In my experience, many women choose a breast lift with implants to enhance the shape, volume and position of their breasts. This procedure is designed achieve a fuller, perkier shape. It increases the breast size and creates a balanced proportion by tightening the breast skin envelope.
Discussing Your Breast Lift Procedure
For this procedure, I’ll use either a one or two-stage surgery. This will depend on how much of an increase in breast volume you hope for and the degree of lift suitable for your breast and nipple areolar proportions. It all begins with a detailed consultation with me. A lot of careful planning and consideration is required to ensure we are aligned on your surgical plan.
With a typical borderline case, where your nipple position seems to lie at the level of your breast fold, you may be a candidate for breast augmentation alone. Likewise, if you are comfortable with the relatively low-lying position of your breasts, using bigger sized implants to fill tissue laxity may be sufficient.
However, from my experience, a breast lift with implants is sometimes the appropriate approach to address shape, size and symmetry simultaneously. With a lift, your breasts will be raised to a higher position and your skin will be tightened over your chosen implants.
Recovery Timeline After a Breast Lift Surgery
Your recovery period will vary based on the nature of your surgery. In general, you should expect significant post-operative swelling over the first 5 to 7 days after the procedure. Then, over the next 4 to 6 weeks, the swelling and discomfort will subside and you’ll start to see the final results.
Over the years as a Plastic Surgeon, I have found that pain varies tremendously between my patients, and this depends not only on the procedure, but also on the individual’s pain threshold. As you progress through the recovery period, I recommend that you take things easy to promote good wound healing. This means no heavy lifting. It also means allowing your body to adjust to the new shape and size of your breasts. Each one of my patients gets specific instructions for post-operative care and it’s important that you adhere closely to these instructions.
Possible Complications
I always tell my patients that it’s important to keep in mind the risks and possible complications involved in a breast lift surgical procedure. For example, when using a lift with implants, you’re dealing with a more complicated procedure than breast augmentation. This means there is a possibility of extra scarring around the breast mound.
With the peri-areolar mastopexy, there is the risk of a sort of “squashing down” of the mound, at least in the short term. In the long term the skin will usually stretch to your desired contour but this creates the risk of areolar spreading and inconsistent nipple positioning.
As with any cosmetic breast enhancement surgery, there is a risk of changes to the nipple or breast sensation, as well as contour or shape abnormalities. To ensure that you are comfortable with the procedure, the recovery period and the expected final results, we will discuss all of the possible complications during our consultation and before you commit to breast lift surgery.
Learn whether or not you would be a good candidate for breast lift surgery by requesting a consultation.
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