Gravity can have a major impact on the positioning of your breasts over time. This can be especially true for women who have had children or have lost a lot of weight. When your breasts are sagging, it can have an effect on your self-esteem, and it can also be more difficult to find clothing and bras that support your breasts and make you feel comfortable.
Our breast lift surgeries at Athena Plastic Surgery can lift your breasts, put the nipple in a better position, and help you feel more confident in your clothing. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have through one of our consultations.
Breast Lift Near Port St Lucie, FL
Breasts can begin to sag due to the stretching out of Cooper’s ligaments which form a support system for the breasts. Larger breasts can be more prone to sagging, and other factors can speed up the process such as the lack of a well-fitting bra, smoking, gaining or losing significant weight, and exposing the skin of the chest to UV light. A breast lift is a procedure that removes excess skin from the breast to allow the breast tissue to sit higher up on the chest.
How Is a Breast Lift Performed?
A breast lift is performed by making strategic incisions on the breast, removing excess skin, repositioning the breasts, and then closing the incisions. The incisions that are made will depend on the amount of sagging that you have and the amount of skin that needs to be removed. Usually, the more sagging the breast has, the more extensive the incisions will have to be.
Choosing an Incision Type for Your Breast Lift Surgery
The type of incision that is used will be a decision that is made between you and your surgeon during a private consultation. Your surgeon will make measurements, determine how much skin will have to be removed, and then make a plan for the incisions. Three types of incisions are typically used for breast lift surgery.
- Areola Incision: For mild to moderate sagging, we may use an areola incision, sometimes called a donut incision. This incision is made around the circumference of the areola. Additional skin is removed from around the areola and then the incision is closed. The scarring of this type of lift is very difficult to see.
- Lollipop Incision: If an incision around the areola isn’t enough, we may add another vertical incision from the areola to the base of the breast. This allows us to remove more skin from the bottom of the breast. This leaves a verticle scar on the breast.
- Anchor Incision: For more severe types of sagging, the anchor incision can be used. A lollipop incision is combined with an incision along the bottom crease of the breast allowing for skin to be removed in all of these areas.
FAQs About Breast Lift Surgery
Can a Breast Lift Make the Breasts Larger?
No. A breast lift can only lift the existing tissue, it cannot augment the breast or change the shape of the breasts. If you aren’t happy with the size of your breasts or you want to have a more rounded shape to your breasts, you may want to ask about breast augmentation. Breast implants or fat grafts can create fullness and even out breast size and can be performed at the same time as a breast lift surgery.
Can a Breast Lift Surgery Change Areola Size?
Yes, if you want to have a smaller areola, its size can be changed at the time of surgery by removing some skin around the circumferences of the areola.
How Visible Are Breast Lift Scars?
Scars on the breast are a trade-off that many women are willing to have in order to enjoy breasts that are lifted and more youthful. If you have a vertical scar, it will be visible, especially in the months after your surgery. However, efforts are taken by us during and after the surgery to make this scar as minimal as possible, and it should fade after the first year. Many people find that the scar is barely noticeable after some time has gone by.
Can Cooper’s Ligaments Be Tightened Through Surgery?
When Cooper’s ligaments become stretched out due to age or strain, they cannot be tightened or repaired through surgery. However, breast lifts are still sufficient for many people to restore the lift and tightness of the breasts.
Can a Breast Lift Help With Uneven Breasts?
Breasts can be uneven for several different reasons. One breast may droop more than another or one breast may be a different size. We can resolve problems with uneven sagging using breast lift surgery. However, if you have a size difference, this will need to be resolved through breast reduction or breast augmentation.
Consultations for Breast Lifts Near Port St Lucie, FL
At Athena Plastic Surgery, we are proud to use the Vectra® H2 to be able to give you an accurate 3D image of the end result of your breast lift surgery. When you come in for your consultation, we will take an image of your breasts, put it in through the software, and show you a realistic preview of the effects of the surgery. This makes it easier to plan for your results and to know what to expect.
If you are interested in setting up a consultation for breast lift surgery in Port Lucie, Stuart, or any of the surrounding areas, contact our office today online or by phone.