What is breast lift surgery?
Breast lift surgery, or a mastopexy, helps improve the contour and position of your breasts. During the procedure, Dr. Salcedo removes excess skin and tissue to simultaneously raise and reshape your breasts.
The procedure is used to address decreased skin elasticity and breast firmness that all women experience to some degree as they age. These common breast changes may be the result of:
Gravity
The constant pull of gravity makes the ligaments in your breasts stretch and sag a little more with each passing year.
Weight variations
Significant changes in your body weight can overstretch your breast skin and make it lose some of its elasticity.
Pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, your ligaments — including those that support your breasts — become more elastic to accommodate weight gain. This hormone-fueled stretching can contribute to post-pregnancy breast sag, especially if you also breastfeed your baby.
Is breast lift surgery right for me?
Most women decide to undergo breast lift surgery if their breasts have become noticeably saggy or their nipples have begun to point downward, rather than outward. A breast lift may be the right cosmetic solution for you if:
- Your breasts have become flatter or longer with age
- Your breasts have lost their shape and volume after childbirth
- Your breasts hang unevenly (one falls lower than the other)
- Your areolas have become increasingly larger
- Your nipples and areolas no longer point outward
While a breast lift can raise the position of your nipples and reduce the size of your areolas to keep them proportionate to your new shape, it won’t change your breast size. The procedure can be done, however, in combination with breast augmentation or breast reduction surgery.
When should I delay getting a breast lift?
Although a breast lift is a viable option for most healthy women who have no trouble maintaining a stable body weight, the surgery isn’t right for everyone.
If you’re interested in having a breast lift but you’re still considering a future pregnancy, for example, you may wish to delay the procedure until after you’re done having children. That’s because the hormone-fueled body stretching and elasticity that occurs during pregnancy can undermine the results of your surgery.
Another reason it’s better to have breast lift surgery after your family is complete is that it may impact your ability to produce enough breast milk for a nursing infant.
To schedule a breast lift consultation with Dr. Salcedo, call The Plastics Doc or book an appointment online today.
*Individual results may vary
