Plastic Surgery Guide: Breast Lift

Most women start out with firm, perky breasts, but things can happen over time that cause them to droop and lose their shape, like pregnancy, breast feeding, losing or gaining weight, heredity and plain, old ageing. If you want higher, more youthful-looking, firmer breasts, you might want to consider this kind of breast surgery.

What is a breast lift?

The sole purpose of a breast lift, or mastoplexy, is to correct sagging breasts and give the bust an uplifted contour. This surgery does not significantly change the size of the breasts. If you want larger breasts, consider augmentation surgery, or to go smaller, a breast reduction.

Is breast lift surgery for you?

The ideal candidate for a breast lift is in good health but has breasts that sag and have lost their shape. The breasts may appear to be deflated and have nipples that point down. They may be pendulous, with an elongated shape.

If you have any of these problems, the look of your breasts can be improved by a breast lift. You won’t regain the bustline you had at 18, but you should see a more pleasing shape and silhouette.

What is the breast lift procedure?

There are a variety of techniques used to perform a mastoplexy, and their use depends on several factors. These include breast size and shape, degree of sagging, size and position of the areolas and elasticity of the skin. The three most common incision patterns are around the areola, around the areola and vertically down to the breast crease or around the areola, vertically down from the breast crease and horizontally along the crease.

After the incision is made, the surgeon lifts and reshapes the underlying breast tissue to improve contour and firmness. Excess skin is removed and the areola repositioned to a more youthful placement on the breast. The remaining skin is tightened as the incisions are closed.

The results

Results will be visible immediately after surgery. The incisions will leave permanent scars that will fade over time. The results of a mastoplexy are long-lasting, especially if the patient maintains a healthy weight.

The cost of a breast lift

The cost of breast lift procedure will vary according to the surgeon and the facilities. The surgeon’s fee for a mastoplexy should range from $6,000 to $8,000. Add to this the fees for the assistant surgeon and anaesthetist plus the cost of facilities and follow-up visits. If you have implants done at the same time, the cost would rise to about $12,000.

Risks

As with any surgery done under general anaesthesia, there is the chance the patient will have an adverse reaction. In addition to the scarring, there can be a loss of sensation in the nipple or the breast.

Have you considered having a breast lift?