BreastLift
As women age, experience weight fluctuations or have children, their breasts tend to lose fat and the tissue begins to thin. In most cases, when the breast tissue shrinks, the skin does not and the nipple droops down below the inframammary fold, or that crease where the breast and chest meet. In a breast lift, we lift the nipple above the crease to restore a youthful look and an aesthetically appealing shape. If there is too much or too little breast volume, a breast reduction or augmentation might be recommended in conjunction with the lift to help you achieve the appearance you want.
benefits
- Perkier, more youthful looking breasts
- Breasts that are in better proportion to your physique
- Improved shape and symmetry
Results
Before and After
This Houston breast lift patient is a 32-year-old who had large, oversized breasts that caused severe back and neck pain. She reported she was an H cup and wanted to be a full D or DD cup. There was also significant asymmetry of her breasts. Dr. Jung performed breast lift surgery (mastopexy procedure) and breast reduction. He removed more breast tissue from the left breast and elevated the nipple higher. She is shown here four months post-op and is delighted with her breast lift results. She said her back and neck pain are gone and she fits into clothes much better.
TREATMENTConsiderations
During your consultation, Dr. Jung will get to know you and go over your goals and expectations for the breast surgery. He’ll assess the nature of your breasts and explain what to expect and what the probable outcome of your procedure will be. You’ll be shown several before and after treatment photos of patients with similar breasts to yours to get an idea of what a breast lift will look like on you. You will also have a discussion about the cost of your breast lift procedure.
Breast lifts are performed on an outpatient basis using general or local anesthesia. The surgery takes between two and four hours depending on the complexity.
The most common approach, and the one typically used when we do a breast reduction in conjunction with the lift, is making an “anchor” incision. The first incision is made around the areola. The next runs from the bottom of the areola down the breast to the crease and the third incision follows the horizontal breast crease. Working through these incisions, excess skin and breast tissue are removed from the lower portion of the breast. Areolas that have been stretched over time can be resized. Tissue is repositioned to reshape the breast. The nipple and the breast tissue are lifted into a higher position and sutured into place.
There are other techniques including the “lollipop” lift, which avoids the horizontal incision beneath the breast, and the peri-areolar, or “donut,” incision, which avoids both the vertical incision from the breast crease to the areola and the horizontal incision beneath the breast. Depending on the shape and the amount of breast tissue that needs to be removed, Dr. Jung will tailor the surgery and the incisions used to your individual case to minimize scarring while improving the shape of the breasts.
PRE + POSTOp Care
Prior to your Houston breast lift surgery, Dr. Jung will give you instructions to follow, which may include refraining from smoking and avoiding certain medications. Following your surgery, it’s a good idea to sleep on your back to avoid undue pressure on your breasts. Bed rest is recommended for the first day. You may be asked to temporarily wear surgical dressings or a post-surgical garment. All sutures will be removed within one to two weeks. The majority of the discomfort associated with your breast lift can be controlled with oral medication prescribed by Dr. Jung. He may also prescribe antibiotics. Most women experience some swelling, bruising and tenderness for up to six weeks, however, many return to work within the first week after their procedure.