Breast Lift - Indications, Types, Precautions, and Complications

What Is Breast Lift?

A breast lift is also called mastopexy. This procedure gives sagging breasts a firmer, perkier, and more visually attractive shape. Restoring the patient's youthful, feminine proportions can enhance attractiveness and make bras and swimsuits fit more beautifully and comfortably.

A cosmetic surgeon can produce a breast contour that looks younger by removing extra, stretched-out skin, contouring the breast tissue, and pushing the nipple and areola forward. During breast lift surgery, stretched, big areolae can also be decreased, resulting in a more balanced, natural-looking breast.

Why Is Breast Lift Surgery Needed?

Breasts alter as individuals age; the breasts could stretch, sag, or droop, losing suppleness.

Some causes are:

• Aging.

• Breastfeeding.

• Sagging breasts due to genetics.

• Gravity.

• Pregnancy.

• Significant loss of weight.

The breasts may appear younger and firmer after mastopexy.

A breast lift can also eliminate perceived flaws like-

• Downward-pointing areolas.

• Nipples that are in various directions.

• Breasts that are uneven or unequal.

What Are the Different Types of Breast Lift Surgeries?

Each individual is different, and their expectations vary. The cosmetic surgeon will choose a particular type of surgery depending on the patient's expectations, the amount of sagging, and the patient's condition.

These include,

• Crescent Lift: This procedure is usually used for women with relatively minor sagging to address; cosmetic surgeons may employ the "crescent lift" procedure. This entails making a little incision that wraps around the top half of the areola's edge. Only when a patient is simultaneously undergoing breast augmentation is a crescent lift typically performed, and even then, the crescent incision style is less frequently used. This procedure causes minimal scarring.

• Donut Lift: A periareolar lift is frequently an excellent option for women who have minimal breast sagging but still need a breast lift. Similar to the crescent lift, this procedure entails making a circular incision around the areola's edge. Breast augmentation is frequently carried out, just as the crescent lift. Additionally helpful in reducing areola size. The resulting scar follows the areola's edge and is less likely to be seen.

• Lollipop Lift: This procedure corrects moderate sagging and offers more extensive vertical reshaping of the breasts. Because it enables a cosmetic surgeon to remove extra skin and restructure the entire breast with little scarring, this kind of breast lift is frequently employed. A vertical lift requires two incisions: one along the areola's edge and one that forms a "lollipop" shape extending perpendicularly from the base of the areola to the inframammary fold.

• Anchor Lift: This is usually employed to address dramatic reshaping or severe sagging of breasts. Suppose the breasts are significantly drooping or pendulous, an anchor lift. In that case, the finest outcomes can come from a procedure that enables a cosmetic surgeon to remove a large quantity of extra skin and drooping tissues. Three incisions are required for this procedure: one along the areola's edge, one running vertically from the areola's base to the breast fold, and one down the inframammary fold, which is tucked away in the breast crease. The cosmetic surgeon might also employ this method if patients undergo a breast reduction and lift, even though the anchor lift leaves some visible scarring, which usually disappears with time and can be covered up by a bikini top.

• Combining Breast Augmentation and Lift: A breast lift alone can not always produce the desired effects for a patient. If a patient's breasts appear deflated, breast implants can be inserted. During a breast lift procedure, if patients believe that their breasts have lost fullness and shape or volume due to aging, weight loss, or pregnancy and want to have bigger and lifted breasts, breast augmentation can be combined with a breast lift procedure to achieve the desired results.

What Are the Precautions to Be Taken by the Patient for Breast Lift Surgery?

The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia.

Before the Procedure:

• Before performing the surgery, a plastic surgeon will evaluate the patient.

• Patients' overall health and medical history are checked thoroughly to rule out systemic illness and drug allergies.

• Patients are advised to quit smoking for at least two months.

• Before surgery, patients may be advised to stop blood thinning medications such as Aspirin, Clopidogrel, vitamin E, and Warfarin.

• Patients are advised to take medications prescribed by the doctor.

• Before the procedure, patients are advised to take mammograms to look for tumors or other abnormalities.

• Surgeons may take pre-operative photographs to examine the breasts and improve the areas which require treatment.

• Also, pre-operative photographs help to evaluate the difference in the appearance of the breasts after the surgery.

• Surgeons will discuss different breast lift surgeries, procedures, and the outcome of the results.

On the Day of the Procedure:

• Patients should stop eating or drinking at least six hours before the procedure.

• General anesthesia is preferred for the surgery, so the patient is advised to accompany a person to take care of the patient.

• The procedure usually takes one to two hours to perform, depending on the type of procedure.

After the Procedure:

• Discharge of the patient is done the same day after the surgery or sometimes needs to stay one or two days in the hospital.

• Incision drains will be placed near the chest to collect the fluid.

• Postoperative pain will be there for a few days, which is typical.

• Follow the medications prescribed by the doctor.

• Advised to sleep on the back for a few days after the surgery until satisfactory healing is achieved.

• Patients are advised to wear special bras to support the breasts.

• Patients can resume normal activities within the first week after surgery.

• Surgeons will recommend restricting strenuous physical activities for six to seven weeks.

• However, follow-up appointments are necessary to check for any shift or asymmetry in breasts.

What Are the Complications of Breast Lift Surgery?

The following complications can occur in a breast lift surgery:

• Severe bleeding at the surgical site.

• Infection at the site.

• Due to distortion, the implant may shift.

• Asymmetry of the breasts, one breast is more significant than the other.

• Loss of sensation.

• Severe or prolonged pain in the chest.

• Formation of scar around the implant resulting in pain and discomfort.

• Change in the color of skin.

• Severe scarring at the incision site.

• Allergic reactions due to general anesthesia.

• Damage to underlying tissue.

• Difficulty breastfeeding in the future.

• Loss of nipple or damage to the areola.

Conclusion:

A breast lift is like turning back the hands of time for sagging. Even though the aging process will continue to cause natural changes in the breasts, if the individual takes good care of them, they should not have the same level of sagging for many years. However, it's crucial to realize that some life events, like a potential pregnancy or weight loss, may cause changes in the breasts.