What Is a Breast Lift?
Women of all ages can experience sagging breasts. Whether you are a young woman who has lived with sagging breasts since puberty or you have recently noticed a change due to age, gravity, pregnancy or weight fluctuation, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Victor Perez can help you achieve a more lifted and attractive breast appearance with breast lift surgery.
To find out if a breast lift is right for you, please call Renue Aesthetic Surgery today at 913-685-1108 to schedule a confidential consultation with our experienced breast lift surgeon. Dr. Perez helps patients from Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, and beyond.
Who is a Candidate for a Breast Lift Procedure?
Also called mastopexy, a breast lift is surgical procedure designed to raise the breasts to a more youthful position. The surgery may be ideal for women who:
- Have drooping breasts due to weight changes, pregnancy or aging
- Have asymmetrical breasts
- Have nipples that face downward or droop beneath the breast crease
- Experience mild to severe breast ptosis
- Want a perkier, more youthful-looking silhouette
- Want to improve their bikini body
- Are undergoing a mommy makeover
Depending on your unique circumstances, Dr. Perez may recommend combining your mastopexy with breast augmentation. Breast implants can offer long-lasting fullness in the upper portion of the breast and a more youthful appearance.
The Breast Lift Procedure
The breast lift procedure itself is fairly straightforward. Dr. Perez will create strategic incisions to lift and re-shape your breast tissue. These incisions are designed to be well-concealed once they heal, reducing the visibility of resulting scars as much as possible.
How Long Does a Mastopexy Take?
Breast lift surgery can last for an hour or longer, depending on your unique circumstances.
Does a Mastopexy Require Anesthesia?
Your breast lift surgery will be performed in an accredited outpatient surgical facility under general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist.
What Issues Does a Breast Lift Treat?
A breast lift is a specialized procedure to address sagging, drooping breasts. It removes excess skin and can help restore a more youthful look to the breasts, even after changes caused by weight changes or pregnancy. It can treat several different issues for women, including:
- breasts that are drooping or sagging
- breasts that have lost their shape or volume
- breasts that are uneven in size or shape
- nipples that point downward or are excessively large
Sometimes, a breast lift may also be combined with breast augmentation to achieve desired results. Dr. Victor M. Perez is a board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you to determine if you are a proper candidate for a breast lift or other breast procedures available at his office.
What Should I Expect After a Breast Lift?
Recovery from a breast lift varies from person to person, but most people report feeling back to their usual selves within two weeks or so. There may be some minor bruising and swelling immediately following the surgery, but this should dissipate relatively quickly. You must follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions for proper care to ensure a smooth and successful recovery.
What Is the Difference Between a Breast Lift and a Breast Augmentation?
A breast lift is a procedure that is meant to improve the appearance of drooping or sagging breasts. A breast augmentation, on the other hand, is a procedure that is meant to increase the size and/or fullness of the breasts. In some cases, the breast lift surgery may be combined with a breast augmentation in order to achieve desired results.
Is It Possible To Breastfeed After Surgery?
Yes, it is possible to breastfeed after undergoing a breast lift. However, it is essential to note that the surgery may cause some damage to the milk ducts and/or nerves, which could affect your ability to breastfeed. If you plan on breastfeeding after your procedure, discuss this with your surgeon beforehand.
What Are the Risks Associated With a Breast Lift?
As with any medical and surgical procedure, there are risks associated with a breast lift. These risks include bleeding, infection, scarring, and changes in sensation. Be sure to discuss these potential issues and risks with your surgeon before proceeding with the procedure.
Should I Wait Until After Pregnancy To Get a Breast Lift?
Generally, it is best to plan on getting a breast lift after you have finished having children. This is because situations such as pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause further changes to the breasts that may negate the surgery results. If you are thinking about getting pregnant in the future, be sure to discuss this with Dr. Victor M. Perez of Overland Park, KS, beforehand.
What are the Different Types of Breast Lift Procedure Methods?
There are a variety of incision methods, which include:
Peri-areolar
An incision is made around the nipple. This incision is the least invasive option and best suited for women with smaller breast cup sizes and only mild breast sagging.
Lollipop
In addition to the incision around the nipple, a vertical incision is made down to the breast crease. This approach is best suited for women with moderately pronounced breast drooping and average breast sizes.
Anchor or Inverted T
An incision is made around the areola, down the breast to the inframammary fold and then horizontally along crease of the breast. This is best suited for women experiencing moderate to severe breast sagging.
After evaluating the degree of breast ptosis and the shape of your breasts, Dr. Perez will recommend the surgical approach that best suits your needs and physical condition.
Breast Lift Recovery
After mastopexy surgery, most patients find that recovery usually takes two to three weeks. During this time, post-surgical discomfort is controlled with oral narcotic pain medications. It is also required that patients wear a surgical compression garment for at least 2 weeks for support.
Breast Lift Before and After Photos
To view more before and after photos, click here!
What Will My Scarring Look Like After a Breast Lift Procedure?
Like any surgery in which incisions are made, it is important to remember that the appearance of your scars will diminish over time. Dr. Perez will follow your healing progress very closely.
Initially, Dr, Perez will cover the scars with post-surgical tape to minimize scar formation. This special tape applies pressure, secures the skin, and helps to prevent harmful pulling of the skin, known as stenting.
As you heal, Dr. Perez will explain how to use post-surgical scar gels and how to perform helpful massage techniques. As a general rule, the more pigment the patient has on their skin the longer it will take for the scar maturation to complete. For some patients this process may take six months, for others, it can take up to a year and a half.
Schedule Your Breast Lift Consultation Today
To learn more about your breast surgery options and determine your candidacy for breast lift surgery, please contact Renue Aesthetic Surgery by calling 913-685-1108 or by clicking here to submit an online contact form. Our office in Overland park welcomes patients from Kansas City, Olathe and surrounding communities. Schedule an initial consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Victor Perez today!
