A cosmetic breast lift or “Mastopexy” surgery elevates and reshapes sagging breasts. A number of factors determine the shape of your breast: your skin, your breast volume, and your connective tissue.
Breast lift surgeries are performed by altering one or all of these factors. Breast lifts reshape or remove excess skin, raise the remaining skin and tissue, and reposition the nipples.
While these are all physical results that occur from breast lift surgery, what breast lifts really do is help a patient feel better about their feminine shape and contour.
Mastopexy also helps treat unproportionate areolas.
There are a few different types of breast lifts that you should be aware of if you’re considering breast lift surgery. A full breast lift uses multiple incisions and has the most effective results, offering a more conical breast shape.
A modified breast lift, also known as a Benelli breast lift, uses only one incision by the areola. There’s far less scarring, but also less change. If you’re looking for a no scar breast lift solution for drooping breasts, the Benelli is a logical option. However, for more dramatic breast lift results, your surgeon may utilize a different approach.
Time Required for Breast Lift:
Usually 1-3 hours are needed to perform a breast lift procedure time requirements can, of course, vary from case to case.
Is Breast Lift an In Patient or Outpatient Procedure?
Usually outpatient.
What are the Side Effects of Breast Lift?
Breast lift side effects can include temporary discomfort, bruising, or swelling. Breasts may be temporarily numb, and healing skin may look and feel dry. Dr. Alexander Sinclair, your surgeon will try to keep scarring to a bare minimum, but you should be prepared to see permanent scarring that will lessen over time.
How Long do Breast Lift results last?
Breast lift surgery results can last permanently. However, aging, gravity, and weight changes can also alter the results and create need for eventual breast lift revision.
What is the recovery time for Breast Lift?
Day 1 – 14 Post surgery, you will wear a position-supporting bra home for initial stage of breast lift recovery.
Day 7 If you have a job that is not physically demanding, you can generally return to work a week after breast lift surgery.
Day 14 – 21 Sutures can usually be removed about 2 weeks after surgery.
Please note About one month before you can attempt more strenuous activities.
Will my insurance company cover Breast Lift?
If the breast lift is being performed out of necessity, in conjunction with post-cancer breast reconstruction, insurance may cover it. But because of the cosmetic nature of a breast lift surgeries, insurance most often does not apply.
Is there much discomfort for Breast Lift?
After a breast lift, discomfort and pain experienced will be minimal and temporary.
What happens during breast lift 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
The size and position of your areolas
The degree of breast sagging
Skin quality and elasticity as well as the amount of extra skin
Step 1 – Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia.
Dr. Alexander Sinclair, your surgeon will recommend the best choice for you.
Step 2 – The incision
There are three common incision patterns:
Around the areola and vertically down from the areola to the breast crease
Step 3 – Reshaping your breasts
After your doctor makes the incisions:
The underlying breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to improve breast contour and firmness.
The nipple and areola are repositioned to a natural, more youthful height.
If necessary, enlarged areolas are reduced by excising skin at the perimeter.
Excess breast skin is removed to compensate for a loss of elasticity.
Step 4 – Closing the incisions
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.
Sutures are layered deep within the breast tissue to create and support the newly shaped breasts. Sutures, skin adhesives and/or surgical tape may be used to close the skin.
Step 5 – See the results
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.