Is a Breast Lift Right for Me?

Even though most women think of breast augmentation or breast implants when they think about breast surgery, many women are actually better candidates for a breast lift. A breast lift accomplishes different things and doesn’t involve the use of implants, but that doesn’t mean it can’t achieve confidence-boosting results. Here’s what to know about the breast lift and how you can benefit with the help of Dr. Sweat.

What is a Breast Lift?

The goal of a breast lift is to lift and rejuvenate the breasts when they sag after things like aging, weight loss, or pregnancy. Rather than add volume, a breast lift repositions the breasts to a higher position on the chest and removes excess breast skin. It can also reposition the nipples and reduce the amount of breast sagging there is.

What Makes a Good Candidate for a Breast Lift?

Some women are better cut out for a breast lift than others. A few ways to know if a breast lift is a good option for you include:

Your Nipples Point Downward

When the skin begins stretching out and sagging at the base of the breast, the breast tissue weight will begin pulling the nipple downward. A cosmetic surgeon can reposition your breast tissue with a breast lift so your nipples face forward and sit above the natural crease of the breast.

You Lost Breast Volume After Weight Loss

If you lose fatty tissue after substantial weight loss, it can leave behind sagging skin that contributes to a stretched appearance. A breast lift can remove excess skin to improve breast contour and restore a more youthful, proportional breast shape.

You Have Unusually Shaped or Asymmetrical Breasts

Since a breast lift procedure lifts sagging breasts and reshapes breast tissue, it can be an effective way to correct tuberous breasts or asymmetry and restore them to a more rounded, normal shape.

Types of Breast Lift Incisions

There are various breast lift techniques your plastic surgeon can use for your breast lift surgery. The right incision technique for you will vary based on factors like your existing breast tissue, how much excess skin you need removed, and your personal goals.

The most common breast lift incisions include:

• “Lollipop” (Vertical Lift): Uses a circular scar around the areolae with a vertical incision down to the breast crease.
• “Donut” (Peri-Areolar Lift): Uses a simple circular scar around the pigmentation of the areolae.
• “Anchor” (Inverted T Lift): An extensive incision that includes a circular incision around the areolae, a vertical incision to the breast crease, and horizontal incisions along the breast crease.
• Crescent Lift: A very small incision that extends along the top of the areolae.

What to Expect After Breast Lift

Breast lift surgery takes around one to two hours and is performed on an outpatient basis. You’ll experience swelling and soreness following the procedure, but Dr. Sweat will make sure you have pain medications to manage it. Most patients only need prescription-strength pain medications for a few days after the procedure, after which they switch to Tylenol.

You’ll be encouraged to do some light walking around the house for the first few days to prevent complications, but you should plan on spending much of your time resting. Most patients are able to return to a desk job within a week of breast surgery, but you may need to take more time off if you work a labor-intensive job. You’ll need to limit exercise except walking for the first two to six weeks after your procedure. Dr. Sweat will make sure you understand when you can safely return to your normal exercise regimen. He will also let you know when you can expect to see your breast lift results.

Schedule a Consultation

The breast lift can be a transformative procedure for women looking for breast surgery in Sacramento. To learn more and meet with our board-certified plastic surgeon, contact J. Sweat Plastic Surgery by calling or filling out our online scheduling tool.