As the name implies, breast lift surgery (also called mastopexy) lifts the breasts to a higher position on the chest wall. In doing so, the procedure can reshape sagging breasts and help achieve a more youthful breast contour for the patient.
Below, we’ll take a deeper look at breast lifts, including who is a good candidate for this surgery, what you can expect from the actual surgical procedure, what breast lift recovery is like, and more.
What Is Breast Lift Surgery?
Breast lift/mastopexy is a plastic surgery procedure that raises the breasts. It is primarily for patients who have sagging breasts and excess skin on their breasts.
A breast lift procedure is frequently confused with breast augmentation surgery (breast implants). In actuality, breast augmentation only aims to increase breast size, so the two procedures are quite different.
At the same time, patients may opt to undergo a breast lift procedure with implants procedure if they want to both lift and increase the size of their breasts.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Breast Lift?
If you have excess breast tissue and skin and/or breasts that droop and sag, appear flat or deflated, and/or have nipples that point downward instead of out, you may be a good candidate for a breast lift.
Often, plastic surgeons will tell patients to perform “the pencil test” to know if they are a good candidate for a breast lift. This test involves standing in front of a mirror with your shirt off. Next, place a pencil beneath one breast, in the breast crease.
If the pencil stays in the breast crease (inframammary fold), this often means that the breasts are drooping enough for a breast lift to be helpful. If the pencil falls to the ground, a breast lift may not help you.
Of course, you must book a consultation appointment with a board certified cosmetic surgeon to know for sure if you are a good candidate for this procedure.
Other Requirements for Breast Lift Candidates
Breast lift candidates must also:
- Be non-smokers (or plan to quit)
- Be in good physical health
- Have realistic expectations
- Not have any ongoing medical conditions such as breast cancer or severe diabetes or heart disease
- Undergo any necessary additional testing prior to surgery
Breast Lift Surgical Procedure Steps
Your surgeon will start by administering the anesthesia. Most breast lifts are almost always performed under general anesthesia.
Next, they will make the necessary incisions (see below).
They will then adjust the skin, tissue, and fat, removing excess skin and tissue where needed. The remaining skin and tissue will be manipulated in such a way as to give your newly shaped breasts a higher position on the chest wall. The nipples and areolae may need to be repositioned as well.
Finally, the incisions will be carefully closed with sutures, skin adhesives, or surgical tape. The patient will then be placed in a surgical support bra before being taken to the recovery room for monitoring.
Breast Lift Incision Options for Cosmetic Surgery
Most types of breast lift surgeries are performed with one of three incision patterns.
The first type of incision pattern for a mastopexy procedure is called the donut incision. This incision is made around the outer edge of the areolae.
It is primarily for patients who do not require a lot of breast skin to be removed. Their breasts sag, but they don’t have too much excess breast skin.
The second type of mastopexy surgery uses the lollipop incision pattern (lollipop lift). This pattern requires two incisions: one around each areola and one from the bottom edge of the areola down to the inframammary fold (the breast crease, where the breast meets the trunk).
Finally, there’s the anchor incision pattern. This pattern needs three cuts: one around each areola, one from the bottom edge of the areola down to the inframammary fold, and one along the inframammary fold.
Tips for Breast Lift Recovery
After removing excess skin from the breasts and adjusting the breast tissue, you’ll naturally need some downtime. Fortunately, recovery from breast lift surgery is relatively simple.
You may experience some discomfort, swelling, and bruising. These symptoms are normal. Be sure you are refraining from exercise, smoking, alcohol, and heavy lifting.
Wear your surgical bra or compression garment as directed. Sleep as directed.
One way to make your recovery better is to prepare far ahead of time. In other words, don’t wait until after you’ve had your surgery to set up a peaceful recovery area, get groceries and meals delivered, ask for in-home help, and get childcare and pet care set up. Do all of these things now while you’re able.
Lastly, take progress photos. Your initial recovery will last for several weeks, and you’ll want to stay motivated. One of the best ways to do this is to take photos of your progress starting on day one of your recovery.
How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost ?
How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost ?Breast lift cost ranges can vary drastically from surgeon to surgeon. You’ll need to request a consultation appointment before knowing for sure your breast lift cost.
If you plan to undergo another surgery in addition to your mastopexy, keep in mind that this will significantly increase the cost.
For example, a combined breast reduction and lift procedure cost will be more than for a breast lift alone. But if you ultimately plan on undergoing both procedures, the cost of having just a single surgery will actually be lower than if you had each surgery at a separate time.
FAQ: Breast Lift Surgery
How long does a breast lift usually last?
Many patients are interested in knowing how long their breast lift results will last. The changes that a breast lift procedure can make are permanent. You should enjoy your breast lift results for many years to come.
However, you will still continue to age. We cannot stop the aging process, and unfortunately, that is quite often the main cause of breast drooping.
How painful is breast lift surgery?
You will experience some slight discomfort and breast sensation during breast lift recovery. Usually, this pain is the most severe over the first few days of the healing process.
Prescription pain medication can help significantly, but most breast lift patients only require this for a few days at most before transitioning to an over-the-counter pain med (when necessary).
Can you get a breast lift without surgery?
It’s possible to slightly lift the breasts or tighten sagging breasts with a nonsurgical approach, but the effects will not be significant. This is usually attempted with injectables or skin tightening procedures.
Is a breast lift and breast augmentation the same thing?
Breast lift vs augmentation enhance appearance differently. Augmentation increases cup size, while lifts elevate sagging tissue. Combined, they achieve desired shape, position, and size.
Can I sleep braless after breast lift surgery?
You’ll need a compression bra for six weeks, day and night during recovery. Afterward, sleeping without a bra is recommended.
How long does a breast lift take to heal?
Full breast lift recovery spans weeks. Normal activities may resume in a week, work in 1-2 weeks, but swelling and scar maturation may take months.
Are there non surgical breast lift options available?
While various non-surgical breast lift options exist, laser breast lift stands out as the most effective method for addressing breast sagging with notable results.
Contact Us Today to Request a Consultation
Interested in learning more about how to improve breast contour and breast shape with a breast lift surgery?
Please contact us at your earliest convenience to schedule a consultation appointment with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ashley Steinberg.
References
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift
