Enhancing your appearance with a breast lift

A woman’s breasts often change over time, losing their youthful shape and firmness.

These changes and loss of skin elasticity can result from:

Also known as mastopexy, a breast lift raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin
and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour.

Sometimes the areola becomes enlarged over time, and a breast lift will reduce this
as well. A breast lift can rejuvenate your figure with a breast profile that is youthful
and uplifted.

What it won’t do

Breast lift surgery does not significantly change the size of your breasts or round out the
upper part of your breast. If you want your breasts to look fuller or smaller, you might
want to consider either breast augmentation or breast reduction surgery.

Is it right for me?

Breast lift surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself,
not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.

A breast lift is a good option for you if:

What to expect during your consultation

The success and safety of your breast lift procedure depends very much on your
complete candidness during your consultation. You’ll be asked a number of questions
about your health, desires and lifestyle.

Be prepared to discuss:

• Why you want the surgery, your expectations and desired outcome
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
• Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco,
  and drugs
• Previous surgeries
• Family history of breast cancer and results of any mammograms or previous
  biopsies

Your surgeon may also:

• Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or
  risk factors
• Examine your breasts, and may take detailed measurements of their size and
  shape, skin quality, placement of your nipples and areolas
• Take photographs for your medical record
• Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
• Discuss likely outcomes of breast lift surgery and any risks or potential complications
• Discuss the use of anesthesia during your breast lift

Preparing for surgery

Prior to surgery, you may be asked to:

• Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
• Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
• Get a baseline mammogram before surgery and another one after surgery to
  help detect any future changes in your breast tissue
• Stop smoking well in advance of surgery
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they
  can increase bleeding

Special instructions you receive will cover:

• What to do on the day of surgery
• Post-operative care and follow-up

Your plastic surgeon will also discuss where your procedure will be performed.
Breast lift surgery may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical center,
outpatient / ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital.

You’ll need help

If your breast lift is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone
to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night
following surgery.

Procedural Steps:

What happens during breast lift surgery?

Your breast lift surgery can be achieved through a variety of incision patterns and
techniques.

The appropriate technique for you will be determined based on:

• Breast size and shape
• The size and position of your areolas
• The degree of breast sagging
• Skin quality and elasticity as well as the amount of extra skin

Step 1 - Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The
choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will
recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 - The incision

There are three common incision patterns:

• Around the areola

• Around the areola and vertically down from the areola to the breast crease

• Around the areola, vertically down from the breast crease and horizontally
  along the breast crease

Step 3 - Reshaping your breasts

After your doctor makes the incisions:

• The underlying breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to improve breast contour
  and firmness.
• The nipple and areola are repositioned to a natural, more youthful height.
• If necessary, enlarged areolas are reduced by excising skin at the perimeter.
• Excess breast skin is removed to compensate for a loss of elasticity.

Step 4 - Closing the incisions

After your breasts are reshaped and excess skin is removed, the remaining skin
is tightened as the incisions are closed.

Some incision lines resulting from breast lift are concealed in the natural breast
contours; however, others are visible on the breast surface. Incision lines are
permanent, but in most cases will fade and significantly improve over time.

Sutures are layered deep within the breast tissue to create and support the newly
shaped breasts. Sutures, skin adhesives and/or surgical tape may be used to close
the skin.

Step 5 - See the results

The results of your breast lift surgery are immediately visible. Over time, post-surgical
swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade.

Satisfaction with your new image should continue to grow as you recover and realize
the fulfillment of your goal for breasts which have been restored to a more youthful
and uplifted position.

Important facts about the safety and risks of breast lift surgery

The decision to have breast lift surgery is extremely personal and you’ll have to
decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential
complications are acceptable.

Your plastic surgeon and/or staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the
procedure you will undergo and any risks or potential complications.

