Breast Lift

Introduction
The breast evaluation.
The breast lift procedure
Recovery and healing
Cost of surgery

Introduction

Many factors can cause a woman’s breast to change their youthful shape and fullness over time. This loss of skin elasticity can result from pregnancy, breast feeding, loss or significant weight fluctuations, aging and gravity. Looseness of skin or loss of volume of the breast can occur and has some hereditary component and can occur in women from their teens till their older years. Certainly breasts that have lost their firmness, shape and volume can affect a woman’s self image and confidence.

The two major factors that Dr. Ress looks at when evaluating a patient for cosmetic improvement of the breast are the amount of extra skin and the remaining elasticity of the skin as well as the position of the nipple relative to the crease underneath the breast. The medical term for the degree of “droopiness” is ptosis. Breast lift surgery uplifts and improves the shape of the breast that sags, has lost firmness or skin elasticity, is flat and when unsupported the nipple falls below the breast crease. A patient who has a nipple or areola that points downward or has a stretched or enlarged areola will need a breast lift procedure.

Women who have also lost volume of the breast as well as having a nipple that falls below the breast crease are best treated with a combined augmentation lift procedure. During that procedure a breast implant is placed beneath the muscle to replace the volume and a lifting procedure performed to help reshape and reposition the breast tissue to give maximal cosmetic improvement. 

The best candidates for surgery are patients who are at a weight that they can maintain and who do not plan any significant weight gain or weight loss. Non-smokers, women who are planning no further pregnancies, or women who are younger but have significant differences in asymmetry between either breast.

All breast lift procedures require incisions be placed around the areola. The extent of additional incisions whether vertical (known as a “lollipop” incision) or a vertical incision extended beneath the breast crease (either a “L-shaped” or “anchor shaped” incisions) will be required depending on the extent that your breast have been stretched and the elasticity and excess of skin.


The breast evaluation.

Dr. Ress takes special care to review with you how you wish to improve the appearance of your breast. This includes the size you wish to be, the amount of fullness that you desire, and you willingness to accept improvement of shape and willingness to accept scars if necessary. During the consultation you will be asked about your desired breast size and anything else related to the appearance of your breast you wish to discuss. These discussions are important to make sure Dr. Ress can understand your expectations and to make sure that they can realistically be achieved. Dr. Ress will examine your breast and make sure there are no lumps or bumps present, take specialized measurements, which are necessary for the planning of surgery and evaluate the quality and texture of your skin. Dr. Ress will also obtain a complete medical history including whether or not you have any family history of breast cancer and results of any prior mammograms. A separate pre-operative conference is held a week or so prior to surgery to carefully review the surgery plan, take pre-operative photographs, provide you with prescriptions for post-operative pain medications and answer all of your questions in full. In addition, all the risks, benefits, alternatives and goals are discussed in full with you so that you are fully informed of the treatment options and the plan for surgery. 

In breast lift surgery, Dr. Ress is acutely aware that no woman wishes to have incisions or scars. Dr. Ress will limit the length of your breast incisions as much as possible without compromising the breast shape.


The breast lift procedure.

Dr. Ress will perform your procedure in an accredited operating room either at an outpatient surgical center or at the hospital. The breast lift is an outpatient procedure and you will go home the same day. Prior to surgery Dr. Ress will make markings on your chest and breast using a ruler and sharpie type marker. These markings will help guide Dr. Ress during surgery to ensure improved symmetry, much like a fashion designer uses to create couture clothing. Breast lift surgery with or without implants typically takes 3-4 hours to perform.

After surgery you will have either a light bra or other garment applied to help maintain the shape of the breast.