Breast Lift Surgery Overview

As women age and their bodies go through pregnancies, weigh gain and loss, and breast feeding, they typically find that their breasts begin to stretch and sag in later years. Breast lift surgery has become one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery to change the visible appearance of these effects.

What to Expect

During a consultation with a plastic surgeon, he or she will help a patient determine the best course of action to achieve the desired results. The surgeon may suggest a combined breast lift and breast augmentation in order to lift and fill out the breasts.

Breast lift surgeries will typically require a patient be under general anesthesia. An incision can be made under the armpit in order to conceal evidence of the surgery.

The surgeon will separate the soft tissues including skin, breast tissue and fat from the underlying muscle. Extra skin tissue will be excised, and the remaining tissue pulled taught to lift the breasts.

Sometimes, the breast lift procedure will alter the placement of the nipples, requiring them to be cut out and moved slightly. This possibility may carry the future side effect of reduced or eliminated sensation in this area.

If removing the extra skin and tissue to complete the lift will leave the patient with smaller breasts than desired, then implants are usually used. A combined breast lift and breast augmentation tends to provide the best results for achieving the patient's desired size and shape.

A breast lift will typically take one to two hours to complete, and then the patient is able to go home later the same day. After one week, most patients are able to return to work. However, separating the muscle from other tissues may result in bruising and swelling lasting several weeks thereafter.

After surgery, it is suggested that patients continue to wear support bras to prevent further premature sagging in the future. This occurrence will usually cause repeat breast lift surgeries necessary.