A breast lift raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour. Sometimes the areola becomes enlarged and a breast lift can reduce this as well. The surgery can rejuvenate and restore a figure with a breast profile that is youthful and uplifted.
A breast lift does not significantly change the size of the breast or round out the upper part (upper pole). Breast augmentation or breast reduction surgeries are often performed in conjunction with a breast lift surgery depending upon the overall goal of the patient.
Good candidates for breast lift:
A breast lift is a highly individualized procedure. It is best performed on patients who:
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Do not smoke
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Have a positive outlook and specific, realistic goals in mind
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Have breasts that sag or have lost shape and volume.
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Have breasts that have a flatter, elongated shape or are pendulous
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Have nipples that fall below the breast crease when unsupported
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Have nipples & areolas that point downward
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Have stretched skin and enlarged areolas
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Have one breast lower than the other
The Surgery
Step 1 – Anesthesia
Anesthesia will be administered by a board-certified M.D. anesthesiologist.
Step 2 – The Incision
Breast lift surgery can be achieved through a variety of incision patterns and techniques. The appropriate technique for you will be determined based upon:
Common incision sites are 1) around the areola, 2) around the areola and vertically down from the areola to the breast crease, and 3) around the areola, vertically down from the breast crease and horizontally along the breast crease.
Step 3 – Reshaping your breasts
The underlying breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to improve breast contour and firmness. The nipple and areola are repositioned to a natural, more youthful height. If necessary, enlarged areolas are reduced by excising skin at the perimeter. Excess breast skin is removed to compensate for a loss of elasticity.
Step 4 – Closing the incision
After your breasts are reshaped and excess skin removed, the remaining skin is tightened as the incisions are closed. Some incision lines resulting from the breast lift are concealed in the natural breast contours; however, others are visible. Although incision lines are permanent, most will fade and significantly improve over time. Patients are encouraged to practice scar management which includes massage and the use of ScarGuard to expedite the process.
Step 5 – See the results
The visible improvements of a breast lift are immediate. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade. Your final result should restore a more youthful and uplifted position and also help you feel more confident about yourself.
Making the Wise Choice
Plastic surgery involves many choices. The first and most important is selecting a surgeon you can trust. A doctor’s board certification is one of the best indicators of his or her training. Ask for certification from The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only one of 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body. To be ABPS board-certified, a physician must meet these rigorous standards:
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Graduate from an accredited medical school
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Complete at least five years of surgical training following medical school with a minimum of two years of plastic surgery residency training
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Pass comprehensive oral and written exams