Life experiences like weight loss or pregnancy can cause the breasts to deflate and sag. The breast lift is a plastic surgery procedure that can lift and restore the breasts for a more youthful, upright look.
What is a Breast Lift?
Breast lift surgery, also called mastopexy, is a procedure where the breasts are tightened and reshaped to achieve a younger-looking appearance. During surgery, the breasts are lifted into a more upright and elevated position on the chest wall and the nipples are repositioned. It’s one of the most popular breast procedures available and is commonly combined with breast implant surgery or breast reduction – or included as part of a mommy makeover procedure.
Is a Breast Lift Right for Me?
It can be difficult to determine whether you can benefit from a breast lift or another breast procedure. The best way to learn more is by meeting with Dr. Trupiano, recognized as one of America’s Top Breast Surgeons. You can generally benefit from a breast lift if your nipples sit below the breast crease or point downward. These indicators are usually the result of sagging and excess skin. A breast lift does not change the size of the breasts – rather it lifts them into a more upright position. You may benefit from combining your breast lift with implants if you’ve lost breast volume as a result of pregnancy and nursing. However, many women enjoy the benefits of a breast lift on its own.
To be considered a good candidate for breast lift, you should be at a healthy and stable weight and have realistic expectations for what a breast lift can achieve. Additionally, it’s best to have no further plans for becoming pregnant since it can negatively impact your results.
Your Breast Lift Procedure
A breast lift can be performed using general anesthesia or sedation. To begin, Dr. Trupiano will perform one of the following incisions as discussed during your consultation:
- The donut incision: around the areola
- The lollipop incision: around the areola and down toward the breast crease
- The anchor incision: around the areola and down toward the breast crease with incisions along the inframammary fold
The right incision pattern for your needs will depend on the amount of correction needed – for example, the donut incision is best for minimal correction while the anchor incision may be used for more substantial changes. Once the incision is complete, the breast tissue will be reshaped, and the loose skin of the breasts will be excised. The whole breast will be lifted into a more upright position and the areola will be reduced if needed. The nipples will also be repositioned. If you opt for implants, they can be placed during the procedure similarly to breast augmentation. Once complete, the incisions will be closed.
Breast Lift FAQs
Is a breast lift covered by insurance?
Do I need a breast lift or just implants?
Breast Lift Results and Recovery
Generally, you can expect about 1-2 weeks of dedicated downtime with minimal activity. During this time, you can expect swelling, discomfort, and bruising, which can be managed with prescribed medications. Make sure to take these according to instructions so you can focus on resting. You’ll be given a special surgical bra to wear during this time to support your breasts and take pressure off the incisions. Wear it as much as possible for the first six weeks. After six weeks, you can typically return to regular activities (Dr. Trupiano will indicate when you can return to your normal exercise regimen). It’s normal to see swelling fade over the first few months, but it can take longer for your final results to settle in. A breast lift can achieve long-term results if you maintain a healthy and active lifestyle to prevent weight fluctuations.
Schedule a Consultation
To learn more about whether a breast lift is right for you, contact our team to set up a consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon. To contact our Troy, MI office, call or fill out our online contact form.
