Give Your Breasts
New Life
Breast lift surgery, or mastopexy, raises and reshapes sagging breasts.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Tag performs a mastopexy to reduce excess skin, tighten the supportive tissue of the breasts, and boost your breasts.
Breast Lift Candidates
Women seeking breast lift surgery are usually interested in correcting one or more of the following issues:
- 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 your breast holds the pencil, you may be a candidate for a breast lift.
The sagging shape of the breasts may be holding the pencil. 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 drooping breasts, including:
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Aging
- Weight fluctuations
- Genetics
Over time, all areas of our bodies are susceptible to sag and loss of firmness; the breasts are no different. Pregnancy and breastfeeding change the appearance of the breasts, which swell during pregnancy, stretching the skin.
The skin doesn’t always shrink as your breast size stabilizes, resulting in drooping skin. These changes also occur as a simple fact of aging.
How We Perform Breast Lift Surgery
Dr. Tag performs mastopexy surgeries in a properly equipped and accredited surgery center or a hospital. We’ll discuss the surgical facility and surgical appointment during 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 we clear you to return home.
You will need to arrange for someone to accompany 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.
Our incisions depend on several factors, mainly the degree of ptosis and excess skin. 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)
Dr. Tag uses these incisions to lift and reshape the tissue that supports the breasts and removes excess skin. This will increase the firmness of your breasts and raise their position. The nipple and areola are raised, and Dr. Tag may reduce the size if that is part of your treatment plan.
Once everything is reshaped and looking good, Dr. Tag closes the incisions. These incisions will heal into very discreet scars. Any vertical incision may be a little more apparent, but they get lighter and flatter over time.
Breast Lift Recovery
You should get up and walk around a couple of hours after surgery to promote healthy blood flow. You will likely feel sore, and your breasts will be swollen. We will prescribe a pain reliever or advise you of an over-the-counter pain reliever to take to help you feel comfortable.
You should plan to be home for a few days after surgery. 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 and avoid strenuous exercise for 4-6 weeks.
You can begin wearing underwire bras about eight weeks after surgery. During this time, you will start to see your final results.
Minor changes in shape and decreases in swelling can continue for up to a year, but you will see your final results a couple of months after the procedure.
What to Expect from Your Results
How long the results of a breast lift last vary by individual. A breast lift cannot stop age-related loss of firmness or physical changes to the breasts caused by future pregnancies.
Many breast lift patients are happy with their results for decades! You can promote longevity in your results by maintaining a stable body weight and protecting the skin from the sun.
Also, use supportive bras, especially for high-impact activities like running and mountain biking.
Schedule 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’re happy to answer your questions over the phone and arrange a consultation for you at U Plastic Surgery + Aesthetics!