Breast Lift
Breast lift surgery (also called mastopexy) is the only effective way to restore deflated, sagging breasts to a perkier, more youthful position on the chest wall after the effects of aging, pregnancy and breastfeeding have taken a toll. A breast lift may be performed along with breast augmentation, but this is not always the case. The lifting effects of a mastopexy are also naturally included in breast reduction surgery, which may be performed in cases where overly large breasts have contributed to sagging and skin laxity in the chest.
What is a Breast Lift?
A breast lift is designed to remove excess, inelastic skin and stretched tissues associated with breast ptosis (sagging) while raising breasts to a higher position on the chest wall. If desired, the nipple-areolar complex can also be resized and/or repositioned during a mastopexy for a more balanced overall aesthetic. Breast lift surgery can be a transformative treatment for patients interested in a more youthful breast appearance, as well as those experiencing physical or emotional discomfort as a result of breast sagging.
Depending on the patient’s overall cosmetic goals, our experienced Nacogdoches plastic surgeon—Gregory Wittpenn, MD, FACS— can perform a breast lift as a standalone procedure or as part of mommy makeover and body contouring after major weight loss treatment plans. Breast implants can also be incorporated into the procedure to enhance the volume of the breasts while addressing excess skin and sagging.
What Are the Benefits of a Breast Lift?
Breast lift surgery offers many benefits for patients interested in rejuvenating their breasts, including:
- Correction of sagging and drooping breast tissue
- Elimination or reduction of excess breast skin
- Enhanced breast proportions and symmetry
- Improved size, shape, and proportion of the nipples and areolas
- Increased confidence in clothing and swimwear
With over 20 years of experience performing plastic surgery, Dr. Wittpenn has refined the skill of ensuring each patient finds personalized benefits from their cosmetic procedures. The planning process is a collaborative effort and patients should feel empowered in their decisions.
Who Is a Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery?
Before deciding whether you need a breast lift, breast augmentation or breast reduction procedure, our Nacogdoches plastic surgeon, Dr. Gregory Wittpenn, will evaluate your anatomy and skin and talk with you about your cosmetic breast enhancement goals. A breast lift may be recommended if you have saggy breasts that have descended lower on the chest wall than is comfortable or attractive. As a standalone procedure, breast lift surgery will not increase or decrease the volume of your natural breast tissue. Like most surgical procedures, good candidates for breast lift surgery are healthy, non-smokers between the ages of 18 and 65.
Patient Results
How Is Breast Lift Surgery Performed?
Breast lift surgery is performed while patients are under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation. Dr. Wittpenn will make incisions where necessary to remove the excess skin from your breasts and provide the cosmetic results you desire, which may involve one or more of the following incision patterns:
- Crescent – Half-circle around the areola
- Periareolar – Full circle around the areola
- Lollipop – Periareolar + vertical incision from the bottom of the areola to the breast fold
- Inverted T or Anchor – Lollipop + horizontal incision along the breast fold
After surgery, most patients return to work within 5-7 days and resume exercise within 3-4 weeks of breast lift surgery. Your recovery period may be somewhat longer if you have a breast lift in combination with breast augmentation or breast reduction.
“Excellent & thorough care from Dr. Wittpenn & all the staff! Loving my results so far.”
What is Recovery Like After Breast Lift Surgery?
Following breast lift surgery, some degree of swelling, bruising, and tenderness or discomfort in the treatment area is to be expected, but should gradually subside during the healing process. Most patients find any postoperative discomfort quite manageable with pain medication and adequate rest. In general, most patients can return to work and resume normal, non-strenuous daily routines within about one week. However, more strenuous activities, including heavy lifting and upper body exercises, should be on hold for about three to four weeks after the procedure. Closely following Dr. Wittpenn’s post-operative instructions, which may include wearing a surgical or compression bra for a period of time, will help aid in a safe and successful recovery.
Will I Have Breast Lift Scars?
As with all surgical procedures, some degree of scarring is inevitable. For breast lift procedures, the location and size of the scar will depend on the surgical technique used during treatment. Generally, breast lifts performed with incisions around the areola (using the “crescent” or “peri-areolar” techniques) tend to leave minimal scarring that blends in seamlessly with the pigmented edges of the areolas. Other procedures, such as “lollipop” and “anchor” techniques, are likely to result in more visible scarring from the bottom of the areola to the inframammary fold. Dr. Wittpenn is a highly skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon that takes great care in creating conservative incisions that will minimize scarring as much as possible. Typically, most patients find that breast lift scars are concealed by undergarments/swimsuit tops and fade significantly over time.
Contact New Horizons Plastic Surgery
Contact New Horizons Plastic Surgery at (936) 564-3744 to schedule a consultation and find out if a breast lift is right for you. Dr. Wittpenn is an expert Nacogdoches breast lift surgeon serving patients throughout eastern Texas and western Louisiana, including residents of Lufkin, Huntsville, Tyler and Shreveport.