Breast Lift
Breast Lift - Mastopexy
Breast lift, also known as mastopexy, is a surgical procedure
that raises and shapes sagging breasts. The procedure can
also reduce the size
of the darker area around your nipples, the areola, which
may have become enlarged due to pregnancy or breast feeding.
The doctors and staff at The
Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery have helped
countless women improve the look of breasts that are sagging
due to:
· Pregnancy
· Breast feeding
· A genetic predisposition for sagging breasts
· Aging
Are You A Good Candidate for Breast Lift - Mastopexy?
Breasts of any size may be lifted with mastopexy; however, better results are generally achieved with smaller breasts. Also, additional procedures such as breast augmentation or breast reduction may be needed to ensure that larger breasts do not re-sag after mastopexy. It is also worth noting that if you plan to get pregnant, it is usually better to wait until after your pregnancy to undergo a breast lift because any additional stretching caused by the pregnancy or breastfeeding can be corrected.
If you are in good general health and have realistic expectations regarding the results of your breast lift surgery, you are an ideal candidate for the procedure.
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Meeting With The Doctor
Prior to your surgery, you will have an initial evaluation
and consultation with the staff and doctors at The Metropolitan
Institute for Plastic Surgery. The purpose of this initial
meeting is to make sure you are a good candidate for mastopexy
and to ensure that you understand and are comfortable with
the procedure and understand how your breasts will look
after the surgery.
The staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic
Surgery will:
· Describe in detail how your breast lift will be performed
· Discuss other procedures such as breast augmentation or
breast reduction that you may want to consider to enhance
your breasts
· Clearly discuss the potential risks of the procedure
· Outline in detail how the surgery is performed and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure
· Provide detailed cost, payment, and insurance (if applicable)
information
· Answer all your questions
You will be asked to provide:
· Details about your medical history
· A list of all medications you currently take including over the counter medications such as aspirin, vitamins, and herbal supplements
· Information regarding your tobacco and alcohol consumption.
In addition, you will need to have a mammogram before your surgery to ensure that your breasts are healthy. The staff at the Institute will refer you to a Mammography center if needed.
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How The Procedure Is Performed
You will have your breast lift performed at the hospital or at the Center for Ambulatory Surgery, Inc. (CASI), where the doctors and staff are dedicated to ensuring your complete comfort during and after the procedure. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes two to four hours to complete. You will go home a few hours after your surgery is completed.
The doctor will make a small incision in each breast, usually
around the nipple and areola and in the crease under your
breast. Your individual anatomy determines the best place
to make the incision; however, the doctor makes every effort
to place the incision in a position that minimizes any resulting
scars. Multiple options for incision placement and final
scar placement exist; your anatomy may make certain incision
patterns more applicable. The doctors at The Metropolitan
Institute for Plastic Surgery will discuss these options
with you during your initial consultation.
Once the incision is made, the doctor will remove excess
skin, reshape your breast, and reposition your nipple and
areola. If you are also having breast augmentation, an implant
will be inserted in a pocket of skin either under your breast
or under your chest wall. Stitches are used to close the
incision and generally extend in a vertical line down from
the nipple and along the crease of the breast.
After your surgery is completed, your breasts will be bandaged
with gauze and a special surgical bra will be placed over
your breasts to hold them in the best position for healing.
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What To Expect After Your Surgery
| Activity | When |
|---|
| Shower or Bath | One to Two Days After Surgery |
| Back to Work | Seven to Ten Days After Surgery |
| Driving | Four to Six Days After Surgery |
| Physical Contact With Breasts | Three to Four Weeks After Surgery |
| Strenuous Activity | Four to Five Weeks After Surgery |
| Fading of Scars |
Several Months to One Year |
Immediately After Your Surgery
In most cases, you will be ready to go home shortly after
your breast lift procedure. You may be a bit sleepy after
the anesthesia so it is important to have someone drive
you home after your surgery. You may also want to have someone
stay with you for the first few days after the surgery.
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The First 24 to 48 Hours After Your Surgery
During the first 24 to 48 hours after your procedure, you
may feel tired from the anesthesia and sore from the surgery.
The doctor will prescribe pain medication to alleviate most
of the discomfort. Your discomfort level will improve rapidly
after the first two days.
You may experience some minor bleeding around the incision
line in your nipple area and under your breasts; this is
perfectly normal. If you experience more than a slow staining
of your gauze dressings, applying firm pressure to the area
for 30 minutes will usually stop the bleeding. Call the
staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery
if the bleeding does not lessen or if the bleeding is heavy,
which is very rare.
The First Two Weeks After Surgery
You will notice a marked improvement in your discomfort level during the first few weeks after your surgery. Other things to be aware:
· The gauze dressings placed over your breasts will be removed a few days after your surgery. Once they are removed, you can take a shower or bath. After the dressings are removed, steri-strips will be placed over your incisions. In the coming days, if the steri-strips come loose, you can simply take them off.