The risks include:

• Unfavorable scarring
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Infection
• Poor healing of incisions
• Changes in nipple or breast sensation, which may be temporary or permanent
• Anesthesia risks
• Breast contour and shape irregularities
• Skin discoloration, permanent pigmentation changes, swelling and bruising
• Damage to deeper structures – such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and
  lungs – can occur and may be temporary or permanent
• Allergies to tape, suture materials and glues, blood products, topical preparations
  or injected agents
• Breast asymmetry
• Fatty tissue deep in the skin could die (fat necrosis)
• Fluid accumulation
• Excessive firmness of the breast
• Potential partial or total loss of nipple and areola
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Blood clots
• Pain, which may persist
• Possibility of revisional surgery

You should know that:

• Breast lift surgery can interfere with diagnostic procedures
• Breast and nipple piercing can cause an infection
• Breast lift surgery does not normally interfere with pregnancy, but if you
  are planning to have a baby, your breast skin may stretch and offset the
  results of mastopexy and you may have more difficulty breastfeeding after
  this operation

Where will my surgery be performed?

A breast lift procedure may be performed in your plastic surgeon’s accredited
office-based surgical facility, an ambulatory surgical facility or a hospital. Your
plastic surgeon and the assisting staff will fully attend to your comfort and safety.

When you go home

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek
medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you
may require hospitalization and additional treatment.

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good
results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be
possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another
surgery may be necessary.

Be careful

Following your physician’s instructions is key to the success of your surgery. It is
important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion,
or motion during the time of healing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions
on how to care for yourself.

Be sure to ask questions: It’s very important to ask your plastic surgeon questions
about your breast lift procedure. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether it’s
excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t
be shy about discussing these feelings with your plastic surgeon.

My recovery

After your breast lift procedure is completed, dressings or bandages will be applied
to the incisions. You’ll need to wear an elastic bandage or support bra to minimize
swelling and support your breasts as they heal.

A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood
or fluid that may collect.

You will be given specific instructions that may include: How to care for your breasts
following surgery, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the
risk of infection, and when to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect
during your individual recovery period.

• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
• Are stitches removed? When?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?

The results will be long-lasting

The final results of your breast lift will appear over the next few months as breast
shape and position continue to settle. Incision lines are permanent, but will continue
to fade over time.

The results of your breast lift surgery will be long-lasting. Over time, your breasts
can continue to change due to aging and gravity. But, you’ll be able to retain your
new look longer if you:

• Maintain your weight
• Keep a healthy lifestyle

Special note: While a breast lift does not usually affect breast function, if you are
planning to become pregnant, discuss this with your plastic surgeon. Changes that
occur in the breasts during pregnancy can minimize or reverse the improvement
a breast lift provides. Likewise, plans for significant weight loss should also be discussed.

How much will breast lift surgery cost?

Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. Prices for breast lift procedures
can vary widely. A surgeon’s cost for breast lift may vary based on his or her experience
as well as geographic location.

Many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans, so be sure to ask.

Cost may include:

• Surgeon’s fee
• Hospital or surgical facility costs
• Anesthesia fees
• Prescriptions for medication
• Post-surgery garments, and
• Medical tests

Most health insurance plans will not cover breast lift surgery, related complications
or another surgery to revise the appearance of your breasts. You must carefully review
your health insurance policy.

Your satisfaction involves more than a fee

When choosing a plastic surgeon for breast lift surgery, remember that the surgeon’s
experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of
the surgery.

Words to know

• Areola: Pigmented skin surrounding the nipple.
• Breast augmentation: Also known as augmentation mammaplasty, breast enlargement
  by surgery.
• Breast lift: Also known as mastopexy; surgery to lift the breasts.
• Breast reduction: Also known as reduction mammaplasty, reduction of breast size
  by surgery.
• Excision: To remove the skin.
• General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and
  alter consciousness.
• Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
• Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.
• Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation
  to relieve pain.
• Mammogram: An x-ray image of the breast.
• Mastopexy: Surgery to lift the breasts.
• Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.

Questions to ask my plastic surgeon

Use this checklist as a guide during your consultation

• Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
• Are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?
• Were you trained specifically in the field of plastic surgery?
• How many years of plastic surgery training have you had?
• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure?
• If so, at which hospitals?
• Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized
  accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified?
• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• Where and how will you perform my procedure?
• What surgical technique is recommended for me?
• How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need
  during my recovery?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
• How are complications handled?
• How will my ability to breastfeed be affected?
• How can I expect my lifted breasts to look over time?
  • After pregnancy? After breastfeeding?
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my lifted
  breasts?
• Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure and what r
  esults are reasonable for me?