Having breast lift surgery is a procedure to remove excess skin to alter its shape. Breast lifts fall under the banner of cosmetic surgery and are elective procedures. A breast lift can be performed with or without breast implants, either just to lift the breasts and improve their shape, or to increase the breast size and lift the breast. Let’s take an in-depth look at how does a breast lift work and what you can expect.
What Is A Breast Lift?
Also known as mastopexy, breast lifts are performed in order to raise the position of the breasts. During the procedure, any excess skin is removed and the surrounding tissue in the breast is reshaped. The end result is a firmer breast that sits higher up on the chest. The size of the areola may also be made smaller during breast lift surgery.
Is Breast Lift Surgery Appropriate For You?
What Do You Really Want?
It’s vital to have a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon to ensure that this procedure will achieve your end goals. Having a breast lift will not change the size of your breasts significantly. It also does not add volume to the top part of the breast. Should you wish to increase the volume or size of your breasts, implants or breast augmentation may better suit your needs, and this should be discussed with your cosmetic surgeon.
What Stage Of Your Life Are You In?
Most cosmetic surgeons will recommend that you wait until your breasts are fully developed, you do not want to have any more children and you have finished breastfeeding, as these stages of life can cause changes to the breasts that may interfere with the outcome of your procedure.
How Do You Know If You Are A Good Candidate For A Breast Lift?
If…
- You Are realistic about your surgery outcomes
- You Are in generally good health
- your breasts have lost shape, volume or fullness
- Your breasts have flattened or become elongated
- Your nipples fall below your breast crease
- Your nipples point towards the ground
- Your skin has stretched
- Your areolas have increased in size
- One of your breasts falls lower than the other
… You may be a good candidate for breast lift surgery
Even though it is possible to lift all breast sizes the outcome may not be as favourable for women with heavier cup sizes.
How Does A Breast Lift Work: What To Expect
Breast lifts are performed under a general anaesthetic so it’s important to disclose your full medical history.
An incision will be made around your areola, and a vertical incision will be made just below it.
Any excess skin is surgically removed before the breast tissue is reshaped and the areola is repositioned.
What Complications Should You Be Aware Of?
All cosmetic surgery procedures carry generalised risks which may include
- Blood clotting
- Scarring
- Bleeding
- An infection of the wound
- Allergic reaction to anaesthesia
Breast lifts specifically, pose other risks which include
- The development of a haematoma or fluid inside your breast
- Pain or numbness in the breast
- Changes to the sensation in your breast tissue and/or nipple
- Hard lumps may form in the breast as a result of the death of fatty tissue in the skin
- Asymmetrical breasts
Scarring And Revisional Surgery
While your cosmetic surgeon will aim to minimise the scarring from the surgery, some people are more prone to cars than others. Most scars will be positioned discretely and will fade over time, however, if you do scar you should discuss this with your surgeon.
In the majority of cases, breast lift surgery will not need revisional surgery, but you should discuss your expectations and risks with your surgeon.
How Does A Breast Lift Work: Post-operative Recovery
Most patients can go home on the day of their cosmetic surgery procedure, and find they can resume their daily activities after around two weeks. On average patients return to work two to three weeks after their surgery.
You should be able to see the final result about six months after the procedure. By this time your breast tissue will have softened and your scars will have faded.
How To Prepare For Breast Lift Surgery?
Working with an experienced and skilled cosmetic surgeon manages a lot of your risk automatically but there are measures you can take to prepare for a safe surgery.
- Stay fit and healthy as this can speed up your recovery
- Review your medication with your cosmetic surgery in case any of them need to be stopped ahead of the procedure, such as aspirin, NSAIDs or anything else that may affect blood clotting
- Quitting smoking, as it can interfere with your body’s ability to heal.
- Make sure you have someone to help you at home during your recovery period, and that your home is comfortable for you to rest.
Cosmetic surgery procedures should be well researched and well planned, and should only be undertaken by registered and experienced cosmetic surgeons. If you would like more detail on “how does a breast lift work?”, or input into the benefits of different procedures please contact us for a confidential appointment: (02) 8599 7161
A breast lift and a breast augmentation both offer benefits to someone who would like to change their breasts. A Read more