Breast Lift for Sagging Breasts

Mastopexy

Breast Droop (Saggy Breasts)

Look in the mirror, and carefully inspect your breasts. If your nipples have drooped to the level of the crease beneath your breast, then you have mild breast droop (also known as Grade I ptosis). If they have drooped below this line, then you have moderate droop (also known as grade II ptosis). If they are pointing toward your shoes, then you have severe droop (also known as grade III ptosis).

Some women would prefer to have breast implants (rather than a breast lift) to fix their saggy breasts. However, this does not work. Simply put, if your nipples and breasts are droopy and you want them lifted, then you need to have a breast lift.

Incisions and Scars in Breast Lift

Scars are the greatest drawback of a breast lift. They will be around the nipple, and may also extend from the nipple down to the crease, and along the breast crease. The extent of scars is often related to the degree of droop: the greater the droop, the more extensive the scars. Any woman considering a breast lift must realize that she is exchanging one cosmetic breast problem (saggy breasts) for another cosmetic breast problem (scars). In general, women with mild droop do not find this exchange worthwhile. Women with moderate or severely saggy breasts do find this exchange worthwhile. This remains a personal decison. Another thing to consider is that most scars, even those which are initially unfavorable, fade over time.

Click here for Average Cost of Breast Lift (in the U.S.)

(The above listed fees do not reflect those of Dr. Loftus. For a complete listing, visit Fees at The Loftus Plastic Surgery Center.)

Breast Lift: During and After Surgery

Anesthesia: General or sedation.
Location of operation: Office or hospital.
Length of surgery: 1-2 hours (3-4 hours if performed with augmentation).
Length of stay: Outpatient (home same day).
Discomfort: Mild to moderate. Anticipate 2-7 days of prescription pain medication.
Swelling and Bruising: Improve in 3-10 days.
Bandages: Will be removed in 1-7 days.
Stitches: Will be removed in 5-7 days.
Support: You will wear a sports bra or ace wrap for 1-4 weeks. Avoid an under wire bra until your surgeon approves it.
Back to work: 3-7 days.
Exercise: May be resumed in 2 weeks.
Final result: Will be seen after the scars have matured, which will be about six months.

Tips and Traps of Breast Lift

• Realize that this operation involves the exchange of one cosmetic problem (droop) for another (scars). If you are unwilling to accept scars, you should not have this operation, as no surgeon can predict how the scars will heal on you.

• As a general rule, the more extensive your droop, the more extensive will be your scars.

• Wait until you are done having children before considering breast lift & enhancement: future pregnancy is likely to leave you with droopy breasts again.

• Quit smoking for at least 2-4 weeks before surgery to reduce your risk of healing problems.

• Anticipate recurrent droop if your breasts are large. The larger your breasts, the more droop you can expect, and the sooner you can expect it.

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