What is a Breast Lift?
Many factors can cause breasts to sag, including pregnancy, aging, and massive weight loss. When you want your bustline to look youthful and rejuvenated, getting a breast lift at Indianapolis’ SHarper Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is a great way to restore your feminine figure. Bariatric patients, or patients who have experienced massive weight loss, may also be good candidates for this surgery.
A breast lift, more formally referred to as “mastopexy,” is a procedure that helps to reshape the breasts to achieve more youthful contours by lifting, resizing, and repositioning the breast tissue, nipple and areola. This procedure is usually performed on women who have developed tissue laxity through the aging process, or who have had multiple pregnancies.
BEFORE
& AFTER
Best Candidates for Breast Lift in Indianapolis
In order to determine whether a patient will be a good candidate for a breast lift procedure, there are several circumstances the doctor will discuss as part of the initial consultation.
Most importantly, the patient should be in good overall health, and at least be 18 years old. Attempting a breast lift before this age is not advised, as the body and breasts are still growing and undergoing significant changes. It’s best to let the body fully complete the process of becoming an adult before considering breast lift surgery. It’s also recommended that breast lift patients are nonsmokers in order to avoid any potential complications.
Women should be at or near their goal weight and able to maintain that weight because fluctuations in body mass can stretch the breast tissue and alter the desired look that was achieved with the breast lift. Those who desire a breast lift in Indianapolis should not be planning on breastfeeding or getting pregnant at any point in the future, because these are also factors that can change the results of the operation significantly through major weight gain or weight loss.
Advantages of Combining Procedures
A breast lift can be performed in conjunction with other forms of plastic surgery. It is most commonly done as part of breast augmentation surgery, in order to bring about a fuller, more ample, and rejuvenated-looking figure. Breast lifts are also done in combination with a tummy tuck, liposuction, and other procedures which are designed to remove excess fat and skin after massive weight loss. It’s also quite common to receive a breast lift as part of a mommy makeover, where multiple procedures are performed following a pregnancy in order to restore your body to the way it once was.
Benefits of a Breast Lift
Patients who desire an improved aesthetic appearance will benefit from a younger appearance of the breasts, with removal of excess skin and a less “deflated” look! Women who have lost breast volume either from surgery or breastfeeding may choose to have their breast lift in Indianapolis combined with breast augmentation (enlargement) to better fill the empty space created by the volume loss.
Breast Lift Procedure
A breast lift is usually performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. This procedure involves repositioning the breast tissues to create a more youthful, lifted appearance. The areolas can also be resized to be smaller if desired.
The breasts are marked ahead of time to provide a guide for the incisions. As part of the surgical procedure, the doctor will remove excess skin and reshape the breast tissue in order to lift and tighten the breasts.
The appropriate breast lift technique is determined by the following factors:
- Breast shape and size.
- The position and size of your areolas.
- The level of breast laxity.
- Skin elasticity and the amount of extra skin.
Here is the step-by-step process in which Dr. Harper typically conducts the procedure:
Step 1: Administering anesthesia
The anesthesiologist administers medications to maintain your comfort level during the surgery.
Step 2: Making the incision
Generally, Dr. Harper follows three types of incision techniques:
- Incision around the areola
- Incision around the areola and down to the breast crease.
- Incision around the areola, down to the breast crease and horizontally along the breast crease.
Step 3: Breast reshaping
After Dr. Harper makes an incision on your breast, he will reshape it by:
- Lifting the underlying breast tissue and improving breast firmness and contour.
- Repositioning the nipple and areola to a natural height.
- Reducing enlarged areolas by removing skin if necessary.
- Removing excess skin to make up for the loss of elasticity.
Step 4: Concealing the incision
After doing any of the above procedures in Step 3, Dr. Harper will close the incision lines along the natural contours of your breast. He will use sutures, skin adhesives and/or surgical tape to close the incision on the breast skin.
Step 5: Following up with Dr. Harper
Lastly, you need to take necessary post-operative care, as recommended by Dr. Harper, to avoid any complications. In most cases, results of mastopexy become visible immediately, but some may take some time. Ensure to attend your post-op visits at SHarper Plastic Surgery to keep Dr. Harper informed.
Recovery
Immediately following your breast lift in Indianapolis, you will need to recuperate for approximately one to two hours, until you feel that you are ready to go home. You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the next 24 hours or so. Getting plenty of rest and avoiding lifting or straining are vital in order to speed the recovery process and avoid complications. Patients may return to work about one week after surgery. A supportive bra must be worn every day for the full recovery period to ensure proper healing.
Breast Lift Cost
Comparing the average cost of a breast lift in Indianapolis to other areas of the country, patients will find that it is lower than the national average. However, when you’re looking for the best breast lift Indianapolis has to offer, you don’t want to go to the cheapest plastic surgeon—you might not get the results you were expecting. That’s why you want an expert plastic surgeon like Dr. Harper. Every patient is different, and since the actual cost of breast augmentation can vary so widely from patient to patient, the best thing to do is to come in for a personalized consultation with Dr. Harper for an estimate of how much your breast lift may ultimately cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a breast lift a permanent solution for sagging breasts?
A breast lift may improve drooping breasts for a long period of time, but age, weight changes, and pregnancy can change their form and position. That said, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and following your surgeon’s instructions may extend the benefits for years.
What type of anesthesia is used during a breast lift?
General anesthetic is utilized for breast lifts, however local or sedation may be used depending on the procedure and the patient.
What are the potential risks and complications of a breast lift?
Breast lifts may cause bleeding, infection, scarring, nipple feeling alterations, asymmetry, and unhappiness. To reduce problems, patients should address these risks with their surgeon and follow pre- and post-operative instructions.
How long is the recovery period after a breast lift?
Breast lift recovery time depends on the surgery’s extent and the patient’s demands. Patients usually need one to two weeks off work to recuperate. Most patients may resume regular activities within a few weeks, although edema and pain may last longer.
How long do breast lifts last?
Depending on age, weight changes, and pregnancy, a breast lift may endure for years after the procedure. That said, breasts age and droop with time, which may require further procedures.
Will I have visible scars after a breast lift?
Breast lifts leave scars, however the location and size depend on the technique performed.
Can a breast lift be combined with other procedures?
Breast lifts may be coupled with breast augmentation, reduction, liposuction, and tummy tucks.
Breast Lift Indianapolis Consultation
The best way to get all your questions answered about a breast lift in Indianapolis is to contact SHarper Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for a consultation with Dr. Stanley Harper, a board-certified Indianapolis plastic surgeon. Call us today! We would love to help you get the look you’ve always wanted for your figure.
