Questions You Should Ask Before You Get Breast Lift Surgery
Breast lift surgery, also called mastopexy, is a procedure that raises and reshapes sagging breasts. It’s often done to correct the appearance of breasts that have lost volume after weight loss or pregnancy.
Breast lift surgery can be done alone or in combination with other procedures such as breast augmentation, breast reduction or breast implant removal.
The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia and takes about two hours. There are several types of breast lifts, but most involve removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue. After surgery you can expect to stay in the hospital for two or three days and take antibiotics for two weeks.
Some breast surgeries, such as a breast enlargement, are done to enhance the appearance of your breasts. Other surgeries, such as a breast lift and breast reduction, are done to correct issues with the size and shape of your breasts.
A breast lift can help restore perkiness to sagging breasts after pregnancy and nursing or weight loss. It is also used to correct asymmetry in women who have breasts that are different sizes.
A breast reduction is intended for women who have large breasts that cause them pain or embarrassment. The procedure involves removing excess skin and fat from the chest area and repositioning the nipple-areola complex higher on the chest wall to reduce its projection from below the inframammary fold (IMF).
During your consultation you’ll discuss your medical history and any symptoms you’re experiencing with your surgeon. You may be asked questions such as:
What do your breasts look like now? What would you like them to look like after surgery?
How old are you? Have you had any pregnancies? If so, how many pregnancies? How much time passed between each pregnancy? And did it cause your breasts to change size?
How do your breasts feel now? Are there any specific areas that hurt more than others when touched or pressed on?
Breast lift surgery is also called mastopexy. It’s a procedure that tightens and lifts the breasts by removing excess skin, reshaping the breast tissue, and repositioning the nipple and areola (nipple/areola complex). Lifting the breast tissue can give users a more youthful look by making them appear higher on the chest wall and closer to the collarbone — similar to how they looked when they were younger. The nipple/areola complex can be repositioned to make it look more natural after surgery.
Breast lift surgery is a procedure that can be done in a variety of ways. The most common technique is a breast lift with implants, or what’s often referred to as the “double-incision method.”
Breast lifts can also be done using smaller incisions and special surgical instruments. Regardless of the technique you choose, breast lifts will improve your shape and increase the size of your breasts by removing excess skin from above the nipple line and tightening the surrounding tissue.
If you’re considering breast lift surgery, there are many things to consider — including how much time it takes to recover and whether or not you should get a breast reduction at the same time (or vice versa). To help you make an informed decision about getting breast lift surgery, we asked experts from around the country what questions they wish their patients would ask before going under the knife.
How can I tell if I need a breast lift?
Many women think they need a breast lift when their breasts are sagging. This may be true for some women who have lost significant weight or had large babies (and therefore stretch marks). But there’s no easy way to tell whether your breasts are sagging or whether they just need support from an underwire bra or push-up bra — so don’t try to diagnose yourself! Only a consultation with your doctor or plastic surgeon will give you an accurate diagnosis.
Can I combine this surgery with other procedures?
Breast lift and augmentation are two of the most popular cosmetic breast surgeries. Many women choose to have both procedures done together to give them a more balanced look. The surgeon can also use different techniques to achieve an even better result. Some women may have their nipples lifted along with their breasts, while others may have their nipples reshaped during the same procedure. If you’re interested in combining breast lift and augmentation with other procedures like liposuction or tummy tuck, find out if your surgeon is experienced at performing multiple surgeries at once.
What are my options for anesthesia?
Your plastic surgeon will discuss various options with you before deciding on an anesthesia option for your surgery. Some surgeons prefer general anesthesia, while others may recommend local anesthesia (numbing) combined with sedation (a mild tranquilizer). If you’re having a breast lift procedure combined with another procedure (such as an augmentation), your surgeon may recommend general anesthesia because it provides more control over your body than local anesthesia does. However, if you have any concerns about being put under general anesthesia, ask your surgeon about alternatives such as regional blocks and intravenous sedation — both of which can help control pain during your procedure without putting you completely out like general anesthesia does.
How do I know I’m choosing the right surgeon for me?
Your surgeon should have experience performing your type of surgery or a similar one. If they don’t have much experience doing breast lifts, they may recommend another procedure that they think will work better for your body type. Ask whether they have performed breast lifts on people like you before (i.e., women who have had children). You may also want to ask if they have an assistant who specializes in post-operative care and follow-up visits after surgery; this person can help answer any questions or concerns after the procedure is over.
How long do the results last?
The results of a breast lift are permanent but not permanent. As you age and your skin loses elasticity, your breasts will begin to sag again — although they won’t sag as much as they would have if you hadn’t had surgery in the first place. For this reason, many women who have had breast lifts choose to have them redone every five years or so to maintain their youthful shape.
