How do I know if I am a good candidate for breast lift surgery?
Let’s face it. We are in an ongoing race with an opponent that is not only relentless, but, as much as we hate to admit it, destined to win. That opponent, as you have probably guessed, is the aging process. Until someone actually finds that fountain of youth or hits the jackpot in an anti-aging lab somewhere, there is simply no way to stop growing older and all of the bodily changes that come with it.
But…just because we can’t stop aging that doesn’t mean that we can’t slow it down and even hit the reset button from time to time to, at least temporarily, reverse the damage. One of the ways that we can do this is with a mastopexy, better known as breast lift surgery.
What Is a Breast Lift?
A breast lift is not the same as breast augmentation, which uses implants to increase the size of the breast. Neither is it the same as breast reduction, in which internal fat and tissue are removed to make the breast smaller. While either of these procedures may also be done at the same time, breast lift surgery does not change the size of the breast. It changes the shape by removing and tightening the skin and tissue which has sagged and stretched over time.
Even though we hear more about breast augmentation surgery, breast lifts have become more and more popular. In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, they have been outpacing implant surgery by more than 2 to 1.
The breast lift procedure takes around three hours. It is typically done as outpatient surgery, with the patient receiving general anesthesia. The first few days following surgery will likely be uncomfortable, and it will be important to avoid bending, lifting and straining.
Your surgeon will provide you with recovery instructions and information, including:
- What medications will be prescribed
- Instructions on bandages or dressings
- Whether stitches will dissolve or when to return for their removal
- Schedule for returning to normal activities
- Follow-up appointments
Reasons to Consider Breast Lift Surgery
Breasts change as we age, just like the rest of the body. As the tissue loses firmness and elasticity, the breasts tend to sag and become droopy. How extensive this is can be due to a number of factors. Some of the more common ones include:
- Gravity
- Aging
- Changes in weight
- Pregnancy
- BreastfeedingG
- enetics
- One breast may be larger or fall lower than the other
Are You a Good Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery?
How do you know if you are a good candidate for breast lift surgery? The first step is being clear that it is something you are doing for yourself and not to try and please someone else. The second step is to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon so that you will understand exactly what the procedure will do and, just as importantly, what it will not do.
In general, however, you may wish to consider breast lift surgery if the following apply to you:
- your breasts are sagging or the shape has changed in a way that you do not like
- your nipples and areolas point downward
- you are physically healthy
- your body weight is stable
- you are a non-smoker
Dr. Brian D. Cohen is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with extensive training in cosmetic/reconstructive plastic surgery and has had years of experience performing a wide array of cosmetic surgery procedures, specializing in procedures of the face, eyes, nose, breast and body and is known for his exemplary and compassionate care by his patients. Knowing that Dr. Cohen has been selected by his peers in Super Doctors and Top Doctors for 9 years in a row in 2021 gives you the confidence that he is highly respected for his performance in his specialty.
Information on locations and office hours for Cohen Plastic Surgery can be found by clicking here.