A Breast Lift For Sagging Breasts

As women age and elasticity of their skin diminishes, their breasts will tend to sag and lose their shape. This results in drooping breasts. A breast lift can be performed to help remedy this situation. A does not permanently lift the breasts, since the aging process will eventually lead to sagging again. The procedure does delay the effects of gravity, temporary as it may be. Lifting the breasts through surgery can also reduce the size of the areola, which is the area around the nipple. A lift may also increase the size of the breasts if gel implants are placed behind the breast tissue or the chest muscle.

A lift is commonly performed at the same time as breast augmentation surgery to increase breast size and firmness. This may appeal most to women who have lost breast size after pregnancy. Nursing and pregnancy often result in skin that is stretched and therefore decreased in volume. It is advised to postpone having a lift with breast augmentation implants if you are planning on getting pregnant in the future, as a pregnancy will likely cause further stretching.

This surgery takes between one to three hours, depending on whether augmentation is performed as well. A common surgical approach involves an incision along the natural contour of the breast, where excess skin is removed. The areola and nipple are repositioned and the skin surrounding the areola is brought together, reshaping the breast. There are usually stitches around the areola and the lower breast area. In some cases, your surgeon may be able to perform a minimal incision. This is called a scar-less mastopexy and is done entirely through an incision around the areola.

Every surgical procedure has its own risks of complications, and so does the breast lift procedure. Potential adverse reactions to the anesthesia can occur, although this is rare. Uncontrolled bleeding as well as infection can cause scars to widen. Prolonged healing times and wider scars are more common with people who smoke. Mastopexy does not affect the ability to breast-feed, since milk ducts are left intact.

Though it is not a simple operation, a lift is generally safe when performed by a board certified plastic surgeon. Though occasionally performed in a hospital, mastopexy is often done in an outpatient facility, under general anesthesia. If the incision is small, local anesthesia can be used with a sedative. This means you will be awake, though relaxed, and should feel only minimal discomfort.

To make sure you heal properly after undergoing a breast lift, plan on staying home for at least a week before returning to work and other activities. Avoiding heavy lifting is imperative, especially anything over your head, for three to four weeks. Strenuous sports and exercise should also be avoided for at least a month.