Breast Lift

Also known as mastoplexy, a breast lift takes out excess tissue of the breast and lifts the breasts up to help fight the effects of aging, gravity, weight fluctuation and feminine life events such as pregnancy and breastfeeding. A good indication for a need of a breast lift is when your nipples fall under the breast line when unsupported.

Women with sagging breasts should not use this surgery to stop the sagginess if they are obese. A breast lift is performed in small degrees for various reasons, but it will not stop the women endowed with drooping breasts from their breasts sagging. For very large breasts, a breast reduction is also needed. Breast augmentation can also be done along with a lift, if the patient wishes to have her breasts enlarged.

In order for a woman to prepare for a breast lift, she should first get a mammogram that will serve as a future baseline. Blood tests and, of course, a thorough consultation with your physician are also required. Along with the plastic surgeon, she should go over the results and see if she is a good candidate for a breast lift, preparing herself physically, emotionally and mentally for what is to come. All medical history should be covered, including drug use (whether prescription or recreational drugs). Also, informing her surgeon if she drinks or smokes. Smokers will probably be asked to stop smoking prior to the operation.

Three weeks before the breast lift, a woman may be advised to stop all use of caffeine. Notorious for allowing blood vessels to constrict which can cause a rise in blood pressure, caffeine can also slow down the healing process.

Aspirin and other blood thinners will need to be stopped, because thinner blood causes more bruising. If she smokes, she will need to stop smoking prior to the procedure and during recovery, as smoking causes a rise in carbon monoxide levels and will slow down the healing process of the breast lift.

Because a breast lift is performed in conjunction with other breast surgeries the time for the procedure varies. Since most insurance companies will not cover this, some women elect to have this procedure done under a local anesthesia in the doctor’s office. Otherwise it is a hospital procedure done under a general anesthesia.

The procedure involved local anesthesia, or possibly general anesthesia. There are various techniques for performing the actual incisions and lift, and your surgeon will decide which one to use depending on the state of your breast and the result you decide you want to reach. Results are visible right after the operation, but it may take a while for the bruising and incision marks to fade. A sports bra may be required after the compression bandages are removed.

In most cases, there is only a small scar left. Infections are rare, but they do occur, as well as other complications such as bleeding and more extensive scarring.