How Can I Benefit From Breast Lift Surgery?
Over time, many factors including pregnancy, nursing and age can cause the skin of the breast to loose its elasticity. This in turn can cause the breasts to loose the shape and and firmness that they may have possessed in the past. This loss of elasticity or "sagginess" can be offset by a surgical procedure called a mastopexy, or a breast lift as it is better known. This surgery will lift and reshape the breast, and also reshape the areola if necessary. The result is a look that is much more in line with how your breast may have looked in the past.
While having a breast lift at our facility, many women also choose to have breast augmentation. This option is perfect for women with small breasts or who have lost volume after pregnancy. Through the insertion of breast implants, it is possible to improve both breast size and firmness. The best way to find out which procedure options are best for you is to schedule an initial consultation with either Dr. Wilcox or Dr. Dulin. Both doctors are very experienced with this type of procedure, and will be able to help you not only determine which options are best for your body type, but also help you to understand the procedure, its limitations and its risks.
Am I A Good Candidate?
As mentioned above, the best way to determine if you are a good candidate for breast lift surgery is to discuss it with one of our doctors. That being said, the best candidates for a breast lift are women who have noticed that their breasts have begun to sag and want to subtly change their appearance. Although women with smaller breasts often experience the results for a longer period of time, the procedure can be effective on women with breasts of any size.
Many women who seek this procedure do so because pregnancy or nursing has caused their breasts to start to sag or left them with less volume then before their pregnancy. Although the procedure itself will not usually interfere with future pregnancies or nursing, it is usually advisable for women planning to have more children to put off the procedure until after they have their last child. This is mainly because having the procedure and then having additional children will often cause the breasts to return to their pre-surgery state. This can then result in the need for further surgery in order to regain the breasts pre-surgery look.
Before The Procedure
The first thing you will do before your breast lift will be to meet with either Dr. Wilcox or Dr. Dulin to discuss the variables for your particular surgery. These variables include your age, the shape and size of your breasts, the condition of your skin, whether you are interested in an implant and other items such as nipple and areola position. Your surgeon will discuss the procedure with you in detail, and will be able to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
The Procedure
A breast lift generally takes between one-and-ahalf and three-and-a-half hours, depending on the technique used and the variables associated with your particular procedure. The most common breast lift procedure involves creating an anchor shaped incision following the natural shape of the breast. This incision surrounds the area from which excess skin will be removed and defines the new location of the nipple, as outlined in your pre-procedure consultation. Once the skin has been removed, the areola and nipple are moved to their new position and the remaining skin is brought down to reshape the breast. If you have chosen to have an breast implants at the same time as your breast lift, the implant will be inserted during the procedure.
Breast lift candidates with smaller breasts may also be eligible for a variation of the above procedure called a concentric or doughnut mastopexy. This variation involves a smaller incision and may reduce scarring. Please consult with Dr. Wilcox or Dr. Dulin to see if this variation is a fit to your needs.
After the Procedure
Following your breast lift, you can expect to experience some discomfort which shouldn't last more than a few days. Your breasts will also be swollen and bruised to some degree, but this will also start to fade quickly after surgery. Directly after surgery, you will wear either a bandage or surgical bra over a gauze dressing. This will be replaced by a soft support bra within a few days, which will have to be worn over a layer of gauze constantly for roughly a month.
Sometime between one and two weeks after surgery, your stitches will be removed, which is also roughly the time you will be ready to return to work. During your initial consultation, your doctor will discuss the healing process with you further and give you detailed instructions regarding when you can resume normal activities.
Over time, a woman's breasts begin to sag and the areolas become larger.
Incisions outline the area of skin to be removed and the new position for the nipple.
Skin formerly located above the nipple is brought down and together to reshape the breast. Sutures close the incisions, giving the breast its new contour.
If your expectations are realistic, chances are you'll be satisfied with your breast lift.
