Breast Lift Surgery
Orlando and Winter Park, Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a breast lift surgery enlarge your breasts?
By lifting and firming up the breasts, a breast lift (mastopexy) may make them look larger. Also, implants can be inserted at the same time, which will make them larger. If you aren't sure which procedure would be best for you, Dr. Greenberg will help you decide.
How are breast lifts done?
There are different techniques, but basically, skin is removed from around the areola and in some cases also from the bottom of the breast, the remaining skin is tightened, and the nipple and areola are re-positioned higher up. Most breast lifts are done in an outpatient facility with general anesthesia, although if the excess tissue to be removed is small, it could be done with local anesthetic.
There are two general types of breast lift techniques.
- Concentric (doughnut) breast lift
This is for women whose breasts are smaller and not as severely sagging. There are fewer incisions. A doughnut-shaped piece of skin is removed from around the nipple and areola such that they can be shifted upwards, and then the remaining skin is stitched around them in their new location.
In some cases, where this stitching is done, wrinkles will appear, like pleats, but they'll smooth out over time.
A variation of this is the vertical breast lift where the surgeon places another incision running downward from the nipple to the breast crease. A strip of skin can be removed and the edges stitched together, and in this way, more firming of the breast is achieved.
- Anchor-shaped breast lift
This technique is used for women with larger and more sagging breasts, and it's the most frequent technique used. Besides the incisions used in the concentric and vertical breast lifts, another incision is placed beneath the breast. So the shape of all incisions together is like an anchor.
Then as in the concentric method, excess skin is removed, the remaining skin tightened, the nipple and areola moved to a higher position, and all openings are closed.
How should I prepare for the breast lift surgery?
Your surgeon will discuss this with you at the initial and preoperative consultation. You may be advised to lose some weight before the breast lift surgery is performed.
Is there a lot of pain after a breast lift?
In the first couple of days, your breasts will be sore, but your surgeon will write a pain prescription for you. It gradually eases off within a few days.
How long does a breast lift take?
The time a breast lift takes depends on which method is used and how much excess tissue is removed. It can be as short as an hour or so, and as long as four hours.
What is the recovery like after a breast lift?
As with any surgical recovery period, the length of time it takes depends on the individual person, the exact surgical procedure performed, and the attentiveness of your post-op self-care. And as always, there are milestones along this path.
- The dressings will be removed in 24 hours. After that, your doctor will want you to wear a surgical bra for several weeks.
- After one week, he'll take out the stitches.
- Bruising will fade after several weeks, typically 3 to 6 weeks.
- In the first weeks you may feel some numbness around the nipples and this would be because in any surgery, the nerves in the area can be affected and take a few weeks to settle down again. You might also feel shooting pains, again because the nerves were a bit traumatized by the procedure. These pains will fade within weeks, again, typically within 3 to 6 weeks.
Dr. Greenberg and his staff will advise you of what to expect and what you will need to do following the procedure. As always after surgery, you should rest at first, but within a day or two, start moving around gently. You'll want to encourage good blood circulation to promote healing, but don't do anything vigorous until later, after the incision is fully healed.
The scars will fade over a period of months. The difference of your new look will be evident right away, in the increased fullness and shapeliness, but your breasts may take up to a year to fully settle into the new position. Don't be concerned if they seem slightly asymmetrical. Most women are not perfectly symmetrical.
Are the results of a breast lift permanent?
Not fully permanent, although they'll last longer if you exercise regularly and don't gain a lot of weight. But we're all subject to the force of gravity and the effects of aging. Pregnancy will also change the shape and fullness of your breasts.
Would I have to stay in a hospital after a breast lift?
If your surgery involves the removal of a very large amount of excess tissue, your surgeon might want you to stay overnight, but usually you can go home the same day.
What are the risks involved with a breast lift?
A breast lift is a pretty safe procedure, but no surgery is ever guaranteed to be 100% safe, and general anesthesia always brings some risk.
As with any surgical procedure there are general risks associated with anesthesia, possible infection and bleeding as well as those risks specific to the procedure being performed. Dr. Greenberg will discuss these risks thoroughly with you prior to surgery so you are completely comfortable with your decision to proceed.
General risks of surgery:
- An allergic reaction to the anesthetic -- this will be noticed very quickly and dealt with by the anesthesiologist.
- Infection -- antibiotics are usually prescribed to avoid this.
- Excess bleeding -- consistent and gentle post-op care of the incision site, along with avoidance of vigorous activity too soon will guard against this.
- Blood clots (hematoma) - gentle activity afterwards to encourage good blood circulation will guard against this.
These complications are rare.
Risks specific to breast lift surgery
- Noticeable scar that doesn't fade
- Asymmetrically aligned nipples and/or breast tissue
- Numbness around the nipples
- Implant complications (if implants were part of the breast lift surgery)
The best preparation for these risks is thorough discussion with your breast surgeon before the surgery, and thinking through in your own mind whether you're willing to accept the possible trade-off(s) for having more shapely and firm breasts.
If you follow your breast surgeon's advice and instructions, the likelihood of a successful procedure and a happy patient are extremely high.
To learn more about your breast lift options or to schedule your initial breast lift consultation, please call or e-mail Orlando plastic surgeon Dr. Greenberg today. Dr. Greenberg serves plastic surgery patients in Orlando and Winter Park, Florida.
