by GrossmanMed | Aug 23, 2020 | Articles
Women who are unhappy with the shape, size, or overall look of their breasts can opt for plastic surgery. If you’re considering surgery, you may not be sure about the differences between a breast lift and augmentation. Today, we review each plastic surgery type and how to choose the best one for you.
What Is a Breast Lift?
Also called a mastopexy, a breast lift is a procedure that addresses decreased volume, loose or sagging breasts, or stretched skin. These can occur as a result of aging, breastfeeding, or pregnancy.
Procedure and Recovery
Breast lift procedures take approximately three hours. You’re placed under general anesthesia and excess skin is removed. The nipple and areola are repositioned, and breast tissue is reshaped.
Recovery can take several weeks, and you’ll likely have small tubes inserted to drain excess fluid. It’s normal to experience manageable discomfort, pain, and soreness in the week following surgery.
Benefits and Results
The breast lift procedure restores the youthful look of your breasts, and the results of this surgery are immediate. While this surgery won’t enlarge your breasts, it will change their look in a more natural and subtle way because it involves the reshaping of your existing breast tissue.
What Is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation, or augmentation mammoplasty, alters the size and shape of breasts via the insertion of an implant. Augmentation addresses cup size, decreased volume, or breasts that have become uneven due to weight loss, breastfeeding, or pregnancy.
Procedure and Recovery
Before breast augmentation surgery, you’ll choose your preferred size and type of implants. You’ll then be placed under anesthesia, and incisions will be made. The implant will then be inserted under the pectoral muscle or directly behind the existing breast tissue. The procedure requires up to two hours.
Following surgery, your breasts are wrapped in dressings, and you’ll wear a surgical bra to support healing and minimize swelling. Monitored recovery takes approximately one hour.
You’ll then make a follow-up appointment with your surgeon, and you may receive prescriptions for pain medication and antibiotics.
Benefits and Results
There are many options for implant types and shapes, as well as different surgical techniques with breast augmentation. This procedure also allows for increased size and projection without an unnatural look. Although augmentation cannot lift your breasts, the two procedures can be combined for incredible results.
Choosing the Best Procedure for You
If you wish to regain the youthful, higher, and perkier look of your breasts, a breast lift can be the ideal option. Augmentation may be for you if you want to transform the size and shape of your breasts. You can also opt for both procedures.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If you aren’t happy with the current look of your breasts, Dr. Peter H. Grossman can help you achieve the results you’ve always wanted. A board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Grossman possesses several years of experience in augmentation and breast lift surgery for instant improvement. Schedule your consultation by calling Grossman Plastic Surgery at (818) 981-2050.
by GrossmanMed | Jan 23, 2020 | Articles
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the weight fluctuations that go along with being a mom can put a lot of “wear and tear” on the breasts. They can start to sag and droop. The areola can also become enlarged and sag. Many moms are turning back time and restoring the perkiness and firmness their breasts used to have before having children with a breast lift.
What Is a Breast Lift Procedure?
A breast lift procedure helps restore the youthfulness to the breasts. This procedure is also called a mastopexy. Its purpose is to remove excess fat and skin while tightening up the surrounding muscles and tissues. The procedure creates a new contour as the breasts are reshaped and lifted.
It is important to not confuse a breast lift with breast augmentation (enhancement/enlargement) or breast reduction procedures. A breast lift will not make significant changes to the appearance and size of the breasts.
If you want to increase the size of the breasts or give them a fuller or rounder look, then you should talk to your board-certified cosmetic surgeon about a breast lift with breast augmentation procedure.
On the other hand, if your breasts are too large and causing back pain and other issues, then you should talk to your plastic surgeon about a breast lift with breast reduction procedure.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery?
Breast lift surgery is a surgical procedure and does have certain risks and requirements. An ideal candidate should be:
• Healthy
• Able to Maintain a Consistent Weight
• Nonsmoker
• Free from Addiction/Substance Abuse
• Sagging Breasts
• The Areola Is Enlarged or Sagging
• One Breast Sags More Than the Other
• You Dislike the Appearance of Your Breasts
Why Do Moms Get Breast Lift Surgery?
Two of the more common reasons moms get breast lift surgery are:
- After losing pregnancy weight, their breasts are sagging.
- Their beasts won’t return to their pre-pregnancy shape.
During pregnancy, women put on weight. The breasts will also enlarge, and the skin will stretch. Even after a mother gives birth and stops breastfeeding, the breasts do not always return to their pre-pregnancy shape. The areolas can become enlarged from breastfeeding too.
The skin around the breasts can sag and look loose as a woman loses the weight gained during pregnancy. A breast lift procedure will restore the youthful and pre-pregnancy appearance to the breasts.
How to Prepare for a Breast Lift Procedure
The first thing you will want to do is schedule an initial consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Grossman. During your consultation, you are encouraged to ask questions.
Dr. Grossman will go over what to expect during the procedure, what your objectives are, and whether including breast augmentation or breast reduction with your breast lift procedure would be beneficial.
Dr. Grossman will also review the general steps they will perform during the procedure. They will even show you computerized breast lift before and after pictures so you can see how you will look post-surgery.
What Is the Recovery Time for a Breast Lift?
The recovery time will vary, depending on your exact procedure and if you also included augmentation or reduction with your surgery. Generally, recovery time is between three to six weeks. During this time, you will have specific instructions and restrictions you should follow.
Post-surgery, your breasts will be wrapped in elastic bandages and there may be drainage tubes installed, which you will remove later. You will need to wear a support bra or use elastic bandages to limit swelling until your breasts heal.
Dr. Grossman will go over everything you need to know to care for your breasts post-surgery. You will also have a few follow-up visits to monitor healing.
For further information about breast lift surgery and to schedule your initial consultation, contact Grossman Plastic Surgery at (818) 981-2050 today!
