| Dr. Albert Losken is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Breast Lifting.
Q. What is Breast Lifting?
A. A youthful breast shape has the nipple and breast tissue positioned above the level of the inframammary fold with the nipple in the most projectile part of the breast mound.There are many reasons why breasts start to drop (become more ptotic) with time - including age, breast feeding, gravity, weight loss. The nipple and or the breast tissue drops often below the inframammary fold. A breast lift (also called a mastopexy) essentially tightens the skin envelope, repositions the nipple back up on top of the breast mound, and moves the entire breast mound back onto the chest. It also reshapes the breast mound, improving cleavage and upper pole fullness. If additional volume is desired, an implant can be placed at the same time as the breast lift (called a mastopexy-augmentation).
Q. How is breast lift surgery done?
A. The breast lift procedure involves moving the nipple up, tightening the skin envelope and reshaping the mound. Nipple sensation is preserved, extra skin is removed, and the breast is shaped using internal shaping techniques to maintain the shape and minimize recurrent ptosis with time.
Q. What is the recovery period like?
A. This is an outpatient procedure. A support bra is worn post-operatively and no drains are required. There is some discomfort for the first few days, and this is usually well controlled on medications by mouth. Down time is minimal with restricted activities for the first week or two. The patient should be up walking the next day, Full physical activites could be resumed by about 4 -6 weeks as long as all goes well.
Q. Who is an ideal candidate for breast lift surgery?
A. An ideal candidate is someone with good skin quality, sufficient breast tissue, and a non smoker.
Q. Are there risks and complications to a breast lift surgery?
A. Although complications are rare, and breast lifts are a relatively safe procedure, no surgery is without risks. There is a small risk of breast asymmetry, recurrent breast ptosis, and unfavorable scaring. These can, however, all be corrected if necessary.
Q. How long do the results last?
A. If done correctly, the breast lift and shape improvement should persist. Breast size will always fluctuate with weight changes, however, once the shape and nipple position has been corrected is should last. Minor changes in shape with age can always occur.
Q. How much does breast lift surgery cost?
A. Fees will typically include a surgeon's fee and a operating room cost. These vary, however, the surgeon's fee for a mastopexy ranges from $3500-$5500, and the operating room cost depends on how long the procedure is expected to take but typically ranges from arount $2500-$3500. When combined with implant placement the cost of the implants make this slightly more expensive. When multiple procedres are performed, for example mastopexy with an abdominoplasty or liposuction, then the cost of the mastopexy procedure is often reduced.
|
