Patients considering breast enhancement often turn to augmentation to achieve their aesthetic goals. However, implants are not the only way to improve those curves. For some women, a breast lift, also known as mastopexy, may offer more desirable results when performed with augmentation or alone. Dr. Mashhadian at Rodeo Surgical Art has a few benefits of a breast lift to consider when you are thinking about a breast enhancement procedure.
WHAT IS A BREAST LIFT?
Breasts can change over time, often due to breastfeeding or the simple aging process. A breast lift is a surgical procedure that restores the position of drooping breasts to a higher position on the chest. This surgery can give you a more youthful body contour and possibly add subtle fullness to sagging breasts.
During a breast lift, Dr. Mashhadian removes excess skin and tissue from the breasts before placing them in their new position. In many cases, the nipples and areolas are also relocated to a more natural position on the breast. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes 3-5 hours to complete. Patients typically go home the same day as their procedure.
BEST CANDIDATES
The best candidates for a breast lift are women that have experienced moderate to severe ptosis (sagging) in the breast tissue. You can determine whether you have sufficient ptosis to warrant a breast lift by checking the position of the nipple first. If the nipple and areola are below the breast crease, you are likely a good candidate for a lift procedure.
To ensure the safest and most successful procedure, you should be in good general health and a nonsmoker. Smokers will be required to stop smoking a number of weeks prior to and after the procedure to prevent poor wound healing or nicotine-related complications. It is also important to have a healthy self-image and realistic expectations of what the procedure can do for you.
BREAST LIFT BENEFITS
There are a variety of potential benefits you might gain from breast lift surgery:
- More youthful positioning of the breast
- Improved projection to the breasts
- Repositioning of the nipple and areola
- Enhanced cleavage
- Better fit to clothing
- Increased self-confidence
LIFT OR AUGMENTATION?
It can be difficult for some women to choose between breast augmentation and a breast lift. As a general rule, if you are happy with the size of the breasts but unhappy with their position, a breast lift is probably the right choice. However, if you would like to increase the size and fullness of the breasts, augmentation using implants is usually a better choice.
Some women may find they will get the best results by combining the lift and augmentation. These two procedures can be performed simultaneously in a single surgery, allowing you to see the best possible results with just one time under anesthesia and one recovery period. Dr. Mashhadian frequently performs these procedures together to provide his patients the best possible outcome in reaching their full aesthetic goals.