What happens during recovery?
Breast lift surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia and takes about two hours. Most women are able to go home the same day as their surgery. You’ll need someone to stay with you for at least 24 hours after your procedure because you’ll be taking prescription pain medication for several days after surgery.
Why do you want breast lift surgery?
There are many reasons to consider breast lift surgery. If your breasts have become saggy and misshapen after childbirth, breastfeeding or weight gain and loss, you may find that they’re not as appealing as they once were. Breast lift surgery can help restore them to their former glory by removing excess skin and tightening the underlying tissue. Breast lift surgery is also sometimes performed to improve the size and shape of your breasts after weight loss or other causes of sagging. If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, your breasts may have changed shape so much that they no longer match your body type or frame. A breast lift can help correct this problem by transferring fat from other areas of your body or performing fat grafts during surgery to give your breasts a more youthful appearance. Breast lift procedures are typically done under general anesthesia in an operating room in a hospital or outpatient surgical center. The procedure usually takes between one and three hours, depending on whether any other procedures are being performed at the same time (such as liposuction).
What are you hoping to achieve with this surgery?
Many people choose breast lift surgery because they’re unhappy with the way their breasts look after weight loss or pregnancy. If you’re looking for a more youthful shape and size, but don’t want implants, a breast lift might be right for you. However, if what you really want is bigger breasts, then a breast augmentation may be a better option.
What are your expectations of breast lift surgery?
Breast lifts can be performed using different techniques and incisions. Some surgeons use a minimally invasive technique with small incisions, while others prefer the traditional method of making large cuts in the chest wall and removing excess skin, fat and glandular tissue from the breasts. Your surgeon should tell you which technique he or she prefers and why.
Are you a mother and planning to have more children?
If so, it’s important that your breast lift doesn’t interfere with breastfeeding. For this reason, most plastic surgeons will recommend a periareolar incision (around the nipple) or a vertical incision in the armpit instead of around the areola (the dark circle around your nipple).
Do you plan to lose weight in the future?
You may be tempted to say no, but it’s important to think about this question before surgery. A breast lift can be performed with or without implants. If you’re considering getting a breast lift and augmentation, you should know that the results of your breast lift could change over time if you lose a significant amount of weight. If you’re planning to gain some weight back after losing it, then having a breast lift first and then deciding whether or not to get implants later on may be a better option for you. However, if you’re planning to maintain your weight loss permanently, then getting an implant now might be best for your body type and lifestyle choices going forward.
Are you breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed in the future?
Breastfeeding is a major consideration for many women who are considering breast lift surgery. Breastfeeding requires a lot of support from the breast tissue, so breast lift surgery is not recommended if you plan to breastfeed in the future. If you are planning on breastfeeding, ask yourself if your current breasts are large enough to provide enough milk for your child. If they’re not, then you may want to consider getting a breast augmentation with implants instead of a tummy tuck and lifting procedure. This way, you’ll have both lifted breasts and enhanced cleavage at the same time. If you’re thinking about having children but not sure yet whether or not you want them, then it’s best to wait until after the pregnancy before undergoing any type of cosmetic surgery due to the risks associated with anesthesia during pregnancy.
Am I the right age for breast lift surgery?
Breast lift surgery is not appropriate for all women. The best candidates are women who have healthy skin and underlying tissue, as well as good blood supply in the nipple area. Younger women tend to do better than older ones because they have less sagging and stretching of their skin due to pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, older women can still benefit from breast lift surgery if they have enough excess skin remaining on top of their breasts after they stop nursing their children or if they’ve been pregnant multiple times.
Are you at a stable size?
It’s good to know whether or not your breast size is likely to change in the future. If you’re still growing, it’s better to wait until all the changes have finished before having surgery, because the new shape of your breasts will be different from the old one. If you’re over age 35 and have had children, it’s also worth discussing with your surgeon whether or not you should expect any further change in breast size. Some women do gain weight during pregnancy and then lose it afterwards, but this isn’t always the case.
Do you know your surgical risk factors?
The most common risks associated with breast lift surgery are scarring, bleeding and infection. Other possible complications include loss of nipple sensation or feeling in the breast tissue, nerve damage and capsular contracture (when scar tissue causes the nipple to flatten out).
What do you use for breast cancer screenings?
I offer digital mammography — which is better than traditional film screening — and I have an ultrasound machine in my office. Chemotherapy may make your breasts too painful for a digital mammogram, so we’ll do an ultrasound if necessary. I also perform regular annual breast exams on all my patients.
When will the scars fade?
