A Complete Guide to Breast Lift Surgery

In 2020, surgeons in the US performed more than 2.3 million cosmetic surgical procedures. Of these, 3.76%, or 87,051 procedures, were breast lift surgery. This represents a 65% increase in the number of breast lift procedures done in 2000.

One reason breast lift has become more popular is that it’s also become safer. However, it’s still an invasive procedure, requiring preparation on the patient’s side.

So, if you’d like to get a breast lift yourself, read on, as we’ll cover the essential facts you need to know about it below.

What Is Breast Lift Surgery?

Mastopexy is the official medical term for breast lift surgery. The procedure’s goal is to raise, reshape, and tighten the breasts to make them firmer. It also removes excess skin around the breast to give them a rounder look and decrease the areola’s size.

Why Do People Undergo Mastopexy?

Breast ptosis, also called breast sagging, is the chief reason women undergo a breast lift. It’s common; for example, in one study of 141 patients, 72% had some degree of breast ptosis. Drooping breasts, after all, usually occur due to aging, compounded by the pull of gravity.

Aging causes saggy breasts as the skin and tissues thin out and become less elastic and firm. One reason is that the body produces less collagen and elastin each passing year. Unfortunately, collagen and elastin are the proteins that give the skin its structure.

It’s also easier for the breasts to sag since they extend outward of the chest. In addition, female breasts can weigh at least half a pound (A-cup) to over 2.6 pounds (F-cup) or more. Thus, as the skin becomes less elastic and firm, the breasts can start to droop as they lose support.

Some women also develop breast ptosis after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Significant weight changes, be it gain or loss, can also exacerbate the look of droopy breasts.

With that said, breast ptosis can occur in any breast, including those of smaller sizes. Fortunately, according to this source, women can get breast enhancement with mastopexy. In some cases, surgeons can perform the two procedures at the same time.

What Can You Expect During Your Initial Mastopexy Consultation?

Since mastopexy is a surgery, you’d need to undergo a comprehensive health review. So, expect the breast lift surgeon to take your personal and family medical history.

The specialist would also ask you about allergies you may have, especially to drugs. Let the doctor know if you smoke or consume alcohol, as these substances can impair your recovery. If you smoke or drink, you may still get surgery, but you’d need to avoid them for at least a month before the procedure.

You should also expect the surgeon to perform a thorough evaluation of your breasts. This involves assessing your skin’s laxity and degree of breast ptosis. The doctor would also need to note how much excess skin or fat your breasts may have.

From there, the specialist would measure your breast size and the area covered by the areola. The surgeon would also take measurements of your nipples and their placement. This is also when you should tell the doctor about your realistic expectations.

Lastly, the doctor would run some pre-operative tests before deeming you a candidate. These often include a blood test, a mammogram, and a stress test. The purpose of these exams is to ensure you’re healthy enough to handle the surgery.

Assuming you’re a good candidate, you can then schedule the big day for your breast lift surgery.

What Happens During the Surgical Procedure Itself?

Your procedure would take place in a hospital or a dedicated breast lift surgery clinic.

Just before your surgery, the surgeon will first ask you to stand with your back straight. The doctor will then mark you as a guide for your nipples’ new position.

You’ll then go into the surgery room and lie on a disinfected surgical bed. Next, you’ll receive general anesthesia to put you in a relaxed, sleep-like state. This medicine will also help relieve the pain during the procedure.

Once you’re asleep, the surgeon will make an incision around your areola. The cut may start from the front of the breast or the areola and extend to the crease. In some patients, the incision may extend along the areolas’ sides.

Then, the surgeon will lift and reshape the breasts and move the areolas to their proper location. The areolas may also undergo size reduction, provided you gave the doctor consent. The specialist will also remove any excess skin to make your breasts firmer and tauter.

After that, the surgeon will seal the cuts with stitches, sutures, or skin adhesives and tape. Finally, the doctor will clean and disinfect the surgical site.

The entire procedure can take as little as one to three hours, depending on the work required.

What’s Next?

After the procedure, your surgeon will wake you up and take you to the recovery room. Here, you may receive other medications to help prevent nausea and relieve pain. The doctor will then prescribe you pain medicine and give you after-care instructions.

While severe pain isn’t common after surgery, you should still expect some discomfort. At the very least, your chest area may feel sore and tender. That’s why your doctor will likely prescribe pain medications.

It’s also best if you can have someone accompany you during your surgery. This way, they can drive you back home, and you can take it easy right away.

Some swelling and bruising may likely occur, too, but these should subside in about a week. To prevent complications, though, it’s best to take about a week’s worth of work leaves. Most importantly, avoid strenuous activity, especially lifting and pulling, for about six weeks.

Restore Your Breasts’ Perkiness With Mastopexy

While breast ptosis is a natural occurrence, it doesn’t mean you have to live with it for the rest of your life. If saggy breasts make you lose confidence, it’s completely fine if you want to restore them.

However, be sure to undergo breast lift surgery only from a licensed plastic surgeon. This way, you can rest easy knowing you and your body are in good, capable hands.

Are you looking for more inspirational guides on health, beauty, and wellness? If so, then please feel free to read our other informative articles!