Recovery: 1-2 weeks
Cost: $7,000-$7,500
What is a Breast Lift?
Normal aging, pregnancy, breast feeding and weight fluctuations can result in breasts that droop. This can be due to loss of volume and stretching of the skin envelope of the breast. Tightening the breast skin and repositioning the glandular tissues will give the breast a more youthful, pleasing shape.
A mastopexy or breast lift is a surgical procedure done to lift and reshape the breasts. It involves tightening the breast skin and reshaping the breast tissue. The result is a lifted, more youthful appearing breast. The breast lift will not change the size of the breasts, but will enhance their position, shifting volume upwards to create a fuller appearance.
What can a breast lift do for me?
- I have excess tissue causing my breasts to sag
- My nipples are low or point downwards
Candidates for a Breast Lift
The ideal candidates for the breast lift are those who are near their ideal body weight and have finished having kids and breastfeeding. It is still possible to have a breast lift if you are not done having children, however, it must be understood that the breasts will go through additional cycles of changes with pregnancy. You may require a second operation when you’re done having kids to regain their ideal appearance. The best candidates for breast lift are happy with the size of their breasts when they’re lifted in a brassiere. If you feel like your breasts are too large a breast reduction is needed. If you feel like your breasts are too small when they lifted in a brassiere then an implant is needed in addition to a lift.
Breast Lift FAQs
A breast reduction almost always entails lifting and repositioning the nipple as part of the procedure. The difference between a breast reduction and a breast lift is whether or not breast tissue is removed in order to decrease the weight and size of the breast. Sometimes in mastopexy, a small amount of breast tissue is removed.
A mini breast lift refers to a lift that corrects a minimal degree of sagging. The mini breast lift usually involves an incision around the areola and a slight lift of the breast tissue. A full breast lift would be required if there is severe sagging or if the nipple needs to be repositioned. Patients might also choose the mini breast lift as a second procedure after they have begun to develop further sagging with age or pregnancy.
A breast reduction always involves a lift. Breast reduction involves decreasing the size of the breast by tailoring the breast envelope and decreasing the amount of breast gland. During this process, the nipple is lifted to its ideal position on what will be the new breast mount. Breast reduction can be performed through a scar around the areola or with a lollipop incision. Sometimes, depending on the size of the breast and incision is also needed in the inframammary fold.
A breast lift can give you more youthful looking breasts for many years. The results of a breast lift are long lasting, however, your breasts will continue to age along with the rest of your body. You can ensure that your results are long lasting by avoiding dramatic weight fluctuations and only having your breast lift when you know you are done breastfeeding and having kids.
