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.
You will return to your surgeon’s office after a week or two and the stitches will be removed. There will be some noticeable and permanent scarring, which is normal. It is easily covered by your bra or swim suit. For a few months, the scars may be red and lumpy, but will eventually fade and become less obvious. The breast lift procedure can create unevenly positioned nipples, as well as permanent loss of feeling in breasts or nipples.
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.
Realistic expectations and emotional stability are important with any plastic surgery procedure. Though any size and shape of breasts can be lifted, women with small breasts tend to retain the positive results of a breast lift much longer. Be sure to follow your surgeon’s advice before and after surgery for the best results.
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Tags: big breasts, board certified plastic surgeon, breast augmentation surgery, brow lift, chin augmentation, tummy tucks