One of the most popular aesthetic procedures in the world is a breast lift, sometimes referred to as mastopexy. Regardless of the shape or tightness of your breasts, there is a good chance that you will qualify for this procedure if you’re happy with your breast size but displeased with your overall breast appearance. At MilfordMD Cosmetic Dermatology – Surgery & Laser Center in Milford, PA, we are proud to offer this effective, innovative procedure. Today, we’re taking a closer look.
How Long Does a Breast Lift Last?
As a general rule of thumb, you can expect your breast lift to last for around a decade if you are not as young and healthy as you once were. On the other hand, if you’re fairly young and healthy, you can expect your final results to last for roughly 15 years. At the end of the day, several factors, including your age, affect how long the results of your procedure will last.
However, you can extend your mastopexy results by making healthy lifestyle choices, like not smoking, only drinking alcohol in moderation, and maintaining your weight. Nevertheless, you should keep in mind that even if you make the healthiest lifestyle choices possible, your results may change sooner than you would like for them to if you become pregnant and breastfeed after your procedure.
Will I Need a Follow-Up Procedure?
There is a chance that you will need a follow-up procedure 10 to 15 years after your first mastopexy. However, many women find that they don’t need a touch-up once their final results start to fade. Whether you feel the need for a maintenance session as your results start to fade is up to you.
Answers to Other Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Expect During Mastopexy?
As a general rule of thumb, you should expect your breast lift to take between three and five hours. You should also expect to feel no physical or mental pain or discomfort during your procedure. We will administer general anesthesia, so you will be completely numb and asleep throughout the entire process.
Techniques vary based on your personal preference and goals, but you can generally expect for an incision to be made around the middle of your breasts and nipples.
Can This Procedure Be Combined With Others?
Yes, it is perfectly safe for this procedure to be combined with others, such as a breast reduction or breast augmentation. Often, women combine this procedure with a breast augmentation because approximately half of a cup size is lost if excess skin is removed during the breast lift. If you are happy with the current size of your breasts, but you have quite a bit of excess skin tissue, you may need to combine this procedure with an augmentation.
What Can I Expect During the Recovery Process?
To ensure you wake up from your general anesthesia fully, we will observe you after your procedure. Once you’re fully awake, we will review your recovery instructions with you to ensure you are clear on what is expected of you. Then, you are free to go home and start your recovery. Note, you are not allowed to drive or operate any other heavy machinery within 24 hours of waking up from general anesthesia.
Therefore, you will need someone to drive you home after your procedure. Typically, you can expect to miss three to seven days of work to recover. However, you will need to take a few weeks off from strenuous physical activity.
How Quickly Do the Results of Mastopexy Become Apparent?
It takes approximately six to 12 weeks for the final results of mastopexy to become apparent. How long it will take you to enjoy your final results depends on the scope of the procedure, the technique used, and how well you follow your recovery instructions. The more closely you follow your recovery instructions, the more likely you are to enjoy your final results quickly.
How Many Follow-Up Appointments Are Required?
Typically, clients find they need between one and three follow-up appointments during their recovery period to ensure their incisions are healing well. This contrasts with other procedures that require a number of follow-up appointments because there are drain tubes that need to be removed.
Are Compression Garments Required During the Recovery Period?
It is necessary to wear a compression garment most of the time for the first 42 days following your procedure. In some cases, it is required to wear a compression bra for more than six weeks. The only time you should now wear your compression bra is when you shower or bathe.
Who Is a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
A good breast lift candidate is a healthy woman who wants to change the appearance of her breasts by lifting them. If you are not happy with the size of your breasts, you may still be considered a good candidate for this procedure, but you may need a breast augmentation or reduction in addition to your lift to achieve your desired results.
Note, mastopexy is the right procedure for you if you want to tighten loose breast tissue in addition to changing the shape of your breasts by lifting them. It is also of note that this procedure can be used to reposition the nipple but it can also leave the position of the nipple unchanged. To ensure you are a good candidate for this procedure, you need to come in for an initial consultation. During this consultation, we will discuss your aesthetic goals and health.
Is the Ability To Breastfeed Affected By This Procedure?
Often, women seek a breast lift after pregnancy. Especially when milk production is high, the breasts’ size and shape change dramatically. While this procedure will not necessarily affect your ability to breastfeed, it is advisable to wait until you are done breastfeeding to lift your breasts. Breastfeeding requires a lot of energy, and recovering from a cosmetic procedure requires a lot of energy.
If you plan to become pregnant after your lift, let us know during your initial consultation. We can use a technique to lift your breasts that will not affect your ability to breastfeed in the future. We can even reposition your nipples without affecting your future ability to breastfeed.
Is Now the Right Time for a Lift?
We will help you determine whether now is the right time for you to lift your breasts during your initial consultation. Your family planning goals will play a significant role in determining whether you should hold off on having your breasts lifted.
Even though you can have your breasts lifted without affecting your ability to breastfeed in the future, you are less likely to need a follow-up procedure if you wait to get a breast lift until you are done having children. This is because if you become pregnant after your lift, the shape and position of your breasts may change.
Will Your Breasts Look Smaller After This Procedure?
Even though this procedure can remove around half a cup of excess skin, you may find that your breasts look fuller after your procedure. This is because your breasts may look empty when there is too much excess skin.
Can This Procedure Be Used To Improve the Symmetry of the Breasts or Nipples?
Yes, you can use this procedure to correct breast asymmetry and nipple asymmetry. However, you should keep in mind that a lift can only be used to correct mild-to-moderate asymmetry effectively. If you have severe asymmetry, a breast reduction or augmentation may be necessary to make both of your breasts look the same.
For instance, you may need to have a little fat injected into one breast to make it as large as the other. Similarly, you may need a little fat or breast tissue removed from one breast to achieve the symmetry you desire. Also, you should keep in mind that breast asymmetry is perfectly natural and nothing to feel self-conscious about.
Book Your Initial Evaluation Now
Are you concerned about the overall appearance of your breasts but satisfied with their size? If so, you may be a good candidate for a breast lift, a popular procedure that may provide you with ideal results for 10 to 15 years.
However, you may also need a breast augmentation to achieve your desired results. Contact us today at MilfordMD Cosmetic Dermatology – Surgery & Laser Center in Milford, PA to schedule your initial evaluation and find out how you can get the body of your dreams.
