| Dr. Ted S. Eisenberg is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Osteopathic 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 breast lift, or mastopexy, is a cosmetic surgery procedure that raises and reshapes breasts. This surgery restores the breast to a more youthful look by repositioning the nipple at a higher position and removing excess skin. When the remaining skin is tightened, it creates a natural sling–or a new bra–to support the breast.
Q. How is breast lift surgery done?
A. Preoperatively, the patient is measured and the surgeon marks the position in which the new nipple will be sewn and marks the excess skin to be removed. During the lift, the nipple and central portion of the areola are sewn higher, and tissues are brought together to make a new bra of your own skin. The nipple is not removed and the breast tissue is not touched; only skin is removed. A breast lift takes under two hours and is performed under general anesthesia.
Q. What is the recovery period like?
A. Patients report that they have minimal discomfort after breast lift surgery. This is because breast surgery is performed on the soft tissue, and there is no stretching of the skin and muscle as there is during an augmentation. Stitches are dissolvable so they don’t have to be removed. Patients wear a sports bra for several weeks and can then wear any bra of their choosing.
By the third day, many patients are able to comfortably lift their children and drive a car — if they are not taking narcotics. More than 90 percent of breast surgery patients are back to work on the fifth day, if they work in an office setting, longer if their work requires lifting, pushing or pulling. Patients can generally return to aerobics in about three weeks and upper body weightlifting in six weeks.
Q. Who is an ideal candidate for breast lift surgery?
A. The ideal candidate is a woman whose breasts are moderately to severely ptotic (or droopy). This can result from pregnancy, when breast skin can stretch and droop and breast volume can decrease. Likewise, women who have gained or lost a significant amount of weight may be left with saggy breast tissue. As women age, the skin naturally loses its elasticity, and breasts lose their shape and firmness.
The extent of droopiness can be determined by a simple pencil test: Place a pencil horizontally along the crease under your breast, where your bra rests. Look in the mirror. Is the position of your nipple (not the areola -- the darkened circular area around the nipple) above, at, or below the crease beneath your breast? If it were below, you would definitely need a lift to restore the breast to a more youthful shape.
Q. Are there risks and complications to a breast lift surgery?
A. Mastopexy or a breast lift may not be permanent if skin tone was poor before the surgery. Breasts might sag again to some extent, but not nearly to the point at which they were before surgery. A second operation might be required to retighten the skin of the breast.
While a breast lift can create a nicely shaped breast, the scars from the incision will be visible and permanent. The incision is anchor-like in shape; it goes around the nipple, extends from the nipple down to the breast fold and then across the breast fold itself. For some women, the incision will heal to a thin line; for others it may be thicker and more apparent. Healing is usually very good.
Sometimes, the breast assumes a boxy shape below the nipple where the skin was tightened.
Q. How long do the results last?
A. Results can change with future pregnancy and significant weight gain and loss. These two things can cause a loss of skin elasticity.
Q. How much does breast lift surgery cost?
A. $5500-$7500
Q. How to contact Dr. Eisenberg if we have further questions?
A. Our website is www.lookingnatural.com; or you can call us at 1-888-SHAPE-12. Office address is 2375 Woodward Street, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19115 |
