Many women become self-conscious with their breasts as they start to change. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss, and aging can cause the breasts to lose volume and droop. Mastopexy, or a breast lift, is done to help lift the breasts to a more youthful, perky position for a boost in confidence. Lorraine Golosow, MD helps her patients achieve their ideal breast shape and position through her breast lift techniques.
What is a Breast Lift (Mastopexy)?
Breast lift surgery helps women to once-again love their breasts. A breast lift reshapes and raises drooping breasts. Depending on the amount of ptosis and the desires of the patient a breast lift may be done in combination with an augmentation. This means that implants can be inserted to increase the size and improve the shape. Volume loss is normal as breasts go through many changes, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. Along with volume loss, the areola can become stretched or misshapen over time. A breast lift can also be performed to reduce the size of the areola.
How is it Performed?
Breast lift surgery can take anywhere from an hour to three hours to perform. It is done under I.V. sedation or general anesthesia. The type of incision made is determined by the amount of skin that needs to be removed to achieve the desired lift. For women who have minimal drooping, the scar may be confined to an incision around the areola. Moderate drooping may require a periareolar and vertical incision. Severe drooping usually requires an anchor type incision. Stitches are placed around the areola, vertically from the areola to the inframammary crease, and along the inframammary fold.
Incision Options
There are different incisions used during a breast lift. The incision type depends on the amount of sagging as well as the desired goal for the procedure. The incision types are:
- Anchor Incision: This helps women with severe ptosis. It is made around the areola and down to the breast crease, then continuing along the crease of the breast. Often this is used with a breast lift in combination with a breast reduction.
- Lollipop Incision: This type of incision helps women with moderate drooping. This is made around the areola and vertically down to the breast crease.
- Periareolar Incision: This is suitable for women with mild-to-moderate drooping. This type of incision is solely made around the perimeter of the areola.
- Crescent Lift: This type of incision is usually done in conjunction with a breast augmentation and helps women with minor drooping. This incision lies just on the upper half of the areola.
Recovery
Dr. Golosow will provide detailed instructions for the breast lift recovery period. There are some risks associated with a breast lift, as with any surgery, but these are typically small side effects. Most women experience mild discomfort during the week following breast lift surgery. This discomfort can be relieved with oral pain medications. Some swelling, bruising, and redness may occur as well. Most sutures are placed under the skin and will dissolve over time. The majority of patients are back to work a week after surgery. Though most daily activities can be resumed overhead lifting and strenuous exercise, however, should be avoided in the early postoperative period. Dr. Golosow will inform patients during a follow-up appointment as to when they can resume exercise and all activities.
Who is a Candidate for a Breast Lift?
A candidate for a breast lift procedure is any woman who feels self-conscious due to drooping or loss of volume in the breasts. This procedure is meant to help you feel better about yourself. If you have large breasts that point downward then this procedure can help to address that and other concerns. The best way to know if the breast lift procedure will be beneficial to you is by consulting with Dr. Golosow. She will examine your breast tissue, go over your health history, and speak with you about your desires to see if you are a good candidate for this procedure.
Schedule a Consultation
The breast lift surgery is one to help women feel more confident in the look of their breasts as well as themselves. To learn more about the breast lift procedure as well as breast lift risks and recovery, make an appointment with Dr. Golosow. If you have been considering breast lift surgery near Ft. Myers, please contact our office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Golosow.