Breast Lift

Common natural causes such weight loss, pregnancy, breast-feeding, and aging can manipulate and cause stress to the breasts over time. A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, elevates and firms the breasts by removing sagging skin and reshaping the surrounding tissue to support a more preferred breast contour. Often times, the use of implants alone will not sufficiently lift the breasts, thus a breast lift is additionally recommended to improve position. Dallas, Texas plastic surgeon, Dr. Steven J. White, offers several breast lift techniques to refresh and create firmer, shapelier breasts that can ultimately restore confidence and comfort to one’s body. 

Before and After Photos

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Best Candidates

Good candidates for breast lifts are women who demonstrate:

Incision Patterns

A breast lift requires incisions to shape and firm the breasts. The most common incision patterns used during a breast lift procedure are:

The size and shape of the breasts, size of the areolas, and extent of sagging are factors that will help our surgeon determine the best technique to use. Occasionally, it may be determined that a small breast implant may be necessary or desired to enhance the fullness of the upper portion of the breast. This can be done at the same time as the lift or at a later date.

What to Expect

We will evaluate the overall health of the patient, as well as assess the current breast size and shape and take measurements of the breast to help determine the amount of sagging that is present. Additionally, the skin laxity, symmetry, and the underlying bone anatomy of the chest will also be assessed. This evaluation will help our team to develop an individual breast lift plan. Most patients are nervous about scarring that may occur after a breast lift procedure. During surgery, we take excellent care during the incision process to minimize scars. In addition, our practice will provide a thorough scar care treatment protocol to help with the healing.

Things to Consider

Augmentation vs. Lift

Patients desiring breast augmentation may discover that they need a lift first if there is a certain degree of sag. If the patient wishes to add more volume and increase the breast size, implants will resolve this issue. However, implants are not always needed depending on how much native breast tissue exists prior to the lift. Before surgery, we will provide a thorough assessment as to whether or not an augmentation is necessary to attain the aesthetic results the patient desires. It’s important to note that if an implant is placed within a sagging breast, the outcome most likely will be very unsatisfactory.

Nipple Repositioning

In some breast lift cases, the nipple may need to be repositioned so that it looks proportional to the newly shaped breast. When excess skin is trimmed away during surgery, a portion of an overly stretched areola is trimmed away at the same time. The goal during surgery is to reduce the size of the areola and create an even, natural appearance.

Scarring

With the majority of breast lift procedures, there is some scarring associated with the surgery. This is because when incisions are made to trim away the loose skin, scars are an inevitable part of the process. During surgery, the latest breast lift techniques are incorporated to minimize scarring. A post-surgery scar care program will be provided, and patients are strongly encouraged to follow the plan so that healing can be healthy and quick.

After Surgery

After breast lift surgery, patients are placed in a surgical dressing that may include a support bra. Swelling is expected and patients should take it easy for a few days. The swelling will start to resolve within 1-2 weeks after surgery and most patients are able to resume modest activities within about 2-3 weeks. A breast lift typically takes about 6-8 weeks for a full recovery.

Expected Cost

If the surgery is combined with breast augmentation where implants are used, the cost will increase. In most cases, a breast lift is considered cosmetic by nature, thus is typically is not covered by medical insurance.