Breast Lift
What Is A Breast Lift?
A breast lift, also called “mastopexy”, is a surgical procedure which rejuvenates the breast shape and position. It does this by addressing breast sagging (known as ptosis), asymmetry, loss of shape or volume, and stretched or drooping areolae, to give breasts an overall more attractive and youthful appearance.
While aging and heredity are perhaps the most common causes of sagging breasts, other factors such as pregnancy, nursing, and weight fluctuations can also contribute. Whatever the cause, mastopexy, or breast lift surgery is an excellent way to re-contour, lift and tighten the breast. The goal is perkier, shapely, natural looking breasts with increased superior pole fullness.
Who Is A Candidate For A Breast Lift?
Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. The best candidates for mastopexy are healthy, non-smoking women who are realistic about what a breast lift can accomplish. The best results are usually achieved in women with smaller, sagging breasts. Breasts of any size can be lifted, but the results may not last as long in heavy breasts.
Arrange an in-person consultation with Dr. Strazar to find out if you are a candidate. After assessing your breast condition and discussing your goals, Dr. Strazar will describe your options and tailor your surgical plan to best address your desired outcome.
Types Of Breast Lifts
Women who contemplate undergoing breast lift surgery often wonder what the incisions will look like. The incisions vary depending on how severe the breast ptosis is, and how much tissue volume is present. The most common incisions are a periareolar lift, a vertical lift, and an anchor lift. Dr. Strazar will individualize the surgical approach based on the degree of breast elevation required, a patient’s overall breast size and inherent tissue tone.
In the periareolar lift, or donut mastopexy, an incision is made around the circumference of the areola (pigmented area around the nipple). This technique is only used when a modest lift is needed. This approach can also be used to decrease the overall diameter of an areola to create a more aesthetically pleasing areolar size.
The vertical lift, also called a short-scar or lollipop mastopexy, is a common lift that Dr. Strazar performs. It allows for significant reshaping and lifting of the breast. The end result is a breast that is firmer, shapelier, and “perkier.” During this surgery, Dr. Strazar places internal sutures which shape the breast and anchor the lift to their new elevated position. The incision runs around the areola and vertically down the breast, creating a scar that looks like a “lollipop”. Over time, these scars fade nicely and provide a desirable final result.
The anchor or wise pattern is an approach that Dr. Strazar may use when the breasts are looser and have lax tissues which require skin and tissue tightening in all dimensions. In addition to the incision around the areola and vertically down the breast, there is a scar hidden along the breast fold. This technique is a very powerful technique for improving the shape of a larger breast. Your anatomic needs and desired outcome will determine if this procedure may be right for you.
Mastopexy Augmentation
For many women, lifting the breast and nipple is the first step, but it may not give you the fullness you desire. Each patient has their own expectations, and Dr. Strazar works with them to create a plan that will deliver the results they are looking for.
Some patients might consider placing a small implant at the same time of the lift to help fill out the breast volume. One common component of breast sagging is a lack of fullness in the upper portion of the breast. This lack of “upper pole” fullness frequently recurs or remains a problem following the breast lift. Therefore, there are cases when, even though the patient is not seeking an actual breast enlargement, a small implant may be recommended in order to help maintain upper pole fullness in the breast. To be noted, the breast augmentation component can add competing forces against the lift, and in general, smaller implants are often used to prevent excessive tension on the lift. It is important to understand that breast lift with augmentation is one of the most technically demanding cosmetic surgery procedures. Therefore, one must be very careful in selecting an experienced and thorough plastic surgeon with whom one feels comfortable to perform one’s breast lift procedure.
Are There Options Instead Of Implants?
Implants are not the only way to achieve a large breast volume. A breast lift with fat grafting is becoming a more common option as it uses a patient’s own tissue and will last much longer than an implant. The volume gain is modest compared to an implant, but by using adipose tissue from another area of the body, patient can also benefit body contouring benefits of liposuction to other areas of the body as well.
Postoperative Care
Depending on your unique treatment plan, surgery typically lasts between one and three hours. General anesthesia will be used, and you should be able to return home the same day. You should rest and relax at home for about one-to-two weeks, after which time you can return to work and normal activities if you feel comfortable. If breast implants were placed, you should not lift anything heavier than five pounds for the first two weeks. Additionally, you should not participate in strenuous activities for at least a month, or as long as Dr. Strazar recommends. Some swelling may continue for several months or longer, but you should begin to see the outcome almost immediately.
FAQ:
Most women are so thrilled with the results of their procedure that they don’t mind the typically subtle appearance of the healed scars. However, it is normal for patients to be curious about what the incisions will look like after recovery. What is important to understand about the breast lift procedure is that it will involve incisions on the breast. There is no other way to effectively lift and tighten breast tissues without incisions. While it is impossible to completely eliminate any sign of surgery, these marks should fade over time and become relatively unnoticeable. These incisions are designed to be concealed under clothing, and the good news is that over time and with proper scar care, they do fade and become barely noticeable. Most women find that their new shape and beautiful figure outweigh any concerns they initially had about scarring. Dr. Strazar takes great care to make the incisions as small and inconspicuous as possible.
While many women can breastfeed after breast surgery, breastfeeding after any type of breast surgery cannot always be guaranteed. About 30% of women may have difficulty breastfeeding after surgical intervention. Breast surgeries which changes the shape or move the areolar will often have a larger impact on breastfeeding post surgery.
This is a question we receive a lot. It depends on the patient’s aesthetic goals and the current breast shape. A breast lift will help correct a sagging, drooping breast. Many times after this surgery, patients are happy with their breast size because the lift alone creates a fuller breast. However if the patient wishes to have more volume, especially in the upper pole or cleavage area, implants or fat grafting will often be required. During your consultation, Dr. Strazar will perform a detailed assessment and discuss your goals. He will then recommend if a lift alone is all that is needed, or if an augmentation and a lift may be done as a combination surgery.
Any procedure where the skin is actually lifted and reshaped, such as breast reduction, breast lift, facelift, tummy tuck, and body contouring pose a challenge to the blood supply of the skin. Cigarette smoking, or for that matter any form of smoking, significantly reduces the quality of blood flow within the skin, and therefore leads to increased risk of major complications, including skin loss or loss of the areola itself. It is for this reason that Dr. Strazar will not perform many of these procedures on a patient who continues to smoke.