A Mastopexy or breast lift is a surgical procedure performed to raise or lift sagging breasts. In addition to providing a more youthful and full appearance, this procedure can also restore the shape of your breasts. Salas Plastic Surgery in Miami, FL specializes in breast lifts, augmentations, and a variety of other life-changing procedures.
Over time our breasts lose shape due to breastfeeding, weight gain and loss, and age. Many people choose to undergo a lift to increase their confidence and overall self-image.
How Can a Breast Lift Help You?
Perkier Breasts
Receiving a lift is the most effective way to improve the overall appearance of your breasts. They’ll look better clothed and unclothed because they’ll stand taller and look rounder once the swelling and post-surgery appearance subsides. This will provide you with a bustier appearance while also giving you more cleavage.
The overall shape and contour of your breasts will look more symmetrical and pleasing for both you and anyone who may be looking at you.
Improved Confidence
We live in a competitive world where appearance means a lot more for both women and men than it did years ago. Breasts that do not look youthful, perky, or shapely may cause you to feel self-conscious or nervous around others. This can have a direct impact on not only your sex life but even your social life.
Low self-esteem can impact your life in other ways as well. It can cause you to feel socially uncomfortable and nervous in many different social situations. By receiving breast lift surgery, you’re doing a lot to improve your confidence and increase your overall quality of life.
New Clothing Options
Following surgery, you might feel compelled to try out some new clothing options with your improved confidence. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll also look better and have a fuller figure. Having a full bust looks great in many different clothing choices and you can even go braless without having to worry about drooping breasts.
Improved Nipple Position
While this might not be something you think about right away, it can impact the overall appearance of your breasts. When breasts sag, the nipple tends to point downward or away from your chest. This can cause the overall shape of the breast to point towards the ground as well. This can give them an aged appearance.
By lifting the breast, we’re not only raising the tissue but also shaping or shifting the position of the nipple so it sits more towards the center of your breast. This will give them a more pleasing shape and appearance and they will look better when you decide to go braless as well.
Reduced Breast Irritation
When breasts sag, they can irritate the skin that they rest on underneath. Low-sitting breasts can cause chafing and even rashes which cause discomfort and potential infection in severe cases. As we lift your breasts, we will also remove excess skin to help separate the tissue from the skin beneath.
What to Consider Before Surgery
Breast Volume
The volume of the breast refers to how full or round they look. When we lose or gain weight it can impact the appearance of the breasts and many people will lose and gain throughout their life.
Over time, they can appear flatter than we would like. The use of a breast implant can restore the volume of your breasts and in conjunction with a lift will improve their overall appearance.
Size
Breast augmentation is one of the most common procedures to improve the size of breasts in many women. If you’ve always wanted larger breasts but you’re not entirely concerned with the cosmetic shape of them, you might not need a breast lift. Instead, you may benefit from breast augmentation surgery instead.
It’s important that you understand the difference between these two procedures so you choose the one that makes the most sense for you and your needs. Every individual case is different and we always approach each one uniquely.
Nipple Position
When the nipple sits at or below your breast crease that may indicate that you would be a good candidate for a lift. Sagging tissue results in volume loss and that can cause the nipple to droop down and become larger.
During the procedure, we lift the tissue up while also repositioning the nipple so it improves the overall appearance of your breast.
Are You a Candidate for Breast Lift?
There are many different types of people who are eligible for this procedure. Ideal candidates were born with or developed sagging breasts due to a variety of different factors. Many people’s breasts will start to sag with age, weight loss, or after childbirth. Pregnancy can cause the breasts to swell and become larger which can lead to a deflated appearance after breastfeeding is over.
Most importantly, you should understand that you can receive a consultation if you’re not sure if a Mastopexy is right for you. We will take a look, talk with you, and determine if this procedure is the right option. At that time we can help you decide if this is something you want to proceed with or not.
Planning for Surgery
As you start to put together a plan of action for your surgery, it’s important that you understand expectations. Every person is different and has a unique idea of what size and shape they would like for their breasts. We will work with you, perform measurements, and determine potential factors that may impact you after the procedure.
During this time is when you want to ask all the questions you have on your mind. We will do our best to make everything clear to you so you know exactly what to expect come your surgery day.
Preparing for Surgery
Your age and family history will determine what type of preparation you need leading up to surgery. Once we’ve determined that you’re clear for surgery you will receive specific guidelines on what you can do in the days and hours leading up to it.
During the Procedure
During the surgical procedure, Dr. Salas will use his years of training, experience, and expertise to adjust the breast tissue and create room for an implant if you’re receiving one as well. The procedure typically takes between two and three hours and involves an incision around the areola with a vertical incision underneath the breast tissue.
Following Surgery
Patients receive a special bandage or surgical bra and your breasts will feel uncomfortable for a few days but there should be little to no pain. Any discomfort is taken care of with prescribed medication. Within a few days, you should be able to get the dressings removed and any numbness you experience in your breasts or nipples should subside within a number of weeks.
Truths About Breast Lifts
Breast Lift Is Different from Breast Augmentation
Yes, a lift is different from an augmentation. The augmentation adds more volume where the lift elevates the breast to a different position. In many cases, one of these procedures compliments the other so many women will elect to receive both at the same time.
Keep in mind that breast augmentation may raise your breasts as well because they’ll be more full and have more volume so it will naturally pick them. This won’t always correct the shape and contour as a lift would.
They Will Look Bigger At First
Many people who undergo breast surgery of any kind say that they’re bigger at first. This is true because of swelling and we will ensure that you know that before undergoing the procedure. Swelling is typical and expected but it will continually go down and completely subside within a few weeks.
You’ll Receive a Post-Surgical Bra
You will receive a special bra following surgery and you can continue to wear it as long as you like. It helps with the swelling but if you don’t think it’s comfortable you can switch to a different bra as long as it doesn’t have an underwire.
Keep in mind that the swelling will increase the size of your breasts temporarily so we don’t recommend going out and buying a bunch of new bras as they will change size and shape over the course of six or seven weeks.
Falsehoods About Breast Lifts
We Remove Your Nipples
Many patients confuse the process and think that we must remove their nipples to perform lifts and augmentations. This is not true and removing them entirely would cut off the blood supply so they would no longer work. We can move the nipple upward while still keeping it attached to the surrounding tissue. The whole breast is moved, not just the areola.
It Is Highly Painful
The good news is that a Mastopexy is a highly tolerable procedure that only requires mild pain medication following surgery. When you combine a Mastopexy with an augmentation you will naturally feel a bit more soreness but it’s still easily manageable. Keep in mind that this is all on a case-to-case basis and will vary from one person to the next. Your individual pain tolerance will impact how you feel as well.
You’ll Be Bed-Ridden
Most patients are able to get up and walk within a few hours of surgery. As long as soreness is controlled with pain medication and the anesthesia has worn off, you should have no issue getting up and walking around right away. It is not recommended that you do any heavy lifting, exercise, pushing, pulling, or training for at least four weeks post-surgery. Undergoing normal daily activities like shopping and cooking is perfectly fine.
Choose It for the Right Reasons
While you might be considering this procedure, it’s important that you do it for the right reasons. Don’t allow someone else to talk you into it. Some women might feel pressure from their partners, friends, or even family. Understand that this is something you need to do for yourself and that we’re here to support you every step of the way. Most women come to us because they are trying to improve their confidence, appearance, and are looking to live an overall happier and healthier lifestyle.
If you’re thinking that a breast lift might be the right option for you, it’s time to make a positive change that will help you feel more confident and energetic. Call Salas Plastic Surgery in Miami, FL today at 305-928-7757 to schedule a risk-free consultation.
