All breasts are made different and will also change differently. Depending on the look which you may want to achieve, you might want to combine your breast lift with another procedure. In cases where you want smaller breasts, you may need to have breast tissue excised then lifted in the same procedure.
In cases where you want your breast to look fuller, you may want to have your breasts augmented as well as lifted in the same procedure. If you are interested in having an augmentation done in addition to the mastopexy, your surgeon would be more than happy to discuss the many options available to you with regards to implant size and type during your consultation.
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you’ll have to decide if the benefits of the surgery outweigh the risks and potential complications of surgery.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your surgeon.
A breast lift is performed under a general anesthetic. During the procedure, one or a combination of incisions are made in a circular pattern around the areola, in a line extending from the areola to the breast crease, and horizontally along the breast crease. The surgery does not remove any breast tissue, but may involve the removal of skin to reposition the nipple and lift the tissue on the chest wall. Dissolvable stitches will be used along the surgical incision. Surgical dressings will be applied and a compression bra will be used on top.
It is important to know that while technically the results of a breast lift are permanent, any significant fluctuations in weight can greatly diminish the results. It is recommended that individuals who are planning to lose weight or women considering pregnancy postpone the procedure. A breast lift procedure will also not be able to correct stretch marks, but some may be excised if they are along the surgical incision. A good candidate for surgery is a patient who is relatively healthy, has reached their weight loss goals and has realistic expectations for post-operative outcomes.
Breast lifts do not significantly change the size of your breasts. A breast lift will not round out the upper part of your breast. If you want your breasts to look fuller, then breast augmentation surgery should be considered as well. If you want your breasts to be smaller, then a breast reduction surgery should be considered as well.
It is also important to note that breast lift surgery can interfere with the ability to breast-feed. We tell patients that there is a chance of not being able to breast-feed after surgery. If breast-feeding is very important to you, then you may want to wait until after having your children before considering breast lift surgery.
It is also strongly advised that you be a non-smoker at the time of surgery. If you are a smoker we recommend you quit smoking at least 3 months prior to surgery as nicotine can interfere with blood supply and potentially cause complications with healing after surgery.
