Revitalize Your Silhouette with Mastery in Mastopexy
Breast Lift
PREMIER PLASTIC SURGERY IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Redefining Elegance: Unveiling the Art of the Breast Lift
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a procedure that removes excess skin and moves the nipple from a position low on the breast to a more aesthetically pleasing position on the breast. Part of the procedure is also aimed at improving the overall breast shape from a longer breast shape to a more round shape. Getting a breast lift can provide results that look very natural.
Dr. Michael J Lee is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over two decades of experience performing plastic surgery procedures and will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is a good candidate for a breast lift?
Women who have had children and have developed loose skin or a drop in the nipple position are most often good candidates for breast lift procedures. Men or women who have had major weight loss are also good candidates. There are also women who are unhappy with the overall shape and position of their nipples since puberty, and these women can also be good candidates for the procedure.
If you are considering pregnancy in the near future, then waiting until after the pregnancy will provide a better result.
Ideal breast lift candidates have realistic expectations for the procedure. Looking at before and after photos is an excellent way to ensure that your expectations for results are realistic.
Can a breast augmentation be performed at the same time as a breast lift?
A breast augmentation can be performed at the same time as a breast lift and may be necessary to provide the adequate volume and shape to the breast. This procedure is known as a breast lift with implants, a breast augmentation with lift, or an augmentation mastopexy. If the changes or excessive skin are too much, the procedures may need to be staged instead of performed during a single session.
Why do some breast lifts have incisions around the nipple and others have incisions underneath and around the nipple?
There are many techniques that can be used for mastopexy surgery, and these techniques usually reflect how much skin needs to be removed and how high the nipple needs to be raised. If the nipple only needs to be raised 1cm, an incision around the areola or a breast implant is usually all that needs to be done to raise the nipple. If the nipple needs to be raised 2-4 cm, then an incision needs to be made around the areola and also a vertical incision on the breast needs to be made to allow this amount of movement. If the nipple needs to be raised more than 4 cm or there is a significant amount of extra skin, then the incision needs to be around the areola, vertical and underneath the breasts.
There are exceptions to this rule and new techniques that minimize and shorten the scar that you may be a candidate for. Consult Dr. Lee today to determine if you are a candidate.
What is the recovery process like for a breast lift?
A breast lift is generally not considered a painful procedure, and most women take pain medication for only a few days. There is some swelling and bruising around the breast that can last for 7-10 days and some general discomfort.
Most people take one week off of work for breast lift recovery, unless they perform manual labor or heavy lifting. Exercise and heavy lifting are limited until three weeks after the mastopexy.
It is important to follow Dr. Lee’s directions for post-surgical care closely in order to ensure the best possible breast lift results. Once the healing process is complete and all bruising and swelling has faded, patients can enjoy long-lasting mastopexy results that look very natural.
How long do results from a mastopexy last?
The results vary depending on the size of the breast, the quality of the skin, pregnancies, and weight fluctuations. If the quality of the skin is good, the breast size is moderate or small, and there are not significant weight fluctuations, the results can last as long as ten years.
Should I wait until I am finished having children?
If you have started having children or are just about to start having children, it is probably best to wait until you are finished. There are some variations in breast size with pregnancy and breastfeeding that may change the skin quality and shape of the breast.
If the shape of the breast is significantly altered after having children or weight loss, it is possible to perform the surgery prior to having children or in between having children. This may mean that a revision will need to be performed after having more children.
How long should I wait until I have finished breastfeeding?
The breast shape will change 6-8 months after breastfeeding and surgery should be postponed until this general time frame.
What are the risks of mastopexy?
The mastopexy procedure may affect nipple sensation, scarring, wound infection and bleeding. These risks are low and typically do not occur although a red scar may be present for a variable period of time.
How much does a breast lift cost?
For those who may be worrying about breast lift cost, we offer financing through CareCredit. The price of a mastopexy procedure is determined by a number of aspects of the procedure, including the time the surgical session takes, the techniques used, and the type of anesthesia used.
