Pregnancy, weight loss, and aging all contribute to volume loss in your breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose shape and firmness and begin to sag. A breast lift raises your breasts to create a firmer and more youthful-looking bust line. You can also consider having breast implants inserted during your breast lift surgery to help increase the desired fullness of your breasts.
At Renaissance Plastic Surgery in St. Louis and St. Peters, our board-certified plastic surgeons often perform breast enhancement surgeries. They are happy to consult with you on the best action plan for your case.
When Should I Consider Having a Breast Lift?
A breast lift might be right for you if the appearance of your breasts negatively affects your confidence or comfort. Consider this procedure if you're experiencing any of the following signs:
- Your nipples have dropped beneath your breast, or they are pointing downward
- Your breasts have lost volume or firmness and have stretched skin
- Your breasts sag, droop, or appear slouchy
A breast lift can help correct all of these issues. By raising and reshaping the breast and removing any excess skin, the breast appears perkier and more youthful.
Types of Breast Lifts
With a breast lift (mastopexy), incisions are generally made around the areola and extend down the bottom side of the breast and along the lower crease. The surgeon removes excess skin and places the nipple and areola in a higher position than before. Then, the surrounding skin is brought down and together to lift and reshape the breast.
That said, there are several types of incisions, and some are more minimal. Your surgeon selects an incision pattern based on the extent of lifting you will need. The incision options are as follows:
- The Lollipop Lift: A circular incision around the areola, the colored skin around the nipple. A single straight incision is made from the bottom of the areola down to the inframammary crease, where the breast meets the torso. The Lollipop Lift incision may be used for minor to moderate lifting without breast implants.
- The Anchor Lift: The same incision pattern as the Lollipop Lift but with an additional horizontal incision at the breast crease. This incision type may be selected for patients who need a more substantial lift.
- The Donut Lift: Limited to a circular pattern around the areola. This incision type can correct mild to moderate breast sagging while repositioning the areola and nipple higher on the breast mound. The Donut Lift can be combined with breast implants.
- The Crescent Lift: The most conservative option, involving a semi-circular pattern along the upper half of the areola. It can be performed with breast augmentation and is appropriate for the mildest cases of breast sagging.
Recovery Process and After Care for Mastopexy
Expect to be alert but groggy when you get home after your breast lift. We advise patients to relax, but it is not necessary to stay in bed. Some gentle movement is good for healing. However, you should be aware that your prescription pain medication may make you somewhat unstable on your feet. Pay close attention to how you feel after you take your prescription and you should have no issues taking short walks at the right times.
You and the person assisting you during your first days of recovery should carefully review your post-op instructions. These will outline what activities you may resume and when. For example, you may have to wait one or two days before you resume showering as usual. Other activities, such as lifting objects (including children) or exercising, may need to be avoided for at least a few weeks.
Some patients experience bruised, swollen breasts after breast lift surgery, but this should last only a few days. It is likely that a surgical bra was applied at the conclusion of your surgery or while you were in the recovery area. This gentle compression garment helps move fluid and blood away from the surgical area, encouraging swelling and bruising to resolve as quickly as possible. Your post-op instructions discuss how long you should wear your surgical bra and what you may transition to when you no longer need compression.
You can plan on returning to your daily activities in one to two weeks. Full recovery can take several weeks as you gradually resume more strenuous activities and allow your body to completely heal.
Benefits of a Breast Lift
A breast lift, or mastopexy, offers several aesthetic and functional benefits, including:
- Improved body contours
- Firmer breasts
- Nipple reshaping and repositioning
- Better symmetry
- Better fitting clothes
- Boosted confidence
Why Choose Renaissance Plastic Surgery?
At Renaissance Plastic Surgery, you'll find a team of board-certified plastic surgeons who blend the art and science of plastic surgery with a personal touch. Our surgeons, including Dr. Mark Boschert, Dr. Stefan Craig, Dr. Paul Mills, and Dr. Brendan Alleyne, offer a comprehensive range of procedures – from the precision of facial rejuvenation to transformative body contouring and breast enhancements.
Each surgeon brings unique skills and a deep commitment to personalizing your experience. Dr. Boschert helps patients navigate the overwhelming sea of information to find truthful, applicable solutions tailored to them. Dr. Craig views his work as a creation of beauty, revitalizing confidence with each procedure. Dr. Mills focuses on achieving natural, aesthetically pleasing results that align with each patient’s aspirations, while Dr. Alleyne combines meticulous skill with a personal backstory of resilience and dedication to excellence. Choose Renaissance Plastic Surgery for a team that is as invested in your results as you are.
