Wishing for higher, firmer breasts?
- Have your breasts lost volume and begun to droop
after pregnancy?
- Have you notice your breasts sagging since you've
lost weight?
- Are time and gravity taking a toll on your breasts?
If you would like your breasts to have an uplifted, more youthful look, a breast lift could be a good option for you.
Are you a candidate for a breast lift?
A breast lift might be right for you if:
- You have pendulous breasts, but are satisfied with their size
- Your breasts lack substance or firmness
- You would like your breasts to be higher on your chest
- Your nipples and areolas point downward, especially if they are positioned below the breast crease
What is a breast lift?
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is an outpatient plastic surgery procedure to correct sagging of the breasts, referred to medically as ptosis (pronounced TOE sis).
How is a breast lift performed?
In breast lift surgery, the breasts are raised, the nipples are repositioned and the areola, or the darker skin around the nipple, may be reduced in size. After a breast lift, the breasts have a more naturally rounded shape, and a more youthful height and projection.
Where are breast lift incisions placed?
Dr. Rappaport may use one of several surgical techniques, depending on the size of the breasts and the degree of ptosis. He will recommend one of the following techniques after he evaluates you in your personal consultation.
- A crescent incision is appropriate if you have small breasts with very slight drooping. This technique involves a semicircular incision around the upper edge of the areola and removal of a small amount of excess skin above the nipple.
- The Wise pattern, sometimes referred to as the anchor or the inverted T, involves three incisions. This popular breast lift technique allows Dr. Rappaport to remove the greatest amount of excess skin from below the nipple and reduce sagging to the highest degree.
In the Wise pattern, one incision is made around the areola. Another incision runs vertically from the bottom edge of the areola to the crease underneath the breast. The third is a horizontal incision beneath the breast that follows the natural curve of the breast crease.
After Dr. Rappaport removes the excess breast skin and shapes the remaining breast tissue, he shifts the nipple and areola to a higher position. He may also reduce the size of the areola, which is often stretched out in sagging breasts.
Because the nipples and areola remain attached to the underlying mounds of tissue, the Wise technique usually allows for the preservation of sensation in the breasts and the ability to breastfeed.
- The circum-vertical technique, also known as a lollipop incision, works best for breasts with mild to moderate droop, where the nipple is nearly even with the breast crease.
There are two incisions—one encircling the areola and the second extending vertically from the nipple to the crease beneath the breasts. Dr. Rappaport removes the excess skin from below the nipple and repositions the nipple/areola complex at a higher level.
Then he brings together the remaining skin and sutures it.
- The periareolar technique, also known as the concentric, doughnut, drawstring, purse string or Benelli technique, involves two round or oval incisions around the areola, one slightly larger than the other.
The doughnut-shaped area of skin between the two incisions is removed. Then the nipple/areola complex is raised and the remaining skin together around the areola is pulled together. To finish, the skin is stitched together, pulling it closed as if tightening a drawstring.
Dr. Rappaport does not find the periareolar technique particularly useful, as it tends to have a flattening effect on larger breasts. There also may be a tendency of the scar
to spread.
Are there other variations on breast lift surgery?
Yes. Breast lift surgery may be performed alone or in combination with other procedures, as follows:
- Breast lift alone—This is appropriate for women who are experiencing breast drooping due to pregnancy, weight loss or the long-term effects of gravity, but still have sufficient breast volume.
- Breast lift with implants—This combined procedure, known as augmentation mastopexy, works well for women whose breasts are sagging and have lost volume—for example, after pregnancy.
- Breast lift with implant removal—Some women who have had breast implants for a long time choose to have their implants removed and have a breast lift for an uplifted, youthful look.
What is involved in recuperation from a breast lift?
You will experience mild discomfort for the first few days after surgery. There may be some swelling and bruising for the first couple of weeks and you will be wearing a sports bra for support. Your internal stitches will dissolve.
If you have external stitches, they will be removed in seven to 10 days. Most patients go back to work within a week. You can expect your scars to fade by six to 12 months after surgery.
What results can you expect from a breast lift?
After breast lift surgery, your breasts will feel firmer and look more youthful and uplifted. Your nipples and areolas will be higher on your chest and your areolas will be in better proportion to your breasts.
Although breast lift surgery scars are permanent, they will fade with time. Breast lift scars can easily be hidden under clothing, including most low-cut tops and swimsuits.
Dr. Rappaport answers questions
about breast lifts
Will I still wear the same bra size after a breast lift?
“In most cases, yes. A breast lift reduces the skin envelope of the breast, but does not remove breast tissue. Thus, most women wear the same bra size before and after breast lift surgery.”
How do I know if I should have a breast lift, implants
or both?
“The litmus test is:
- If you are happy with the appearance of your breasts in clothing, but dissatisfied with the shape of your breasts, you are probably a candidate for a breast lift.
- If you are dissatisfied with the size of your breasts, you may want to consider breast implants.
- If you are dissatisfied with both the size and shape of your breasts, you could benefit from a combined breast lift and augmentation, or augmentation mastopexy.”
Aren't implants alone enough to correct breast sagging?
“Implants alone can improve the appearance of breast sagging in women with a very mild degree of ptosis. Sometimes, however, women will go with a larger implant to try to overcome the ptosis. But then the breast becomes, in my opinion, too large for the patient's torso.
“My approach is to begin by asking, ‘What is the best breast size for the patient?’ and then asking, ‘How do we deal with the breast tissue to have it in an improved position?’”
What do you think distinguishes your approach
to breast lifts?
“Like everything else we do, we try to see what will be the best answer to the patient's problem, and then suggest a procedure for the problem—as opposed to trying to find a problem for the procedure.”
Can exercise lift my breasts?
“Exercise, diet and creams will not change the lift in your breasts. A breast cannot contract to its original size without surgical intervention.”
I'm still thinking about having more kids. Should I wait to have a breast lift?
“Yes. I would advise you to wait to have a breast lift until you have completed your family. Pregnancy can change the shape of the breasts, and may tend to undo some of the results of breast lift surgery.”
Will a breast lift affect my ability to breastfeed?
“Probably not. This is more of an issue with breast reduction surgery, but I've had plenty of breast reduction patients who have been able to breastfeed.”
Why do some women choose to have their implants removed during a breast lift?
“Sometimes, women who have had breast implants for many years find that their body image has changed. If a woman has gained a few pounds as she has matured, she may feel she looks more matronly with larger breasts.
“Removing the implants and performing a breast lift has the same effect as a breast reduction—it gives the woman a more uplifted, youthful look.”
