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- 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.
Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Reviews
I've had several procedures done over the years. My last procedure in December 2019 was a breast lift and I can honestly say that Dr. McFadden has magic hands. He's a perfectionist and does amazing work. His staff are very friendly and I highly recommend them!! If I could give more than 5 stars I would. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
From my very first visit here, I felt at home! After meeting with Dr Felice, I left with all of the confidence I needed! That same day, I scheduled & paid my deposit to have my procedure done. At the time, I was unsure between two options but I eventually narrowed it down. I decided to go with a Mastopexy with implants! I am a 27 year old mom of two that breastfed so I no longer had firmness nor confidence with my breast. Now that I have had my procedure done, I cannot stay out of the mirror! My results are everything I imagined plus more! I am so thankful for Dr Felice & his staff for taking good care of me from start to finish.
31 year old with 3 kids and 50lbs of weight loss - After doing lots of research I went with Dr.McFadden. So far I can’t say enough positives about him and his staff. From making the appointment to my consultation and surgery. When I went in Dr.McFadden answered all my questions and was very kind. I originally though I would need small implants with my lift to achieve the upper crest fullness and he was very honest that it would give me that but only for a short while until they settle and implants put more weight on the breast and could increase the chance of needing another lift along the way. I appreciated him explaining that a lot. He even explained to me how I was wearing the wrong band size and I needed to go on smaller for support. I opted for a breast lift without implants. When I had additional questions the week before I contact the care coordinator and set me up for another consultation the day before surgery to make sure all my questions were answered. I one day post op and am very little pain more uncomfortable than anything. I’ll keep updated on my progress! But so far I am extremely pleased.Updated on 15 Dec 2018:Not a lot of pain today, haven’t taken a pain pill all day. I’ll get an occasional pain underneath in the anchor pet of the scar but that’s it. I’m actually really surprised at how little pain there is. A little bit of bruising but it’s pretty minimal, maybe because of all the vitamins they have had me take. Updated on 18 Dec 2018:Some of the strips fell off between last night and today and oh man was I not ready to see what’s underneath. The scars looks freaky. Stitches around the nipple come out tomorrow at my appointment. I’m starting to notice my nipples aren’t even. I’m gonna have to remember to ask about that tomorrow. Updated on 19 Dec 2018:I had my 1 week post op appointment today. They removed the rest of the strips and took out like half the stitches. I’m actually surprised how well the vertical scar looks. Today was also day 1 back to work. It was a hectic day but not too bad as far as the girls go.
I Feel 18 Again - Greenville, SC - I got a breast lift on March 8th (now almost 3 weeks post op) and I am loving the results. I had very minimal pain. I only had to take pain medicine for 3 days. I would say the hardest part for me was having to sleep on my back for 2 weeks since I am a side sleeper. I had breast implants under the muscle 390cc each and was a 36DD. Weight gain, gravity and two kids later I wanted my implants removed, no replacement implants and a lift. I am now a full 36B currently and I couldn't be happier. As soon as I can I want to be able to do intense workouts since I wasn't able to with DD's. This surgery was well worth it and one of the best decisions I have ever made.Updated on 5 Apr 2012:4 weeks post op. I will make sure to update new photos weekly. The nurse said at the 4 week mark I am able to wear regular sports bras as long as they have a clasp or zipper. I am able to sleep on my side or stomach. I can shower every other day instead of daily as long as all my wounds are closed. I can exercise as long as I take it easy and it doesn't involve my upper body.
Dr. Felice is a very skilled plastic surgeon. He performed my tummy tuck and my breast lift and both were done extremely well. I am 2 months out and am so happy with the results! He is a great dr with great communication skills and is easy to approach with any questions or concerns. I called at almost midnight and he called back less than 10 minutes later. He had excellent “bedside manner” and the office staff is kind and professional. I would recommend advanced cosmetic surgery and Dr. Felice every time!
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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!
