- What is a Breast Lift?
- Why Choose Us for Your Breast Lift?
- Mastopexy at Advanced Cosmetic Surgery
- Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Reviews
- Are You a Good Candidate for Mastopexy?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Complementary and Alternative Procedures
- Book Your Mastopexy Consultation
- Related Procedures
- Related Posts
What is a Breast Lift?
A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, raises the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour.
- A breast lift surgically raises and reshapes sagging breasts
- This procedure is effective for women whose breast shape has been affected by pregnancy, aging and other factors
- A breast lift can be performed at the same time as a breast reduction or augmentation
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that elevates and firms up sagging breasts. For women whose breasts have been affected by pregnancy, weight loss or the natural aging process, a mastopexy is an opportunity to restore and rejuvenate their figures.
Are you considering a breast lift in Greenville, Spartanburg or Anderson? BOOK A CONSULTATION with Dr. Thomas McFadden or Dr. Peter Felice to discover how Advanced Cosmetic Surgery can help you achieve a more flattering bustline.
Why Choose Us for Your Breast Lift?
Our board-certified surgeons have extensive experience with breast surgery, including lifts, augmentation, reduction and reconstruction. DR. THOMAS MCFADDEN was the first doctor in upstate South Carolina to receive a fellowship in Breast and Cosmetic Surgery and is the recipient of numerous awards including:
- The American Institute of Plastic Surgeons’ 10 Best Plastic Surgeons in South Carolina (2016)
- America’s Most Honored Professionals Award for Top 1% of Doctors from the American Registry (2016)
- 13 various awards from Vitals.com, including Patient’s Choice and Top 10 Doctor in South Carolina
DR. PETER FELICE has advanced training in many forms of plastic surgery, including breast cancer reconstruction, breast augmentation, breast reduction and breast lift surgery.
Mastopexy at Advanced Cosmetic Surgery
Mastopexy is an effective, safe surgical solution for sagging breasts, also known as breast ptosis. As women go through pregnancy and age, breast skin can stretch, with the nipples tending to point downward.
Having a larger cup size is another factor for many women experiencing breast ptosis; other causes include smoking and significant weight loss. This condition can cause breast pain (mastalgia) and causes some women to feel self-conscious.
Diet, exercise and weight loss usually won’t improve breast ptosis. To gain firm, lifted, symmetrical breasts, many women choose to undergo mastopexy.
How it works
Mastopexy is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. It involves making an incision in each breast to remove excess fat and skin, insert an implant (if desired) and lift the nipple for a rounder, more youthful look. The size of the areola, the darker skin around the nipple, can also be reduced.
Breast lift surgery can be performed using different incision techniques which are chosen based on the patient’s shape and desired outcome. If you have more ptosis in one breast than in the other, a different approach can be used on each side.
Periareolar
This technique involves making a circular incision around the areola. Although it leaves minimal scarring, it’s only suitable for women with minor ptosis.
Vertical
The vertical or “lollipop” method corrects moderate sagging. It combines a periareolar incision with a vertical incision extending from the areola to where the lower boundary of the breast meets the chest, the breast crease. This technique gives the surgeon more freedom to remove excess skin and reposition the nipples to point forward instead of down.
Wise pattern
The Wise pattern combines periareolar, vertical and crescent incisions at the lower curve of the breast. It’s sometimes called the “anchor method” because of the shape of the incision. This technique offers the best results for women with severe ptosis. While it does result in the most scarring, the results are truly transformative.
What to Expect During Your Breast Lift Surgery
A mastopexy lasts between 1–3 hours, during which you will be under general anesthesia. Afterward, you’ll need someone to drive you home.
A breast lift involves a fair amount of recovery time. For 2–3 weeks postsurgery, you must avoid heavy lifting and all strenuous activity; the time required may be longer if you also had liposuction or another procedure. You’ll need to wear a surgical support bra around the clock for several days, then a softer support bra for 3–4 weeks.
You’ll immediately see a noticeable difference in your breast shape. However, the full results will take several months to appear, therefore we don’t advise buying new bras until at least 6 weeks after the procedure.
While breast lift results are long lasting, women with heavier breasts may find their breasts inevitably start to sag again as part of the natural aging process. At that point, they may wish to undergo surgery again.
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Are You a Good Candidate for Mastopexy?
The ideal candidates for mastopexy are at a stable weight and in good physical health. They have breasts that sag, droop or appear stretched with nipples that point downward and fall below the breast crease.
Here’s an easy way to determine if you would benefit from a mastopexy: place a sheet of paper at the crease directly under your breast. If your nipple falls below the top of the paper, you likely have enough sagging to warrant this procedure. At your CONSULTATION, we’ll thoroughly discuss your candidacy for mastopexy and other types of breast surgery to develop a plan that works for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is breast lift surgery safe?
Breast lift surgery is considered very safe; however, any surgery carries some amount of risk. Potential complications include asymmetrical results, temporary or permanent changes in nipple sensation, bleeding and infection.
Will I have visible scars afterward?
The visibility of your mastopexy scars depends on what kind of incisions are made during the procedure. Periareolar scars are not very apparent, however vertical and Wise pattern scars are, as they are longer and therefore more visible.
However, because mastopexies performed with those techniques offer more significant improvement for breasts with severe ptosis, the trade-off may be worth it. In all cases, scar formation varies between individuals; the length of time your scars remain noticeable depends mainly on your genetics.
Should I wait until I’ve had children to have a breast lift?
In a word, yes. Pregnancy can change the size and appearance of your breasts considerably. Therefore, it’s best to wait until after you’ve had children before you undergo breast lift surgery.
Complementary and Alternative Procedures
Breast lifts are often performed in conjunction with other surgeries on the breast and abdomen. If you’re considering an additional surgery beyond mastopexy, we usually recommend undergoing both simultaneously, so you have less recovery time overall.
Breast augmentation
This procedure involves inserting an implant to create a fuller, rounder breast. BREAST AUGMENTATION is a good option for mastopexy patients who have lost significant volume in their breasts or simply want to increase their bust size.
Breast reduction
For some women, breast ptosis is caused by having large, heavy breasts. In this case, a mastopexy paired with a BREAST REDUCTION can help them achieve a more proportional silhouette, relieve back and shoulder pain, and enable them to fit more easily into their clothing.
The “mommy makeover”
Often, breast ptosis caused by pregnancy is accompanied by a protruding lower stomach and excess skin around the abdomen. If you’re looking to regain your prepregnancy figure, we can combine your mastopexy with LIPOSUCTION and a TUMMY TUCK to dramatically enhance your shape. As each woman’s body reacts to pregnancy differently, each “mommy makeover” is 100% customized.
How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost?
The cost of breast lift surgery depends on multiple factors, including:
- Your desired results
- How much skin is being removed
- Whether it’s paired with a breast reduction or augmentation
- Whether you require nipple repositioning or areola reduction
If you’re interested in learning more about our rates, REACH OUT TO US and we’ll be happy to answer your questions!
Book Your Mastopexy Consultation
Ready to move forward and determine your eligibility for breast lift surgery? If you’re in the Greenville area, CONTACT OUR TEAM at Advanced Cosmetic Surgery to book a consultation!