How is breast lift surgery done?

Breast lift surgery is done by making incisions in the natural contours of the breast to remove excess skin under a general anesthetic in a surgery center or hospital. There are many ways to perform this procedure. The main breast lift procedures include formal mastopexy, crescent mastopexy (donut mastopexy) or vertical mastopexy (lollipop mastopexy). These vary in the position and number of incisions on the breast. The procedure depends on the amount of correction needed in the breast. The incisions are closed with no visible stitches and no drains. The recovery is usually quick (5 to 7 days) with return to normal physical exercise in 4 to 6 weeks.

Who is an ideal candidate for breast lift surgery?

Conditions that may make you a good candidate for breast surgery are women with breasts that lack substance or firmness, are drooping or pendulous (ptotic), or have nipples and areolas that point downward and are below the crease below the breast (inframammary fold). Some patients have breast that are different from birth in that one breast is larger, firmer or shaped differently that the other. After childbearing breast size and shape are quiet often affected with drooping and lose of volume. In these cases a breast lift is quite often combined with an augmentation to increase the size of the breast while lifting the breast. Surgery should be scheduled after the breast stop growing. Pregnancy and breast feeding can have affects on the size and shape of the breast however many women choose to have surgery prior to having children. These women feel that should child bearing affect their breast they will address the changes at that time. Breast lift surgery should not affect breast feeding ability since there is no disruption of the milk ducts in this procedure.

What will happen at the initial consultation ?

During your initial consultation you will meet with your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon will review your medical history, and perform a physical exam and discuss possible options for the correction that you are requesting. If you decide to proceed with the procedure you will pick a time and day with the patient care coordinator.