What Happens During a Breast Lift Surgery?

There are different reasons why women choose to get breast mastopexy or a breast lift. Are you a breast cancer survivor? Are you looking to firm up your breasts after pregnancy and breastfeeding? Maybe you want to reverse the effects of aging, drastic weight loss, or genetics. Getting a breast lift will not change the size, but it will improve the appearance of your breasts. The surgery can make sagging breasts shapelier and firmer. 

Getting Breast Lift Surgery 

A breast lift is a surgical procedure that helps change the shape of the breasts. It is performed by a plastic surgeon and involves removing excess skin and reshaping the breast tissue. Also known as mastopexy, the procedure raises the breasts to a more desirable position. 

Women who want to change the size or volume of their breasts can get augmentation alongside the breast lift. If your breasts sag or the nipples point downwards, you can benefit from a breast lift. 

Reasons to Get Breast Lift Surgery 

Breasts change over the years, losing their firmness and becoming less elastic. The aging skin does not snap back into place after years of stretching. There are different reasons why breasts change, including gravity, pregnancy, and weight changes. These are reasons to get breast lift surgery. The procedure can help boost your confidence and self-image. 

Candidates for Breast Lift Surgery 

You can be a candidate for breast lift surgery if:

 

• You have breasts that sag from losing shape and volume

• Your areolas and nipples point downwards

• Your nipples are below the breast crease when not supported

• You have asymmetrical breasts, with one falling lower than the other

• Your areola is stretched out of proportion
  
   

If you plan to get pregnant in the future, now may not be the right time for a breast lift. The breasts tend to stretch during pregnancy, which could reverse the breast lift results. Breastfeeding after a breast lift may also be more difficult. 

What Happens During a Breast Lift

During the breast lift procedure, the surgeon will choose the technique to remove the skin and reshape the tissue. This will determine where the incisions will be located. The surgeon can make the incisions around the areolae. Other techniques are along the breast creases, horizontally, or from the areolae down to the breast crease. 

Placing stitches deep in the breast tissue will help reshape the breast. Excess breast skin is removed before shifting the nipples higher. The surgeon then combines the skin before closing the incisions using stitches, adhesives, or surgical tape. The surgery usually takes two to three hours, and the patient can go home the same day. 

Results of Breast Lift Surgery

The results of a breast lift vary in individuals. Those with smaller breasts are more likely to enjoy longer-lasting results. Large breasts are heavy, which can increase their likelihood of sagging again. It will usually take several months to see the full results. Your bra size may reduce after the breast lift.

Like with all surgical procedures, there are risks associated with a breast lift. They include scarring, total or complete loss of the nipple or areolas, breast or nipple sensation changes, and difficulty breastfeeding. Other risks are bleeding, adverse reactions to anesthesia, and infection. Consult your doctor or surgeon to see if this procedure is right for you.

For more on breast lift surgeries, contact Dr. Andrew Friedman at our San Antonio, Texas, office. Call (210) 934-8400 to schedule an appointment today.