A breast lift, which is also known as mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that is performed to rejuvenate the look of breasts that currently have a droopy or saggy appearance. The cosmetic surgery is designed to restore the breasts to a more youthful look. During a breast lift, the surgeon removes excess skin in order to tighten the surrounding skin and reshape the breasts. A breast lift can also be performed to reduce the size of the areolas (darker area surrounding the nipples) if they have become enlarged as a person continues to age. As a person gets older, the breasts can start to lose their firmness and elasticity and the breasts can sag and the nipples can start to point downward. The breasts can begin to sag due to fluctuations in the weight of a patient, pregnancy and/or gravity. A breast lift will not change the size of the breasts, but it can be performed at the same time as breast augmentation to achieve the desired size.
Standard Breast Lift – The surgeon creates incisions, shaped like anchors, on the targeted section of the body. The first incision goes around the border of the areola while a second incision runs in a vertical direction to the base of the breast. The surgeon also creates a third incision along the crease of the breast. This breast lift technique, which provides a rejuvenated and perky appearance to the breasts, is ideal for women with smaller breasts. Patients will experience some scarring after a standard breast lift is performed.
Lollipop Lift – This breast lift technique, which is also known as a vertical mastopexy, is when the surgeon creates an incision around the nipple and the areola. The incision runs downwards towards the breast crease in order to provide a moderate amount of lift to the breasts. The final results provide less scarring than a standard breast lift.
Donut Mastopexy – The surgeon creates circumferential incisions around the nipple and areola in order to remove the necessary amount of tissue to achieve the desired results. This breast lift technique requires less removal of skin than a standard breast lift, so patients enjoy less scarring after the surgery. Donut mastopexy is not an ideal choice for patients who want a good amount of lift because the smaller amount of skin that is removed limits the amount of lift that can be achieved.
The total cost of breast lift surgery depends on the breast lift technique performed by the surgeon, the amount of work that has to be performed during the procedure, the area of the country where the breast lift is performed, and any additional fees charged by the medical facility or the doctor.
The amount of downtime and recovery after a breast list depends on the individual patient and the breast lift technique performed by the surgeon. Here are the general steps involved in the downtime and recovery of a breast lift:
The amount of downtime and recovery after a breast list depends on the individual patient and the breast lift technique performed by the surgeon. Here are the general steps involved in the downtime and recovery of a breast lift:
Breast asymmetry
Bleeding
Fluid accumulation
Infection
Scarring
Irregularities in the shape or contour of the breasts
Changes in the sensation of the breasts or nipples
Swelling
Bruising
A breast lift provides a firmer and more youthful look to the breast by giving them a higher placement than their original pre-surgery position. The results of a breast lift are immediately visible, but it can take several months for the swelling to resolve and the breasts to settle into their new shape and position.
In general, the results of a breast lift can last for several decades and can be considered long-lasting and/or permanent results. Patients should know that the aging process, a large weight gain and gravity can have an impact on the final results. As women continue to age, they will more than likely see their breasts descend somewhat but they will not descend to where they were before the breast lift was performed.
A breast lift provides a firmer and more youthful look to the breast by giving them a higher placement than their original pre-surgery position. The results of a breast lift are immediately visible, but it can take several months for the swelling to resolve and the breasts to settle into their new shape and position.
In general, the results of a breast lift can last for several decades and can be considered long-lasting and/or permanent results. Patients should know that the aging process, a large weight gain and gravity can have an impact on the final results. As women continue to age, they will more than likely see their breasts descend somewhat but they will not descend to where they were before the breast lift was performed.
Here are some alternative methods to lifting the breast, or gaining a larger shape and size, for patients looking for methods other than a surgical breast lift:
Breast Augmentation
Patients that want to gain a larger and/or enhanced shape and size to the body can have breast augmentation surgery. The breasts are augmented through the placement of breast implants or the injection of fat that is transferred from another part of the body.
Botox Breast Lift
In this breast lift procedure, Botox is injected into the pectoralis minor chest muscle. Botox works to temporarily paralyze this area so the back muscles will have to compensate by giving the breasts a subtle amount of lift. It should be noted that the use of Botox for breast lift is not yet approved so it is considered to be an off-label use of Botox.
Laser Bra Lift
This type of breast lift is performed in conjunction with a standard breast lift. Laser energy is used by the surgeon to create an “internal brassiere” that uses the tissues of the patient to create the “brassiere”. Stretched tissue and skin is removed so the remaining tissue can be used to provide the desired lift. A laser bra lift is considered to be more of an add-on procedure than an effective alternative to a traditional breast lift.
Laser Breast Lift
High-powered laser energy beams are used to remove dead skin cells and also increase the production of collagen. The laser lifts and tightens the skin around the breast tissue in order to reduce any sagginess. The production of collagen also works to increase the elasticity of the skin.
Thermage
The surgeon uses a device that delivers radiofrequency energy to the deeper layers of the skin. The collagen fibers are tightened in the chest and the skin around the breasts begin to immediately tighten. Thermage for a breast lift is recommended in cases where the patient has mild sagging of the breasts.
If you are interested in having a breast lift, a surgeon in your area that is experienced in providing the desired results can be found by performing proper research. In order to help you find the best cosmetic doctor to perform your breast lift, please use our “Find a Doctor” search page.
