Who is an ideal candidate for breast lift surgery?

The ideal candidate is a woman who has a stable weight, is not planning pregnancy or breast feeding, and has less problem with stretch marks or damaged skin which can interfere with the final result. She should also not be protein deprived, bulimic, alcoholic, or a gastric bypass patient in order for the scars to not widen.

Are there risks and complications to a breast lift surgery?

There are the usual risks of anesthesia, infection, bleeding, asymmetry and poor scars. The most common problems are poor scars and asymmetries which are corrected with additional minor surgery. Immune supplements can help with the immune system prior to surgery.

How is breast lift surgery done?

The nipple areolar complex is lifted to the correct position and the excess skin removed in either a donut or up to an anchor pattern with the scars as described in the previous question. Usually general anesthesia is preferred and the surgery takes from one and a half to four hours depending on the extent of the excess skin problem.

What is Breast Lifting?

Breast lifting is surgery on the breast in order to reposition the nipple areolar complex and remove excess skin in order to create a more youthful breast appearence. The scars can be variable depending on what the breast looks like. Usually there is a scar around the nipple areolar complex, and sometimes a vertical scar from the nipple areolar complex to the fold under the breast and sometimes a scar in the fold under the breast. In some cases the breast lift is done just with internal sutures, such as when the pocket exists from removal of a breast implant which often leads to excess skin problems.

What is the recovery period like?

Recovery is usually much easier than for breast reduction or breast augmentation as the surgery is less extensive and does not involve muscle repair. Patients are asked to take off work from two to seven days and rest and avoid heavy lifting and vigerous activity for three weeks. The use of Actipatches (an electromagnetic device placed over the area of the incisions), helps with recoverey so less pain medicine is needed.