Patient Testimonials
From start to finish, I felt as if both Dr Boschert and my nurse heard everything I said was important to me. I never felt like I wasn't a priority and always was made to feel comfortable with my procedure and the process to follow. They were always available to answer any questions or concerns I had and I always was told very helpful information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does a Breast Lift Procedure Take?
The duration of your breast lift surgery depends on several factors, like whether or not you are combining other procedures with your breast lift. Some patients have a breast lift and breast augmentation or breast reduction done at the same time, or they may add other contouring procedures into their treatment plan to achieve more profound results.
Treatment time also depends on the amount of lifting needed or other aesthetic enhancements, such as areola reduction. Generally, patients can plan to be at the surgical center for approximately five hours on the day of their surgery. The mastopexy procedure may take about three hours. The remainder of the time is dedicated to getting ready for surgery and recovering from anesthesia. Once you regain alertness, you will be released to a loved one who can drive you home.
What Is the Best Age to Consider a Breast Lift?
The best age for a breast lift depends more on your life circumstances than your actual age. It’s ideal to wait until your breasts are fully developed and major changes like pregnancy or significant weight loss are behind you. Most women consider this surgery from their 30s to 50s, but as long as you’re healthy, a breast lift can be effective at any age. A consultation with a qualified surgeon can help you decide the right time based on your health and aesthetic goals.
How Do Breast Lifts Impact Cup Sizes?
A breast lift reshapes the breasts by adjusting the skin and shifting some tissue. This repositioning typically moves breast volume from the lower part to a higher, more central location on the chest, enhancing the breast's profile and perkiness. As a result, some patients may notice a slight change in bra size, usually a more subtle reduction than expected.
However, many find this change beneficial for achieving a more youthful appearance. We'll discuss these details thoroughly with you to help you feel confident about the expected outcomes.
How Much Scarring Is Caused By a Breast Lift?
Scarring is a primary concern for patients as they prepare for surgery. The breast lift is a procedure in which it is most difficult to hide incisions, so we’ll advise you on how to take proper care after surgery to help the skin heal properly. The scars that result from breast lift surgery do not tend to show beneath bras and bathing suits.
However, understandably, you want your surgical scars to lighten and smooth out as much as possible. Once your incisions have healed, you can address scarring with a reputable scar cream or silicone pads that aid in skin recovery. At your post-op visit, we'll answer your questions about how to help improve scar quality. Keep in mind that scars continue to fade over the course of a year or more.
How Soon After a Pregnancy Can You Get a Breast Lift?
The breasts continue to change for several months after childbirth. If a woman breastfeeds, this process can take a year or longer. Part of the process is the deflation of the breasts. A loss of volume can affect the overlying skin and the general shape of the breasts. It is best to wait at least three months after milk production has completely stopped to get breast lift surgery. It is ideal to wait six months.
Will a Breast Lift Impact My Ability to Breast Feed?
If you are interested in a breast lift and also want to preserve your ability to breastfeed, talk with your surgeon. Generally, women who undergo breast procedures can breastfeed without complications at a later date. However, a surgeon may design the breast lift procedure around this desire to preserve the integrity of the milk and nipple ducts and prevent scar tissue formation as much as possible.
What Are the Risks and Complications Associated With Breast Lifts?
A breast lift, while generally safe, does carry some potential risks and complications, as with any surgery. These include scarring, changes in sensation, asymmetry, and the usual surgical risks associated with anesthesia, such as allergic reactions. There are also possibilities of infection, bleeding, and challenges with wound healing. It's important to talk with your surgeon, who will share a complete list of potential risks to help you make an informed decision about the procedure.
How Can I Pay for My Breast Lift?
You can finance your breast lift to make the process more accessible and manageable financially. For your convenience, we accept multiple forms of payment, including cash, checks, and major credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. We also offer a variety of financing options through our trusted partners to suit different budgets and preferences:
CareCredit: Recognized for its flexibility in financing patient procedures ranging from $1 to $25,000. Options include a six-month no-interest plan if paid within the promotional period and low-interest plans extending up to 36 months for larger procedure fees.
PatientFi: Offers a user-friendly way to finance your procedure with the convenience of easy monthly payments. This option provides a no-hard-credit-check application, zero interest options, and no hidden fees, making it a compassionate choice for financing your cosmetic enhancements.
First Community Credit Union: Features the New You unsecured loan with competitive rates and terms of up to five years, helping you finance your surgery without undue financial pressure.
Alphaeon Credit: Provides a broad array of monthly payment options to help you meet your wellness and beauty goals, including special financing options that might be more advantageous than traditional credit cards.
Schedule a Consult for Your Breast Lift in St. Louis
If you are ready to discuss your breast lift options with one of our plastic surgeons in St. Louis or St. Peters, please contact Renaissance Plastic Surgery today. Call 636-535-2933 or submit an online contact form, and our office will get back to you at our earliest convenience.