How long does a breast lift last?
Breast lift surgery is performed to rejuvenate the aspect of the breasts affected by the passing of time or other factors such as weight fluctuations or one or multiple pregnancies. Breasts larger in size tend to start sagging sooner in life compared to breasts on the smaller side. This means that breast lift surgery might be a good option for some patients even as young as 30 years old. As mentioned before, multiple pregnancies and breastfeeding can also affect the aspect of the breasts and cause sagginess, so women who gave birth at a young age can be confronted with saggy breasts in their 30s.
Breast lift surgery is a sought-after intervention all over the world. It doesn’t need much preparation, the recovery period is rather short, and the incisions are well worth it when considering the results. However, there is one concern that we want to address in this article today – how long does a breast lift last? And by this, we don’t mean the duration of the procedure, but how long the results last.
How is a breast lift performed?
Mastopexy (the medical name for breast lift surgery) is performed with the use of a general anesthetic. After receiving the anesthetic, the patient falls asleep, and this is when the plastic surgeon can start making the incisions.
The surgical plan, the technique to be used during the breast lift surgery, is discussed with the patient during the pre-operative consultation. This means that you’ll know in advance where the incisions are positioned and what to expect after the procedure is performed.
The placement of the incisions is dependent on the level of sagginess and the breasts size. For example, if the sagginess is minor, the plastic surgeon might recommend a periareolar approach. This means that the incisions are placed around the areola’s edge. The periareolar incisions are barely visible when the cicatrization process is complete because they are placed in between two areas of the breasts with different colors (the nipple/ areola complex and the skin on the breasts). However, if you are prone to abnormal cicatrization (keloid or hypertrophic scars), it is better to avoid incisions around the areola. The incisions could also be placed in the inframammary fold or even on a vertical line from the mammary fold to the nipple-areola complex.
After the incisions are performed, the plastic surgeon will detach the skin from the breast tissues (adipose and glandular tissue). The mammary gland is repositioned and recentered, and the skin is pulled over the breast tissues again. The plastic surgeon will ensure there is good tension in the skin so that the aspect of the breasts post-op is rejuvenated and younger-looking. The excess skin is eliminated, and the incisions are sutured.
Breast lift surgery results
Despite what some people might think, the final results after most plastic surgery interventions are not visible immediately after the procedure was performed. This is the case with breast lift surgery too.
After the surgery, the patient is free to leave the medical facility where the intervention was performed within hours (or days, depending on the profile of the patient). But the patient needs to wear a special compression bra for at least four weeks post-op.
Evaluating the final results of the breast lift surgery can take three to six months. The breasts need time to heal after the surgery. This means that swelling and bruising are common occurrences after this procedure. More than this, the breasts might feel hard or have a higher position on the chest wall for the first week or so. In time, the breasts will look more and more natural while the tissues and the incisions heal.
How long does a breast lift last?
The breast lift surgery results are long-lasting if the patient is following the indication of the plastic surgeon. If you want to know whether the results will last a lifetime, well, this depends on some individual characteristics.
For example, if you have your breast lift surgery in your early 30s and your breasts are quite large, there is a chance to experience a certain level of sagginess again later on in life.
At the same time, if you have considerable weight fluctuations, this might cause your breasts to become saggy again after some time. The plastic surgeon will tell you to avoid weight fluctuations, as well as an ulterior pregnancy if you want to sustain the results of the procedure for as long as possible.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the breasts go through several changes, both hormonal and in terms of volume. This means that the ligaments that support the breasts can be affected again and become loose. The breasts can look deflated and with significantly less upper pole volume after breastfeeding. Patients are advised to consider carefully whether they want more children before undergoing plastic surgery at the level of the breasts as a potential pregnancy can alter the results.
Most patients don’t need revision surgery after undergoing a breast lift, even if they are in their 30s. Avoiding smoking, weight fluctuations, extensive sun exposure, and wearing the special bra for as long as it is needed can create the premises for long-lasting results, so you can enjoy your perky breasts for as long as possible.
Final words
If your breasts are sagging, with little upper pole volume, and there is excess skin, you should know that breast lift surgery is the only method to correct this issue. There are no diets, physical exercises, pills, or creams to elevate breasts that are affected by breast ptosis. The good news is that breast lift surgery is performed on a regular basis by our talented, board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Essie Yates. Schedule your consultation for a breast lift online or at the Yates Institute for Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale.