Breast lift surgery (mastopexy) raises and re-shapes sagging breasts. In Baltimore, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Maakan Taghizadeh performs mastopexy to reduce excess skin and tighten the supportive tissue of the breasts. Please contact U Plastic Surgery today to schedule a consultation to find out if you are a good candidate for this breast procedure.
Breast Lift Candidates
Women seeking breast lift surgery are usually interested in correcting one or more of the following:
- Sagging breasts
- Stretched/enlarged areolas
- Deflated breast shape
- Drooping breasts
- Nipples pointing downward
- Nipples that have fallen below the breast crease
Consider the “pencil test”: If you were to take a pencil, place it in the fold beneath your breast so that the pencil is held parallel to the ground, does the pencil fall to the floor? Or does your breast crease hold the pencil in place? If the pencil is held by your breast, then you may be a candidate for a breast lift. The sagging shape of the breasts may be holding the pencil. Raised, perky breasts do not usually have enough excess skin to hold the pencil against the chest wall.
There are several contributing factors when it comes to breast “ptosis” (drooping):
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Aging
- Weight fluctuations
- Genetics
As the years pass, all areas of our bodies are susceptible to sag and loss of firmness; the breasts are no different. Pregnancy and breastfeeding certainly changes the appearance of the breasts, which swell during pregnancy, stretching the skin. The skin doesn’t always shrink back as your breast size stabilizes, so you can be left with a lot of drooping skin. These changes also occur as a simple fact of aging.
How Long Does a Breast Lift Last?
It really varies by individual. A breast lift cannot stop age-related loss of firmness, nor can it stop physical changes to the breasts caused by future pregnancies. Many breast lift patients are happy with their results for decades! You can promote longevity of your results by maintaining a stable body weight and protecting the skin from the sun. Also be sure to use supportive bras, especially for high-impact activities like running and mountain biking.
How Breast Lift Surgery is Performed
Mastopexy is completed in a properly equipped and accredited surgery center or at a hospital. We will discuss the surgical facility and surgical appointment as part of your consultation.
You will be sedated with general anesthesia until the procedure is complete. Upon waking, you will feel groggy and sore, and we will move you into a comfortable recovery room until you are cleared to return home. You will have previously arranged for someone to come with you to the appointment, remain for the duration and drive you home afterward. There will also need to be someone at your home with you continuously for the next 24 hours.
There are three types of incisions:
- Around the areolas (this incision looks like a donut shape)
- Around the areolas and vertically downward toward the breast fold (this incision resembles a lollipop shape)
- Around the areolas, vertically downward to the breast fold as well as horizontally along the breast fold (this incision resembles an anchor)
The right incision depends on several factors, but mainly the degree of ptosis and excess skin.
Using these incisions, Dr. Tag lifts and re-shapes the tissue that supports the breasts. This will increase the firmness of your breasts and raise their position. Excess skin is removed. The nipple and areola are raised. Areola size may be reduced if that is something you and Dr. Tag decide on.
Once everything is re-shaped and looking good, Dr. Tag closes the incisions. These incisions will heal into scars. The incisions made along the breast fold and around the areola are very discreet once they fully heal. Any vertical incision made may be a little more apparent, but they do get lighter and flatter over time.
Breast Lift Recovery
You should get up and walk around a couple hours after surgery to promote healthy blood flow. You will likely feel sore and your breasts will be swollen. We will have previously prescribed a pain reliever or advised you of an over-the-counter pain reliever to take.
Plan to be home for a few days. Many breast lift patients return to work within the same week as surgery, but listen to your body and do what’s right for your recovery. You’ll need to sleep on your back during this time to promote proper healing and settling of the breast tissue. You will need to take a break from strenuous exercise for 4-6 weeks.
You can begin wearing underwire bras about 8 weeks later. During this time, your final results will begin to appear! Very minor changes in shape and decreases in swelling can continue for up to a year, but you will basically be looking at your final results a couple months after the procedure.
Arrange a Consultation with a Breast Surgeon
If you live in or around Baltimore and are interested in breast lift surgery, please call the practice of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Maakan Taghizadeh. We are happy to answer your questions over the phone and arrange a consultation for you at U Plastic Surgery!
