WHAT IS BREAST LIFT SURGERY?
A surgical breast lift is a body contouring treatment that reshapes the breasts by reducing loose skin and surgically tightening the existing tissue to produce a firmer, younger look. This life-changing surgery is performed for women who have lost breast firmness, size, or shape and who experience breast sagging due to aging, significant weight loss, or nursing. Outstanding advancements in breast lift surgery have made this treatment so successful that new statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show a nearly 70% increase in demand since 2000. Plastic surgeon Dr. Tyler Frew performs breast lift surgeries at Tyler Frew MD, Plastic Surgery in Murrieta, CA. By implementing the most advanced methods, Dr. Frew can choose the correct technique depending on the degree of sag present and the desired result.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A BREAST LIFT PROCEDURE?
Breast lift surgery is an ideal option for women who want to gain a fuller appearance in their bust. A specialized breast lift, or mastopexy, procedure performed by Dr. Frew at his Murrieta, CA facility is often synonymous with the following practical and aesthetic benefits:
- Reduces breast sagging and drooping
- Enhances the form, fullness, and attractiveness of breasts
- Corrects breast asymmetry (when one breast is different than the other)
- Gives a lifted, perkier, younger appearance to breasts
- Reduces the size of the areolas for a smaller, improved look
- Improves breast firmness
- Reduces irritation under breasts
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR A BREAST LIFT?
You may come to Dr. Frew seeking breast implants, but after a physical exam, we may discover that breast lift surgery is what you need because of the severity of breast sagging seen. Breasts and nipples that point down in most cases need a lift to correct skin irregularities and bring the breasts to a higher position. If your nipples point downward and your breasts look elongated, a breast lift performed at our Murrieta, CA office can dramatically help their appearance. If you’re considering a breast lift, you need to be in good health and at a stable weight.
HOW IS A BREAST LIFT PERFORMED?
A breast lift usually takes about 2 – 4 hours and is performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The timeframe of this treatment depends on the complexity of breast size and sagging. The method used for breast lift surgery at Tyler Frew, MD Plastic Surgery in Murrieta, CA generally falls into two categories that are based on the size, location, and nature of the incision: the inverted-T (also known as an anchor) incision and the straight-line vertical incision. Once the incision is made, Dr. Frew will carefully trim away any loose skin, along with unwanted breast tissue and fat. The skin left behind is then pulled tight, lifting the breasts up so they look healthy. In most situations, the size and shape of the areola will be reconstructed and reduced to be symmetrical with the new placement and proportional to the new shape of the breast. At this point, an implant or a fat transfer can be placed in the breast if agreed upon with Dr. Frew prior to surgery. If the lift is the only procedure being performed and if breast fullness and shape are a concern after the fact, then breast implants can be implemented at a later date.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECOVER FROM BREAST LIFT SURGERY?
The recovery for a mastopexy is more extensive than surgery with implants only. After the procedure, we’ll fit you with a support bra to minimize swelling. We’ll also place a thin tube near the surgical area to help with excess drainage that often occurs after surgery. The post-surgical swelling usually goes away within the first week. Dr. Frew or a member of his team will provide in-depth, at-home incision-care instructions to help with your healing process. Aesthetic results after a breast lift surgery administered at our Murrieta, CA practice typically begin to take shape after a few weeks as the breasts settle into their new position on your chest. Your breasts should look natural, helping you feel younger, prettier, and in sync with your frame.
BREAST LIFT FAQ
In your initial appointment, Dr. Frew will pay attention to your wants and aesthetic goals before creating your unique treatment plan. After that, he can better estimate your price. When done well, a breast lift can significantly enhance your physical appearance, so it’s important to focus on having a skilled surgeon with extensive training, like Dr. Frew, instead of worrying about price. To help make surgery easier to afford, Tyler Frew MD, Plastic Surgery can help you find low-interest medical financing.
Whether you should get a breast lift, implants, or both will depend on your specific concerns. For many patients in Murrieta, CA, a breast lift can help to enhance the form and fullness of their breasts without implants. Dr. Frew will assess your physical condition and listen to your goals during your consultation and then recommend whether you should get implants, a lift, or both.
In most cases, the nipple-areola complex will need to be shifted up as part of the breast lift. If your areolas are overly large or stretched, then Dr. Frew can include an areola reduction with your surgery. This can be discussed during your consultation so he can determine the best incision pattern and technique to use in your breast lift.
With good care following surgery, your results should last for many years. Your breasts will continue to age normally, though, which means you’ll likely see more sagging and loose skin in time. Factors like significant weight loss or gain can affect your results, so it’s best to maintain a stable weight following your breast lift in Murrieta, CA. Pregnancy or breastfeeding after a breast lift can also alter your results, which is why Dr. Frew suggests patients wait until they are done having children to get a breast lift.
A lift may improve asymmetry in your breasts if they’re different in size, firmness, or degree of sagging. Dr. Frew will examine the physical condition and appearance of your breasts during your consultation and discuss how a lift might help. During your lift surgery, he can shape the tissue so your breasts are equal in size and position for better symmetry.
