| Dr. Malcolm Rude 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 Lift.
Q. What is Breast Lifting?
A. Over the years, factors such as pregnancy, nursing, and the force of gravity take their toll on a woman's breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. Breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts--at least, for a time. (No surgery can permanently delay the effects of gravity.) Mastopexy can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. If your breasts are small or have lost volume--for example, after pregnancy--breast implants inserted in conjunction with mastopexy can increase both their firmness and their size.
Q. How is breast lift surgery done?
A. There are a variety of techniques that are used for breast lifting depending on the degree of sagging or ptosis that is present. What is the "best type of lift" varies with each lady. Women that have just a little bit of sagging after modest changes following pregnancy do not need to have as much lifting as those that may have lost over 150 pounds due to weight loss surgery. Being a board certified plastic surgeon I understand intricacies of doing all degrees of breast lifting. The incisions vary from being just around the nipple areola to also going down to the breast crease and possibly within the crease as well. I also frequently employ a variety of suturing techniques of the breast tissue to help elevate and sculpt the breast.
Q. What is the recovery period like?
A. In terms of time off work, e.g. a desk job, I usually recommend from a few days to a week depending on the scope of the particular operation.
Q. Who is an ideal candidate for breast lift surgery?
A. The best candidates for mastopexy are healthy, emotionally-stable women who are realistic about what the surgery can accomplish. The best results are usually achieved in women with small, sagging breasts. Breasts of any size can be lifted, but the results may not last as long in heavy breasts.
Many women seek mastopexy because pregnancy and nursing have left them with stretched skin and less volume in their breasts. However, if you are planning to have more children, it may be a good idea to postpone your breast lift. While there are no special risks that affect future pregnancies (for example, mastopexy usually does not interfere with breast-feeding), pregnancy is likely to stretch your breasts again and offset the results of the procedure.
Q. Are there risks and complications to a breast lift surgery?
A. All surgeries have some risks. Generally, breast lifting is considered a very safe surgery. Specific risks include bleeding, infection, changes in nipple sensation and delayed wound healing.
Q. How long do the results last?
A. That is a very good and fair question but difficult to answer for all ladies in one statement. There are several factors that influence the longevity of a lift. The quality of the skin is important to maintain the lift. Larger breasts are affected more by gravity. Wearing supportive bras helps limit sagging in the years after breast lifting. The integrity of the patient’s breast tissue is important for sculpting the breast successfully with a variety of suturing techniques. These and other factors go into the evaluation each patient by me. With all of those considerations in mind, I generally expects a lift to last for many, many years. The patient presumably would never "catch up" with the degree of sagging that she would have had if she never underwent surgery.
Q. How much does breast lift surgery cost?
A. The approximate cost including hospital, anesthesia, surgery and all follow ups is $5,000. It is important for patient safety that all surgeries requiring intravenous sedation or general anesthesia to be done in a hospital or an accredited facility.
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