Breast Lift in Saint Peters & Saint Louis, MO

Pregnancy, weight loss, and aging all contribute to volume loss in your breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. A breast lift raises the position of 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. Our St. Louis plastic surgeons perform breast lifts in our St. Peters office all the time and are happy to consult with you on the best plan of action for your case.

When Should I Consider Having a Breast Lift?

  • If your nipples have dropped beneath your breast or they are pointing downward
  • If your breasts have lost volume or firmness and have stretched skin
  • If your breasts sag, droop, or appear slouchy

A breast lift can help correct all of these issues that many women and men face today. By raising and reshaping the breast and removing any excess skin, the breast appears perkier and more youthful. A reduction of the size of the areola (the darker area around the nipple) may be required, but a breast lift does not change the size of your breast, it simply adds liveliness.

With a breast lift (mastopexy), incisions may be made around the areola and extend down the bottom side of the breast and along the lower crease. Excess skin is removed, the nipple and areola are placed in a higher position than before, and the surrounding skin is brought down and together to lift and reshape the breast. Our St. Louis team specializes in the breast lift procedure.

Some patients experience bruised, swollen breasts after breast lift surgery, but this should last only a few days. You can plan on returning to your daily activities in 1-2 weeks.

  • If your nipples have dropped beneath your breast or they are pointing downward
  • If your breasts have lost volume or firmness and have stretched skin
  • If your breasts sag, droop, or appear slouchy

A breast lift can help correct all of these issues that many women and men face today. By raising and reshaping the breast and removing any excess skin, the breast appears perkier and more youthful. A reduction of the size of the areola (the darker area around the nipple) may be required, but a breast lift does not change the size of your breast, it simply adds liveliness.

With a breast lift (mastopexy), incisions may be made around the areola and extend down the bottom side of the breast and along the lower crease. Excess skin is removed, the nipple and areola are placed in a higher position than before, and the surrounding skin is brought down and together to lift and reshape the breast. Our St. Louis team specializes in the breast lift procedure.

Some patients experience bruised, swollen breasts after breast lift surgery, but this should last only a few days. You can plan on returning to your daily activities in 1-2 weeks.

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.

How Long Does a Breast Lift Take?

The duration of your breast lift surgery depends on several factors. Primarily, whether or not you are combining other procedures with your breast lift. Some patients have 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.

breast surgery in St. Louis

Treatment is also influenced by the amount of lifting that is needed or other aesthetic enhancements, such as areola reduction. Generally, patients can plan to be at the surgical center for approximately 5 hours on the day of their surgery. The mastopexy procedure may take about 3 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.

Recovery Process and After Care for Mastopexy

You can 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 amount of 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 who will assist 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.

Postoperatively, you can expect swelling and bruising. 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 help 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.

How Do Breast Lifts Impact Cup Sizes?

The breast lift procedure reshapes the breast by modifying the envelop of skin that covers the breast mound. Some amount of superficial tissue may also be removed during the lift process. However, the doctor leaves as much fatty tissue as possible while bringing the breasts up higher on the chest wall. The repositioning of the breasts alters their profile, shifting volume from the lower portion of the breast to the upper pole. This is inevitable and is also advantageous because the profile is related to how perky the breasts look. Because breast volume shifts upward, as it should to improve shape and symmetry, it is common for a patient to notice a change in bra size. This trade-off is usually one that is met with willingness and satisfaction due to the new, youthful breast shape that the lift has achieved. Breast size reduction after a breast lift is typically more subtle than patients imagine. Still, we believe in discussing this aspect of surgery at length in order to ensure each of our patients makes the most informed and confident decision about their procedure.

How Much Scarring is Caused By a Breast Lift?

Scarring is one of the primary concerns patients have as they prepare for surgery. The breast lift is a procedure in which it is most difficult to hide incisions, so care is taken after surgery to help the skin heal as optimally as it can. The scars that result from breast lift surgery do not tend to show beneath bras and bathing suits.

after St. Louis breast lift

However, understandably, you want your surgical scars to lighten and smooth out as much as possible. Once your incisions have healed, you may address the issue of scarring via a reputable scar cream or silicone pads that aid in skin recovery. At your post-op visit, we can 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 as well as the general shape of the breasts. It is best to wait at least 3 months after milk production has completely stopped to get breast lift surgery. It is ideal to wait 6 months.

Types of Breast Lifts

A breast lift is a breast lift. However, there are several incision types that are used. Your surgeon selects an incision pattern based on the extent of lifting needed to achieve optimal breast shape.

  • The Lollipop Lift involves 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 follows 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 incision is 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 incision is the most conservative, 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.

Will a Breast Lift Impact a Person's 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 in order to preserve the integrity of the milk and nipple ducts and prevent the formation of scar tissue as much as possible.

Schedule a Consult for Your Breast Lift in St. Louis

If you feel you are ready to discuss your breast lift options with one of our plastic surgeons, please contact Renaissance Plastic Surgery today to find out more about your options. Call 636.535.2933 or submit an online contact form, and our office will get back to you at our earliest convenience.

Renaissance Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa

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