Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Considered a top Charleston plastic surgeon, Craig Rowin, MD has earned such distinction by making women feel confident about their breasts and their bodies through high-quality cosmetic enhancement. After undergoing breast lift surgery, a procedure designed to rejuvenate the breast shape and overall aesthetic, his patients are able to enjoy the benefits of more youthful breasts with improved contours, enhanced upper pole fullness, and less drooping or sagging, often resulting in greater self-confidence.
Quick Facts About Breast Lift Procedures
- Sedation: General anesthesia
- Potential Benefits: A more lifted and youthful-looking bustline; reduction of ptosis and often downward pointing nipples; enhanced upper pole fullness
- Potential Risks: Swelling, bruising, tenderness, adverse negative reactions to anesthesia
- Procedure Length: Approximately one to three hours
- Recovery: Generally one week of post-operative downtime; about two weeks off of work; strenuous activities should be avoided for about a month
What Is a Breast Lift?
Breast lift surgery, also called a mastopexy, is performed by removing excess skin and tightening the underlying breast tissue to raise and reshape the breasts. As patients age, certain factors – including gravity, decreased skin elasticity, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and/or weight fluctuation – can cause the appearance of the breasts to change. Many women consider breast lift surgery when their breasts begin to droop below the breast crease or lose shape and/or firmness. For some patients, a breast lift with the addition of breast implants may be the most comprehensive solution to replace volume that may have been lost with aging or after nursing children.
Complementary Procedures to Breast Lift Surgery
If your desires include enhancing volume as well as the breast shape, a breast lift can be performed alongside breast augmentation. During a procedure that combines a breast lift and breast augmentation, our plastic surgeon simply adds breast implants for a fuller and more enhanced appearance. Alternatively, women seeking to decrease the size of their breasts can often benefit from a breast reduction.
When breast surgeries, body enhancement procedures (e.g. tummy tuck surgery and liposuction), and other treatments are combined, they become part of what is known as a mommy makeover. This innovative, comprehensive option can allow moms to restore their pre-pregnancy figure by addressing a range of concerns. Because pregnancy and nursing can cause the breasts to sag, decrease in volume, or become flatter and softer, a breast lift is typically a great addition to a mommy makeover treatment plan. During your evaluation, our plastic surgeons will review the benefits, limitations, and risks of these joint surgeries with you so you can learn the most ideal treatment options for your needs.
What Are the Different Types of Breast Lift?
After a thorough examination and discussion, if you are a good candidate, we can recommend a lift type or combination procedure that is best suited for you. The various types of breast lift include:
Periareolar Mastopexy
If you have minimal breast sag or wide areolas that you would like to improve, the periareolar technique may be the most ideal approach for your needs. This involves Dr. Rowin placing an incision along the borders of the areola, often allowing any post-surgical scarring to blend into the natural change in pigmentation. The breasts are then tightened using this discreet incision, and the areolas are reduced if desired. A periareolar mastopexy can be highly effective for patients with little to no breast sag.
“Lollipop” Incision or Short Horizontal Scar Technique
For patients who would like to correct moderate breast droop, the short-scar or “lollipop” mastopexy procedure can be well-suited to more extensively rejuvenate the breasts. This technique involves a lollipop- or keyhole-shaped incision that encircles the areolas and extends downward towards the breast crease. In some cases, a small horizontal incision is also made along the natural contour of the breast fold.
Full Mastopexy (“Anchor Type Incision”)
A full breast lift utilizes an anchor-shaped incision made within the edges of the areolas and horizontally along the breast crease. In general, this incision pattern resembles an inverted “T” over the breasts. The full mastopexy technique is typically reserved for women who have naturally large breasts and experience severe sagging and/or significant excess skin.
How Is the Breast Lift Procedure Performed?
Typically an outpatient procedure, basic breast lift surgery takes about one to three hours. If you are combining a breast lift with another treatment, the operation can take longer. This surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia. During the procedure, Dr. Rowin will lift and tighten the underlying breast tissue; remove any excess skin to rejuvenate the breast shape; and reposition/resize the nipples and areolas, if necessary. Expert levels of care will be taken to provide a result that looks natural with as little post-surgical scarring as possible.
How Long Do Breast Lift Results Last?
In general, many patients can expect to enjoy the results from a breast lift for at least 10 to 15 years. With that in mind, the exact nature of the benefits and results from breast lift surgery will vary between individual patients. Although the natural aging process will continue to have an effect on the elasticity of breast tissue, patients can help maintain the results of breast lift surgery for as long as possible by sticking to a healthy diet and lifestyle while minimizing weight fluctuations over time.
What Is Recovery From a Breast Lift Like?
After your surgery, you will wear a surgical-type sports bra to reduce swelling and support your breasts as you heal. It is common to experience temporary bruising, swelling, or tenderness after the procedure, but this typically subsides as your recovery progresses. Any discomfort can generally be managed with oral pain medication. Our doctor makes every effort to avoid the use of narcotics altogether while still ensuring your maximum comfort and safety.
Following the operation, patients should rest for the remainder of the day, but begin light ambulation as soon as they feel up to it. Non-strenuous activities can usually be resumed within a few days. Exercise and aerobic activities will need to be avoided for four weeks. Many patients plan for approximately one week of downtime to ensure an adequate amount of time for the healing process, but specific post-operative instructions depend on the complexity of your procedure. We will provide detailed recovery information at the time of operation. Depending on your line of work, one to two weeks out of work may be recommended in most cases.
