Everything You Need to Know About a Breast Lift

Important life events and the passage of time can change the appearance and size of your breasts. Weight fluctuations, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and breast cancer surgeries can create pockets of extra skin, leading to sagging breasts.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting a perkier chest to enhance your confidence. Are you looking for a breast lift in NYC? Here’s your comprehensive guide to this cosmetic surgery.

What Is a Breast Lift? Reposition and Reshape Your Breast Contours for a Perkier Appearance

What is a breast lift used for? This cosmetic surgical procedure aims to correct fallen or sagging breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning the breasts higher over the chest wall. It can also address breast asymmetry.

A breast lift is also called a “mastopexy.” Since it is a surgical procedure, it requires going under general anesthesia.

How Is a Breast Lift Done?

The breast lift procedure typically has three main steps:

• Removing extra skin

• Tightening breast skin to create attractive breast contours

• Repositioning the nipples and areolas accordingly

After you recover, you’ll have perkier, more shapely breasts to match your mental image of yourself and boost your confidence.

Breast Lifts vs. Breast Reductions and Augmentations

Mastopexies are different from breast reductions and breast augmentations.

These cosmetic surgeries change the size of the breasts. A reduction involves the removal of breast tissue, and an augmentation adds breast implants to increase volume.

In contrast, breast lift procedures are geared toward reshaping and repositioning the breasts. Mastopexy reduces sagging and balances nipple and areola positioning. Cosmetic surgeons do remove excess skin during a breast lift, but the procedure doesn’t change the volume of your breasts.

Who Needs Breast Lift Surgery? Good Candidates for Mastopexy

Breast lifts improve the elasticity and positioning of your breasts. This means the breast skin will be tighter and more youthful-looking, while your breasts themselves will sit higher on your chest.

Who is a good candidate for this procedure? People who have experienced sagging due to major weight loss, pregnancy, breastfeeding, breast surgery for cancer, or the effects of aging and gravity may be eligible.

Fair Expectations

Good candidates will have realistic expectations about their new breast appearance. Breast lift surgeries don’t change the overall shape of the breasts as much as breast implants and reduction procedures do. Like many other cosmetic procedures, mastopexy only enhances what you already have.

Good General Health

You should be in good general health and quit smoking before your surgery. Smoking and drug use can alter the effects of general anesthesia.

If you have a preexisting health issue, your surgeon may want to ensure that the condition is under control before scheduling the operation. This applies to obesity as well. Getting a breast lift after weight loss makes the procedure more effective, as it reduces the risk of future weight fluctuations that lead to extra breast skin.

Not Pregnant or Breastfeeding

If you are currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to have more children naturally, you should wait to get a breast lift procedure done. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can undo some of your results.

Breast Cancer Remission

If you’ve had a lumpectomy or mastectomy to treat breast cancer, you must be cleared by your oncologist before getting a breast lift. You should be healthy enough to go under general anesthesia and prepared to follow post-operative instructions before booking your procedure.

Many surgeons will require confirmation that the cancer is in remission before performing a breast lift or a delayed reconstructive surgery. This is for your health and safety.

Breast Lift Revision

If you’ve previously had a breast lift and weren’t happy with your results, a skilled cosmetic surgeon can perform a revision to modify your breasts.

This surgery may include removing more breast skin, repositioning your nipples and areolas, or otherwise altering the position and shape of the breasts. A breast revision works similarly to the original mastopexy procedure, just with better results.

What to Expect Before, During, and After Breast Lift Surgery

Here’s what you should know about typical pre- and post-operative instructions and the recovery from breast lift surgery.

Before the Procedure: Comprehensive Consultation

Before scheduling your breast lift, you’ll book a consultation with a board-certified surgeon to discuss your goals and get approved for surgery.

During the consultation, you should disclose any health conditions and prescribed medications. Your surgeon will ask you about your aesthetic goals and lifestyle habits to come up with a personalized treatment and recovery plan.

What Happens During Mastopexy Procedures?

On the day of your breast lift, you’ll come into the surgical center and change into a gown. This procedure requires sedation. You’ll go under general anesthesia for the entire procedure, which means that you won’t be aware while the surgery is happening.

Your surgeon will make appropriate incisions to remove excess breast skin and reposition your breasts according to your goals. Once the right adjustments have been made and the incisions are closed, you’ll be wheeled to the recovery room to wake up.

Aftercare Instructions

Since this is an outpatient procedure, you most likely won’t have to stay the night after the surgery. You can go home as soon as you’re fully awake. However, someone else will need to drive you home.

You’ll be given a support bra to wear after surgery. Your surgeon may prescribe pain medication for the first few days after the procedure. You should spend a few days resting and avoid lifting anything heavy.

If your surgeon uses absorbable sutures, you won’t have to come back in and get them removed. Some sutures require removal one to two weeks post-op. If so, your surgeon will schedule a follow-up appointment for removal and to see how you’re adjusting to breast lift surgery.

Most patients can return to all normal daily activities within three weeks of mastopexy surgery. Plan to take one to two weeks off from work to recover.

How long does a breast lift last? Your results should withstand the test of time. If you avoid weight fluctuations and do not get pregnant or breastfeed, your results will last for years.

Prepare for Your Breast Lift in NYC

Follow all of your surgeon’s instructions carefully to make sure your surgery goes smoothly and safely. It’s time to get excited about your procedure and look forward to enjoying your perky breasts! Book your consultation today!