Before you schedule your breast lift surgery, it’s important to ask about scar healing times. The average healing time for breast lift scars is around 10 weeks, and most women see their scars fade significantly after that time. However, some women do not see significant fading until 12 months or longer after surgery. If you’re worried about how your scars will look when they’re healed, it’s a good idea to bring photos of yourself with a similar hairstyle and clothing when you meet with your surgeon. Check out the photos below and see how the breasts look after 10 weeks!
Do you plan to have children in the future?
Breast lift surgery can help correct sagging breasts. But if you’re planning on having children and want to breastfeed them, this is not the right procedure for you. Breastfeeding requires a certain amount of elasticity in your skin and tissues. If too much skin is removed during a breast lift, it can leave behind permanent scars or result in an unnatural look when breastfeeding after the procedure.
Can I get this surgery if I am breastfeeding?
It depends. Some surgeons may recommend waiting until you have weaned your baby before having breast lift surgery. Other surgeons may suggest waiting until after your child has stopped breastfeeding at least part-time to allow the scar tissue to heal before getting any kind of cosmetic procedure done on the breast area. Breastfeeding tends to increase blood flow to the breasts, which causes them to stretch out and sag more quickly than they would otherwise. The increased blood flow also increases your risk of infection during and after breast lifts due to increased friction between your nipples and clothing (especially bras). This is why most surgeons will wait until after you’ve stopped breastfeeding at least partially before performing any kind of procedure on your breasts (even if it’s not a cosmetic one).
What is the recovery process like?
Breast lift surgery involves making an incision in the crease under your breast and removing excess skin and tissue from underneath your nipple. Your plastic surgeon will then tighten and move your breast tissue higher on your chest wall. That’s why it’s also called “breast augmentation without implants.”. The recovery process varies depending on the size of your breasts and how many areas need to be revised. Most women have their surgeries done on an outpatient basis so they don’t have to spend time in the hospital following their procedures. However, some patients may need overnight observation after having a large reduction or reconstruction done on both sides at once.
How does a breast lift affect sensitivity?
One of the most common questions about breast lift surgery is how a breast lift affects sensitivity. Breast sensitivity is affected by the amount of skin removed during surgery. The more skin that is removed, the less sensitive the nipple will be. A breast lift can also affect nipple sensation by changing its size or position. If you are considering a breast lift, talk to your surgeon and ask how they plan to reduce nipple sensitivity during surgery. This is an important question because you may want to see if there are other ways to reduce nipple sensitivity before making a decision on whether or not to have surgery.
Is my weight stable?
Weight loss and gain can affect the results of breast lift surgery. If you lose weight before surgery, the skin may not be able to support the new breast shape comfortably. If you gain weight after surgery, the skin will stretch out and sag again over time. It may be possible for your doctor to adjust the size of your implants or lift incisions if you lose or gain weight significantly afterward. However, it’s best to maintain a healthy body weight throughout life and not undergo major changes in how much you weigh or how tall you are after undergoing breast lift surgery.
Can breast lift surgery improve my sex life?
Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, is designed to raise sagging breasts that have lost their perkiness over time. It’s not intended to enhance the size or shape of breasts, but if you’re concerned about that, there are other procedures that can help. Breast lift surgery can help reduce large sagging breasts by removing excess skin and tightening tissue around the nipple area — but it won’t necessarily increase cup size or make nipples appear larger in size. The results from this procedure vary from patient to patient because everyone has different skin elasticity, tissue thickness and fat distribution in their breasts.
Am I Generally Healthy Enough for This Procedure?
You should have a good overall health before undergoing breast lift surgery. You must be in good general health with no current medical conditions that would make the procedure too risky. A thorough medical history and physical examination will help your surgeon decide if you are a good candidate for a breast lift. If you have any medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, your surgeon will take these into account when determining if you are eligible for breast lift surgery.
What kind of scarring can I expect?
The cosmetic surgery scar will be hidden by the natural crease in your breast. It is important to note that there is no such thing as a perfect scar. The goal of breast lift surgery is not to eliminate all scars but rather to create an aesthetically pleasing scar that will fade over time. The incision site will vary depending on whether you have an anchor incision or a lollipop incision. An anchor incision is made at the bottom of each breast and extends down into the crease under your breast. A lollipop incision is made just below the areola and extends vertically down into your breast fold.
Will it completely improve my breast sagging problem?
Breast lift surgery is designed to correct sagging and make your breasts firmer and perkier. However, the procedure won’t completely eliminate all signs of aging in your breasts. If you were born with very small or asymmetrical breasts, for example, breast lift surgery will help perk them up but won’t solve these issues completely.
How long will it be before I see the final results?
