Breast Lift (Mastopexy) in Miami

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

About Breast Lift Surgery

Breast lift is often recommended to women who are unhappy with breasts that have lost their youthful firmness and shape. The most popular reasons why women seek breast lift is to reverse sagging and drooping that occur due to one or more of the following factors:

• pregnancy and nursing
• significant weight fluctuations (i.e., losing a lot of weight from diet/exercise or bariatric surgery)
• gravity
• the natural aging process
• genetics

Breast lift can restore the beautiful breast contours a woman enjoyed in her pre-baby days, or eliminate the loose, redundant skin that can be left behind after significant weight loss.

Although breast lift rejuvenates the overall appearance of the breasts, it does not change the size of the breasts or increase the fullness in the upper portion of the breasts. Some women choose to have implants added during breast lift to add volume and enjoy greater “upper pole” fullness and more cleavage. Breast lift with implants improves the size, shape and position of the breasts simultaneously. Dr. Craft offers different implant sizes and shapes to accommodate the diverse goals of his patients.

Breast lift is also commonly combined with abdominoplasty and/or body contouring procedures into a “mommy makeover” treatment plan. Mommy makeover comprehensively addresses the areas of a woman’s body that change after having children and breastfeeding. Every mommy makeover is uniquely tailored to the individual patient, and most patients choose to incorporate a breast lift component.

During surgery, Dr. Craft removes excess breast skin and tissue while tightening the remaining skin for a firmer and more attractive appearance. The breast tissue is tightened and  lifted higher on the chest wall for a more youthful position. Areolas (the dark skin surrounding the nipples) that have stretched out or point downward can be reduced and/or repositioned for a more ideal location, size and shape.

Please contact our office today.

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Breast Lift Procedure

Breast lift is an outpatient procedure, performed in a hospital or private surgery center. General anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation is used for the patient’s comfort. Dr. Craft and the anesthesiologist will advise of the most suitable type of anesthesia for the case.

Breast lift can be performed several different ways, depending on the natural anatomy of the breasts, the degree of correction needed, whether implants are placed and personal preferences.

One option is to perform breast lift through a small periareolar incision, which is an incision made around the perimeter of the areola. A periareolar incision is most appropriate for women who have a mild to moderate amount of breast sagging.

For more extensive correction, a “lollipop” or “keyhole” incision may be more suitable. This incision extends around the edge of the areola and vertically down the front of the breast to the breast crease. The longer incision allows for a greater amount of skin excision and tissue tightening.

Women with a moderate to severe amount of breast sagging will see the most benefit from breast lift performed through an “anchor”-shaped incision. This incision extends around the areola, vertically down the front of the breast and horizontally along the breast crease.

Through the incisions, Dr. Craft lifts and reshapes the breast tissue and repositions the nipple-areolar complex to a more youthful position. If desired, he can also reduce enlarged or stretched-out areolas. When Dr. Craft is finished with the surgical modifications, he closes the incisions with sutures and bandages the breasts.

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Breast Lift Recovery

The initial recovery period for breast lift can last one to two weeks, depending on the patient’s personal healing progress. Soreness, bruising and swelling are normal and temporary. Sensory changes to the breasts are also common — the breasts may feel tight or numb and the incision sites may slightly itch. These side effects should subside in the days and weeks following surgery.

Initially the breasts will be wrapped in a tight-fitting compression bra. The garment provides continual support and gentle pressure to the healing tissues; it also helps protect the incisions. It should be worn for at least a few weeks. Dr. Craft will advise when this garment can be removed and switched out for a sports bra or normal bra.

Sometimes drainage tubes are attached to the breasts to prevent blood and fluid accumulation during recovery. The compression garment helps keep the tubes properly in place, and patients are asked to regularly empty the drains and measure the fluid output.

Medications are also prescribed to prevent infection and manage any discomfort. Some patients do not need prescription pain medication and only take over-the-counter pain relievers for a few days.

Follow-up appointments with Dr. Craft and his team are important to ensure the patient is healing properly. During this appointment, Dr. Craft examines the incisions, removes drainage tubes and non-absorbable sutures and assesses the healing breast tissues. He can answer questions and address any concerns or new side effects that occur. Dr. Craft can also provide a timeline for resuming work, exercise and socializing.

In addition to attending all follow-up appointments, Dr. Craft asks that patients eat nutritious foods, get plenty of sleep and limit strenuous activities, bending and heavy lifting during the recovery period. Patients should sleep on their backs to avoid putting pressure on the breasts as they heal. Short walks are encouraged to promote good circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots.

The final results of breast lift may take up to one year to become visible, once residual swelling has dissipated. Following breast lift, the breasts will appear perkier and accentuate the overall figure.

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Lift

Does breast lift change the size of the breasts?

Breast lift does not change the size of the breasts. During surgery, Dr. Craft removes a small amount of skin but no tissue. Breast lift may create the illusion that the breasts are smaller because lifted, perky breasts take up less surface area on the chest than flat, broad, saggy breasts. They project out from the chest instead of down the front of the chest.

Should I delay breast lift until after having children?

Timing breast lift is a personal decision you should make in consultation with Dr. Craft. If you have minimal breast sagging, you might want to wait until after you have had children to undergo breast lift. On the other hand, if you have not yet had children but are bothered by saggy breasts, you might see the benefit in undergoing breast lift right now. Keep in mind that pregnancy and nursing are likely to “re-stretch” the breast skin after breast lift.

Can breast lift be combined with other procedures?

Breast lift can be combined with the placement of breast implants for larger, perkier breasts. Breast lift is also commonly performed in conjunction with tummy tuck for a complete “mommy makeover.”

How can I tell whether I need breast augmentation, breast lift or both?

Consulting with a  board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Craft can help clarify the best course of action.

In general, if you are happy with the size of your breasts but feel they are too saggy, you can probably benefit from breast lift. If you are happy with the position of your breasts but want to increase their size, breast augmentation is likely the better option. And if you want to improve the size and position of your breasts, you might be a good candidate for a combination breast lift-breast augmentation procedure.

Will breast lift affect my nipple sensation?

One of the potential risks of breast lift is a temporary or permanent change in nipple or breast sensation. If this is concerning to you, talk to Dr. Craft about approaches that can be taken to minimize this risk.

What are some of the other risks of breast lift?

Other possible breast lift complications include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Adverse reaction to anesthesia
• Bad scarring
• Asymmetrical breasts
• Possible breastfeeding challenges

Can breast lift make my areolas smaller?

Yes. Dr. Craft can reduce the size of your areolas during breast lift surgery if requested. Also, he can reposition your nipple-areolar complexes to sit higher on your breasts for a more youthful appearance.

Is there anything I need to do to prepare for breast lift?

In the months leading up to surgery, you should focus on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Significant weight fluctuations after breast lift can have an adverse effect on your results.

Dr. Craft will give you complete pre-op instructions to follow. You might be asked to get a mammogram before the procedure or to have bloodwork done. If you smoke, you will need to stop several weeks prior to surgery. You will also need to refrain from taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications or supplements that can increase the risks during or after surgery.

When can I resume work after breast lift surgery?

Most women are able to resume work one to two weeks after surgery as long as their jobs are not physically demanding. If you have a strenuous job, you may need to take additional time off after surgery before returning to work.

For more information about breast lift, please contact our office today.