It's essential to keep in mind that, unlike breast augmentation, a breast lift won't increase the size of your breasts. In fact, after your operation, you may notice that your breasts appear smaller than they had before surgery due to the removal of excess skin.
A breast lift improves shape and projection, re-sculpting breasts to create a perkier, younger-looking form. While a breast lift does not increase breast volume (that's what implants do), it does make them look fuller by removing excess skin and repositioning the inner tissue to make your breasts rounder and firmer.
Patients typically are off work for three to seven days. There are no restrictions after three weeks postoperatively. It usually takes 6 to 12 weeks for the breasts to achieve their final shape.
Typically, a breast lift (medically referred to as mastopexy) reduces bra size by one cup. However, this is usually not the result of volume loss. When excess skin and sagging breast tissue are removed or repositioned, cup sizes are naturally reduced. For many women, this is a good thing.
The study queried these women five years after their surgeries, asking about their bra cup size before versus after breast lift surgery. Weight changes and other relevant factors were taken into consideration. The women reported an average decrease of approximately one cup size, for instance going from a D to a C.
Cons of a Breast Lift:
There may be temporary or permanent loss of sensation in the nipples or breasts. Scarring from a breast lift is more significant than other breast surgeries because the procedure requires the removal of excess skin tissue and repositioning.
After the first breast lift, changes in the breast can occur anywhere from six months to one year. While the changes are not as significant as the original drooping and sagging of the breasts, in some cases patients feel a revision surgery is necessary.
They might stretch slightly because of the larger volume of the breasts, but it is rare for them to get substantially bigger. Swelling in the weeks immediately following surgery can cause the nipples to look puffier than normal. This should dissipate over time.
Firmness results from a contracture of the scar tissue that is present around every breast implant. As this scar tissue squeezes down on the implant it becomes firm to touch, is sometimes painful, and usually changes the implant shape from a soft pillow to a hard ball.
It will be necessary to wear a compression bra for six weeks after your breast lift procedure. A degree of swelling is inevitable after any major surgery, but your compression bra will keep sustained pressure on your incision site, working to keep this swelling to a minimum.
Some patients find that their breast lift results last for well over 15 years while others may seek minor cosmetic alterations sooner. On average, breast lift results last for 10 to 15 years.
While it's unlikely that you'll experience a loss of feeling or sensitivity in your nipple after breast lift surgery, it can still happen in rare cases. As mentioned, any numbness is usually temporary and will return over time.
Most women are very happy to undergo breast lift surgery, with or without an implant.
Absolutely – a breast lift without implants can be an excellent option for patients who desire to lift their nipple position and/or breast tissue. Also referred to as mastopexy, this popular procedure is designed to eliminate the extra skin that we frequently see after breast-feeding, pregnancy and weight loss.
The ideal fit for a post-surgery bra should be snug but not tight. The best indicator that your bra fits correctly is that it's comfortable, and although you might feel some pressure, this isn't excessive or painful. Signs that your bra is too tight include: the straps or edges leaving marks on your skin.
After breast lift surgery, your breasts will look generally more youthful, attractive and perky. Over time, the appearance of your breasts change as gravity, pregnancy, weight fluctuations and aging take place. The result is a sagging of the breast skin that can make your breasts look elongated, droopy and deflated.
A breast lift, or breast mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that raises and reshapes the breasts. The procedure will make breasts firmer and shapelier if they have sagged. Breasts lifts will not change the size of the breast.
Don't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk (including your children), as you could strain your healing breasts and cause swelling. Along the same lines, don't push anything heavy, like a stroller or a large grocery cart. Don't smoke after surgery, as it can interfere with your body's ability to heal.
The lift can be performed at the same time. Second breast lifts can certainly be done but its imperative you release your records to whomever you choose to see as your surgeon will need to know how your blood supply to your nipple was designed.
Most patients report experiencing mild to moderate pain following their breast lift procedure. Pain is typically greatest in the first 2-3 days following the procedure and subsides thereafter. Your surgeon can prescribe pain medication to relieve any discomfort experienced by the patient.
It should not be too tight. Wearing too-tight compression garments cause more harm than good. Wearing too tight compressive bras can jeopardize blood supply to your breasts, thus interfering with your breast recovery process following the surgery.
It is essential for easy and quicker recovery after breast lift and augmentation for the breasts not to move and promote good healing. Most patients can go braless after about six weeks, but it should be on special occasions and not daily to maintain optimal results.
Massage: Gently massaging the breasts while they heal from breast augmentation surgery may help to prevent capsular contracture by encouraging the breast tissue to remain pliable.
When Should You Begin Massaging Your Breasts? You should begin massaging your breasts one week after your surgery to promote healthy and beautiful results. You do, however, want to wait until after your incisions have healed to be sure that you do not open the incisions, as this can lead to infection.