A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgery designed to raise the breasts by tightening and removing the surrounding skin tissue to reshape and reposition them. Whether you want a breast lift as part of a mommy makeover or to turn back the hands of time, plastic surgery can help you achieve your goals.
There are several factors to consider before determining your treatment plan. Your plastic surgeon will examine the size and shape of your breasts as well as the size and position of your areolas, or darker areas surrounding the nipples. Another important treatment consideration is the degree of sagging to each of your breasts and where you want them to be. Your surgeon will examine the elasticity and skin quality and the amount of excess skin left over, especially for moms who breastfed or have lost a significant amount of weight recently.
Before Your Procedure
During this appointment, your surgeon will discuss if a breast lift is best for you or if it may work better to combine surgeries to give you your desired look. You should review before and after photos of the surgeon’s past work and discuss your goals and expectations. Knowing what to expect during and after your procedure will help you decide if a breast lift is right for you.
During your initial exam, your doctor will evaluate several issues regarding your breasts, including your skin’s elasticity, position, and breast size, and then recommend the best surgical approach for your goals. There are a variety of incision patterns and techniques used during a lift procedure. Your research and consultation exam will help you and your surgeon determine which ones are best for your situation.
What to Expect
Most breast lifts are done as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia and take about three hours. There are three common incision patterns used during a breast lift:
- Around the areola
- Around the areola and vertically down to the crease of your breast
- Around the areola, vertically down to the crease, and then horizontally along the breast crease
Once the surgeon has made the incision, it is time to improve the contour and firmness of your breasts. The next step is to reposition the nipple and areola to a proportionate, youthful height. If needed, the surgeon will reduce the size of the areolas by removing skin along the perimeter. The last reshaping step is to remove any excess skin, which will improve elasticity.
Bringing together the breast skin to close the incision will help further tighten the remaining skin. Even though the incision lines will create permanent scars, they will fade within one to two years, and sometimes they can be hidden along natural creases. It’s important that you follow all after-care instructions to keep sutures, skin adhesives or skin tape intact and wear the surgical support bra 24/7 for three to four days, then a softer support bra for three to four weeks. You will also need to restrict your physical activity for as long as your doctor recommends an avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
You will be able to see the positive changes in your breasts right away. However, their shape will continue to settle over the next few months until healing is complete.
The first step in achieving a more youthful appearance is to find an experienced surgeon to guide you through the process. Contact Dr. Sacks at Arizona Cosmetic Surgery today to find out how our exceptional team can help you achieve your best look!