent, but in most cases will fade and significantly improve over time.
The results of your breast lift surgery are immediately visible. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade.
Satisfaction with your new image should continue to grow as you recover and realize the fulfillment of your goal for breasts which have been restored to a more youthful and uplifted position.
The decision to have breast lift surgery is extremely personal and you’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable.
Breast lift surgery does not normally interfere with pregnancy, but if you are planning to have a baby, your breast skin may stretch and offset the results of mastopexy and you may have more difficulty breastfeeding after this operation.
After your breast lift procedure is completed, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions. You’ll need to wear an elastic bandage or support bra to minimize swelling and support your breasts as they heal.
The final results of your breast lift will appear over the next few months as breast shape and position continue to settle. Incision lines are permanent, but will continue to fade over time.
The results of your breast lift surgery will be long-lasting. Over time, your breasts can continue to change due to aging and gravity.
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