· Your first post-operative visit usually takes place two to three days after surgery. Subsequent visits are scheduled every one to two weeks for the first six weeks and then every one to two months for the next six months.
· You may have tingling, burning, or shooting pains in your
breasts as your sensory nerves heal after surgery. These
sensations are completely normal and will go away in time.
Talk with the doctor about pain medication if the discomfort
bothers you.
· Any bruising you experience will usually disappear in about two weeks.
· You can expect some numbness in your nipples and breast skin. This numbness is caused by the swelling of your breasts after surgery. The numbness usually disappears within six weeks of surgery.
· Some patients experience a burning sensation in their nipples, which generally disappears within 7 to 14 days after surgery.
· Your stitches will be removed within 10 to 20 days after surgery.
You
should sleep on your back for the first week after surgery
to help keep your breasts in the best position possible
during initial healing. Placing pillows on either side of
your body often helps ensure that you do not roll onto your
side while sleeping.
During the first three weeks after surgery, you should
also wear the special surgical bra placed over your breasts
after surgery for the first few days and then wear the softer
support bra provided by The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic
Surgery at all times. The bra should be worn even while
sleeping to help hold your breasts in the correct position.
You may take the bra off to shower or bathe, but must put
it back on immediately after drying off. If the bra is too
tight, call the staff at The Metropolitan Institute for
Plastic Surgery immediately - bras that are too tight can
cause skin problems.
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Resuming Your Normal Routine
Everyone heals at different rates and you are the best judge
of when you are ready for certain activities, but the following
are general guidelines:
· You can most likely return to work or school within seven to ten days of your surgery, depending on how you feel, unless your work requires strenuous physical activity.
· You can resume driving in four to six days as long as you experience no pain when you turn the steering wheel.
· You should avoid sex for at least the first week after your surgery.
· Two weeks after surgery, you can begin to sleep without the special elastic bra you've been wearing. However, you should continue to wear this bra during the day for four to six weeks after your surgery.
· Do not go without a bra for at least six weeks after your
surgery. When you begin to wear your own bras again, you
will probably be more comfortable wearing a bra without
underwire support until your incisions are completely healed.
· Strenuous exercise can begin
about four to five weeks after your surgery, but remember
that everyone heals at different rates so take these activities
slowly until you feel ready. Our patients are encouraged
to plan an exercise program and discuss it with the staff
prior to resuming exercise.
· The scars on your breasts should be protected from sunlight
for at least a year after surgery.
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Things To Be Aware Of After Your Surgery
· Your breasts may heal at different rates. One breast may
swell, one may feel less comfortable, or the shapes of your
breasts may look different. This is normal; however, when
your body is fully recovered, your breasts will look very
similar and natural.
· The skin of your breasts may appear shiny due to swelling. Within a few weeks, the swelling will disappear and the skin will return to a normal appearance.
What Are The Possible Side Effects or Risks?
Like all surgical procedures, there are risks associated
with breast lift surgery. During your pre-surgery consultation
with your doctor, your individual risks will be assessed
and discussed and it will be determined if you are a good
candidate for mastopexy. As with any surgery, you can help
reduce the risks associated with your breast lift surgery
by closely following the instructions provided to you by
the staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery.
And, the doctors and staff at the Institute will be with
you every step of the way to ensure a safe and pleasing
outcome.
Some possible side effects include:
· Infection
· Changes in sensation
· Wrinkling
· Scarring
· Asymmetry
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How Long Will the Results of Your Breast Lift Surgery
Last? Breast lift surgery will elevate your
breasts, giving you a more youthful contour. It will also
reposition your nipple and areola to a more desired size
and height. However, a breast lift will not keep your breasts
lifted indefinitely. The effects of aging, gravity, pregnancy,
and weight changes will eventually cause your breasts to
sag. The amount of "new" sagging is unpredictable and will
vary among women. If you have breast augmentation along
with your mastopexy, you may find that the results of your
breast lift last longer.
Questions You May Have
· Are there other procedures that could be done along with breast lift surgery to enhance the size and shape of my breasts?
A breast augmentation or breast
reduction may enhance the results of your breast lift.
These options will be discussed with you in detail when
you meet with the doctor before your surgery.
· Will my insurance coverage pay for my breast lift?
Since a breast lift is considered a cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by insurance. You are responsible for the full payment for your procedure. Cost and payment options will be discussed fully with you at your initial consultation.
· Are there alternatives to breast lift surgery?
Depending on the amount of ptosis or sag, breast
augmentation alone may provide an acceptable cosmetic alternative.
However, if the nipple-areola complex is too low and the
skin of poor quality, a breast lift is the only way to achieve
a more youthful breast shape.
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