Some surgeons can give you an approximate time frame for how long it takes to see the final results of a breast lift. Others may not be able to give you an exact date but can give you an idea of what to expect. In general, most women see their final results after about three months. However, some women may take longer to heal or have more swelling than others and as such may not see the complete results until six months or even a year after surgery.
When can I get back to my normal activities?
The length of time it takes for you to recover from breast lift surgery will depend on the procedure that’s performed and your overall health. It can take up to six weeks to fully heal. For example, if you have a breast lift with a tummy tuck or liposuction, it may take three months before you feel completely recovered. During this time, it’s important to avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting. You should also avoid exposure to sunlight until your scars are completely healed. If you only had a breast lift, recovery should be much quicker — possibly only one week or two weeks at most. In fact, some women are able to go back to work within two or three days after their surgery because they don’t require any downtime after the procedure.
Should I stop taking any medications prior to surgery?
Many people want to know whether they should stop taking any medications prior to surgery. In most cases, it is okay to continue taking your medications until you see the surgeon. However, there are some instances where it might be better to stop taking your medications prior to surgery. If you are taking blood thinners (anticoagulants) such as Coumadin (warfarin), Plavix (clopidogrel), Pradaxa (dabigatran), or Xarelto (rivaroxaban). If you take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief, such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen). If you are taking antibiotics for an infection or as a preventive measure against an infection. If you have diabetes and take insulin shots or oral medications like Glucophage, Avandamet, or Glucovance.
When will I be able to return to work?
It’s important to know how long you’ll need to take off from work after breast lift surgery. This is because there are several factors that affect your ability to return to work following this type of procedure. For example, if you have a desk job, it may be easier for you to return sooner than someone who has an active job where they’re constantly moving around. If you have any questions about when or if it’s safe for you to return to work after breast lifting surgery, speak with your doctor or refer back to this post when they give their recommendations.
When can I exercise again?
This is a question that many women ask me when they return home from their breast lift surgery. The answer to this question depends on the type of procedure that was performed, and where you live. In general, if you have had a subpectoral (under-muscle) breast lift, you should be able to start exercising again after about one week. However, if you have had a peri-areolar (around the nipple) breast lift, it will take longer for your incisions to heal and for pain to subside. In this case, it may take three to four weeks before you feel well enough to resume activity. It’s important that you don’t overexert yourself right away; otherwise, your stitches could come loose or your incisions could get torn open again. If you’re still experiencing pain after two weeks post-surgery, contact your doctor immediately!
How can I prepare for my consultation?
Your consultation will likely take place in an office setting or surgical center. Your surgeon will want to make sure that you are healthy enough for the procedure — so make sure you schedule your consultation well in advance of your surgery date.
Is breast lift surgery reversible?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes. Breast surgery can be reversed if you decide that you don’t like the results. However, it’s important to understand that breast lift surgery doesn’t always produce the same results as when it’s performed on someone who isn’t breastfeeding or hasn’t had children. Breast lift surgery is also known as mastopexy and involves removing excess skin and fat tissue from the breasts while tightening some of the connective tissue that supports them. The goal of this type of procedure is to create firmer, perkier breasts without making them look unnatural or disproportionate. In order to achieve this result, surgeons will make an incision around each nipple and lift the tissue underneath using sutures (stitches). This will help create a more youthful shape for your breasts by lifting them up toward your shoulders and improving their overall symmetry. Is breast lift surgery reversible? Yes! Breast lift surgery is considered one of the most effective ways to improve how your breasts look after childbirth, weight loss or other changes in body shape and size over time because it can help restore lost volume without requiring implants or other artificial materials.
What can I do to speed up recovery after breast lift surgery?
Breast lift surgery is often performed under local anesthesia and doesn’t require an overnight stay in the hospital. However, you should still plan on having someone who can drive you home from your appointment. The amount of time it takes for you to recover depends on the type of breast lift procedure that was performed and whether it was combined with another procedure such as a tummy tuck or liposuction. You should expect some bruising, swelling, tenderness and possibly some numbness in your nipples following surgery but these symptoms should improve within a few weeks or months.
What are the benefits of getting a lift from you specifically?
The best way to answer this question is to ask yourself what you want. Do you want a natural look? Are you looking for a more youthful appearance? Do you want to increase the size of your breasts? Is it important that the procedure be performed by an experienced surgeon? Breast augmentation procedures are often done under general anesthesia and can be done in an outpatient setting. The procedure takes about two hours and is completed in one stage. This means that there is no need for multiple surgical visits or overnight hospital stays. You can return home after your surgery and resume normal activities within one week, while making a full recovery within two to three weeks.
