What is a Breast Lift?
A breast lift (also known as "mastopexy") is the process of using plastic surgery to improve a woman's figure by lifting and reshaping the breasts, giving a more shapely and youthful appearance. A common cosmetic problem addressed by a breast lift is the sagging of the breasts. The medical term for this sagging is breast ptosis. Breast sagging is a normal occurrence. The main unavoidable causes of this sagging are gravity and time (aging). Breast ptosis may be further magnified by pregnancy, breast feeding, decrease in skin elasticity, and weight loss.
Breast lifts are a common and increasingly popular plastic surgery procedure. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, there were nearly 90,000 breast lift procedures performed in the United States in the year 2010 alone. That represents a 70% increase from the year 2000.
A breast lift is not the same thing as a breast augmentation or breast reconstruction, although these other procedures are sometimes combined with a breast lift.
What should you expect at your first breast lift consultation with your plastic surgeon?
At your initial consultation with your doctor, you will want to provide a detailed description of how you would like to improve your appearance. Think about this and jot down some notes and key questions before you go to your consultation.
A highly skilled plastic surgeon can perform a breast lift and greatly improve the appearance of your figure, but the doctor will somewhat limited by your unique physical structure. Tell your doctor what you consider to be your ideal and let him or her tell you what is possible and what is not.
Review some before-and-after pictures to see the improvements after breast lift (mastopexy) surgery. View Breast Lift Photos.
How much does a breast lift cost?
Each patient presents a unique situation, so an in-person consultation is needed to get an accurate estimate. Nevertheless, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the U.S. national average surgeon fee for a breast lift for the most recent year (2010) was $4,207*
*This amount only represents the average for the surgeon's fee. It does not include the charges for the anesthesiologist, for the facility where the surgery is performed, or for other associated costs.
Who is a good candidate for a breast lift?
To be a good candidate for a breast lift, the potential patient should be a woman who is suffering from ptosis (sagging breasts) and wants to achieve a more youthful and shapely figure. In addition, a good candidate should be in good overall health for her age, should be stable emotionally, and should have realistic expectations.
What are the basic procedures and techniques used in a breast lift procedure?
The doctor may use general anesthesia or local anesthesia with heavy sedation.
A breast lift may be performed at a surgical center, a hospital or a doctor's office.
The surgery typically lasts from one to three hours. This may be a little longer if the patient is also getting breast implants. A breast lift patient normally returns home the same day the procedure is performed.
The standard methods for performing a breast lift vary depending on the amount of ptosis the patient has, the overall breast volume, the quantity of excess skin, nipple position, and areola size and position.
Breast augmentation (implants) may be employed to improve ptosis, especially minor ptosis. Additional improvement may be made by removing excess skin.
No breast tissue is removed in a breast lift, so you will remain the same size, although your breasts will seem larger because the skin is tightened.
If you choose, a breast augmentation may be performed at the same time.
Before and After Photos
