You can also choose to add your own breast fat for more volume without an implant—“an automatic increase,” says Dr. “You lift, but you can fill or fluff the innermost part, the area between the cleavage points.” During a breast lift, fat is also removed from elsewhere in the body using liposuction: “It takes extra time to collect fat from another part of the body to inject into the breast. This can be an advantage for the patient because they can address two concerns in one procedure,” says Dr Few, adding, “If someone is very thin, fat may not be an option to inject.”
What does the process entail?
A breast lift is a relatively simple outpatient procedure, performed under general anesthesia. It usually takes about one to three hours, depending on the shape and size of the breast. First, the surgeon will make an incision — either around the nipple. around the halo and down in a vertical line similar to a lollipop shape. or around the nipple, down and along the curve of the breast like an inverted T shape — depending on the patient’s breast shape. Excess skin and tissue is removed and the remaining breast tissue is reshaped into a more lifted silhouette, the nipple and areola are moved up the breast and the size of the areola can also be modified if desired.
Patients can go home that day, often wearing a post-operative bra that they will wear for a specific period of time as directed by their doctor. (The bra can be removed in the shower.) Some patients may have drains or need stitches removed after surgery, but this is up to your doctor, so be sure to discuss recovery at your initial visit.
What is the recovery period?
The rise in popularity of breast lift may also be due to its relatively easy recovery period. Although any procedure is accompanied by some pain, a breast lift is usually less painful than an augmentation. “The recovery time is very reasonable,” says Dr. “Most patients start to feel almost back to their normal selves within a week or two.” According to Dr. Mahmood, many patients experience “very little” pain and take Tylenol over a prescription pain reliever on their second day of recovery.
Although you may feel better after a week or two, it takes about six weeks to fully heal from a breast lift procedure. Dr. Leipziger says he takes a conservative approach to postoperative care, asking his patients to wear the surgical bra for a week. “They can go up a treadmill lightly [easy walking] after about two to three weeks, but without vigorous upper body activity [including weightlifting, lifting heavy objects, or rapid movement] for about six weeks.” Most doctors use dissolvable stitches, so you don’t have to come back to have the stitches removed.
Are there any risks associated with a breast lift?
Like all surgical procedures, a breast lift can cause bleeding, seroma (soft, swollen lumps around the incision site that can be drained with a needle), infection, asymmetry, and bad scarring. Risks specifically related to a breast lift include a change in nipple sensation, loss of the nipple, and a possible change in the ability to breastfeed, Dr. Doft says, although these side effects are very rare. “Infection or hematoma would be the most common side effects: infection rates are 1 to 5% and hematoma 2 to 10%, depending on the study,” he explains. And while revision rates for an increase reach 36%, according to a study published in the journal Plastic Surgery Seminars, after a breast lift “it’s not very common for people to ask for a revision,” says Dr. Doft. If a patient isn’t satisfied enough to ask for a revision, “it’s usually after a major change—menopause, weight gain, pregnancy, weight loss.”
How much does a breast lift cost?
The average cost varies depending on where you live, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000 for a breast lift.
How long do breast lift results last?
Breast lift results are permanent, but Dr. Doft says weight change, pregnancy, menopause, aging and the effects of gravity can impact results over time. The results usually aren’t dramatic enough to warrant a new surgery, however: “Some patients choose to have a secondary procedure, but many don’t,” he says.
