Are there risks and complications to a breast lift surgery?

There are risks and potential complications for any type of surgery. The most common risks associated with breast lift surgery are:

1. Scars - you can't bake a cake without breaking some eggs, as the saying goes, and you can't do a lift without leaving some scars. Scars tend to flatten and fade over time and people recommend all kinds of scar "cures" (personally, I think all of them are voodoo but I don't discourage patients from trying them if they want to). Still, it takes about a year to a year and a half for scars to fully mature.

2. Nipple sensitivity - the nerve supplying sensation to the nipple comes from between the ribs and can be damaged during breast lift surgery. This can lead to temporary or even permanent loss of sensation to the nipple.

3. Loss of skin - the most common type of breast lift procedure leaves scars that go around the areola, down to the fold under the breast, and along the length of this fold. There is a lot of undermining of the skin in this type of breast lift procedure. Should the blood supply to this skin be damaged significantly, it could lead to a loss of skin along the suture lines. Fortunately, this is a rare occurrence and generally only very small areas are involved but if a large enough area of skin is lost, it could require a skin graft to correct. Skin loss such as this is a bigger risk in smokers but can occur in any patient. If you are a smoker and considering this procedure then it is best to quit smoking for at least two months prior to surgery.

How long do the results last?

Breast tissue changes with weight gain/loss, periods, pregnancy, etc. While there is a natural loss of elasticity in the skin over time, these events can produce more pronounced changes in a shorter period of time. As my father once told me, cosmetic surgery sets the clock back but it keeps on ticking. For most people, a breast lift can last a lifetime. For others, they may need an additional procedure later, especially if they have a significant weight gain/loss or pregnancy.