Over the next few months, your breasts’ shape and position will gradually settle into place and scars should fade and improve. Following the procedure, women generally report a more rejuvenated look with restored firmness, shape, and projection of the breasts.
What Will My Scars From Breast Lift Surgery Look Like?
Dr. Rowin works diligently to make your scars from breast surgery as inconspicuous as possible. At any rate, the shape and size of a mastopexy scar will either blend into the borders of the areola; resemble a lollipop-shaped mark that encircles the areola and descends toward the breast fold; or appear like an anchor combined with a well concealed scar around the areola and along the breast crease. This will depend on the extent of lift required to achieve your desired look. During your consultation, our plastic surgeon will inform you of which incision will likely be necessary during your mastopexy.
With that said, the majority of patients report that scars flatten and fade to a large degree over time after the recovery process is complete. Proper wound care can typically optimize the healing of your scars and, therefore, decrease their visibility after surgery.
How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost?
The expenses associated with a breast lift vary widely, as the procedure is customized to address the needs and aesthetic concerns of each patient. Factors that typically influence the price of a breast lift include:
- The extent of lift necessary to achieve one’s cosmetic goals
- The surgical technique used
- Whether breast implants were utilized
- The expertise of the surgeon
- The geographic location of the procedure
After Dr. Rowin sees you for a consultation, our office will be able to provide you with a more accurate quote of your breast lift costs, including the surgical fee, anesthesia costs, and facility fees. Our practice accepts all major payments, as well as plastic surgery financing from CareCredit®. Offering a number of flexible payment plans that can be chosen to suit your personal budget, this reputable healthcare lending company allows qualified candidates to pay for their treatment over time once they are approved through the easy application process. For more information on how to apply, or to learn more about the price of a breast lift, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our practice.
Can I Breastfeed After a Breast Lift?
A breast lift should not affect the ability to breastfeed. If a patient has lactating function before surgery, this shouldn’t change after the procedure as long as the desire for future breastfeeding is communicated prior to the operation. Although the milk ducts and nipples can remain intact after a breast lift, be sure to discuss any plans for breastfeeding when consulting with Dr. Rowin about breast lift surgery.
Volume changes in the breasts associated with pregnancy, nursing, and substantial weight loss can often cause additional breast sag and compromise the results of a lift. If these factors are applicable, it is generally advisable to undergo breast lift surgery after weight loss, childbearing, and breastfeeding are finished to achieve an optimal, long-lasting result. A discussion of your needs with Dr. Rowin can help determine whether breast lift surgery will benefit you.
Additional Breast Lift Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be able to get implants with my breast lift?
Patients frequently opt to combine breast lift surgery with breast augmentation to comprehensively fulfill their breast enhancement goals. If you are interested in this popular option (known as a “breast lift with implants,”) our surgeons may be able to incorporate this method into your treatment plan.
Is breast lift surgery painful?
Because general anesthesia is almost always used, patients typically do not consider breast lift surgery to be painful; however, some experience tenderness in the weeks following the procedure. With that in mind, post-operative-soreness can usually be mitigated by oral medications, and narcotics are not necessary in most cases.
Are breast lift surgery results permanent?
While the effects of breast lift surgery can be very long-lasting (often lasting between 10 and 15 years), they are not considered permanent. Various factors – such as aging, skin elasticity, gravity, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, and breastfeeding – can affect the longevity of the results. Thankfully, maintaining a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle can help prolong the effects.
Will insurance cover breast lift surgery?
Many insurance companies will not cover breast lift surgery since it is typically categorized as an elective cosmetic procedure. The insurance companies that do cover breast-related procedures will usually only provide financial aid if the surgery is necessary due to a medical condition. Fortunately, the options available for payment at our practice, including third-party financing plans for qualified applicants, make it possible for many patients to work the cost of this treatment into their budget.
Can I get a breast lift without surgery?
Surgery is the only treatment method that can effectively remove excess breast tissue and lift the breasts to a higher, more youthful position. Alternative, non-surgical methods such as breast exercises will not produce the same type of results that can be achieved with a breast lift.
How can I reduce swelling after a breast lift?
During recovery from breast lift surgery, resting and avoiding strenuous activities or exercises can play a major role in controlling swelling. Any forms of pushing, stretching, lifting, or pulling can cause or increase levels of swelling and pose other significant risks to the healing process. Wearing any prescribed surgical garments as directed and limiting intake of foods/beverages that are high in salt can also help manage swelling. While post-surgical swelling is a normal side effect of surgery, our office will provide you with detailed instructions to help you control these effects and achieve the smoothest recovery possible.
How is breast lift surgery different from breast reduction?
Breast lift surgery and breast reduction surgery can sometimes offer similar benefits, but they are quite different in terms of what they are designed to accomplish. Breast lift surgery focuses on treating breast ptosis (sagging) by raising the breasts to a more youthful and vibrant position. Breast reduction surgery focuses on reducing the size of breasts that are too large or heavy for one’s body frame. While, for some patients, there can be a lifting effect that results from breast reduction surgery, the procedure is primarily designed to reduce breast size for a more proportionate aesthetic balance and to alleviate physical discomforts caused by overly large breasts.
If you are interested in a breast lift or combination surgery, contact Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas to schedule a consultation.
