A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a procedure designed to address sagging, aging breasts and “lift” them on your chest, creating more youthful-looking, perkier breasts. If you’re unsatisfied with the shape, appearance, or location of your breasts and would like to do something about it, call and speak with an aesthetic professional at Northstate Plastic Surgery in Chico, CA.
What Is Involved With a Breast Lift Procedure?
Generally speaking, the procedure is performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. There are a few different techniques available for performing the procedure, each with a different type of patient in mind.
Your surgeon will select the technique based on the shape of your breasts, their size, areola position, degree of sagging, skin quality and elasticity, and the amount of excess skin you have in the area.
How Is the Procedure Performed?
During a breast lift, excess skin is removed and the nipple and areola are relocated to a higher position on the patient’s chest. If the areolas have become stretched and are abnormally large, they can also be resized during the procedure. The “lift” is created by relocating skin that sits above the areola, moving it down, and bringing it together below the breast to reshape it.
Removal of excess skin comes after breast reshaping. Once it has been removed, sutures will be placed deep within the breast tissue to act as support for the new positioning of your breasts.
Surgical Techniques
There’s more than one type of breast, and for that reason, there is more than one type of surgical technique used to lift them.
Anchor Incision
This incision gets its name from its anchor-like shape. An incision is made around the outside of the areola, extending vertically down beneath the breast and then horizontally along the breast crease.
This incision is often used when a patient is suffering from extreme breast sagging and will be otherwise unable to meet her cosmetic goals if a different technique is employed. It’s the oldest technique used by cosmetic surgeons today and can still produce excellent results.
Lollipop Lift
Alternately referred to as the “keyhole” incision, the lollipop lift is similar to the anchor incision in that it begins around the perimeter of the areola and continues vertically down to the breast crease. Where this lift differs is that it does not continue horizontally when it reaches your breast crease. Therefore creating a lollipop or “keyhole” shape.
Lollipop lifts are suitable for patients who are experiencing a moderate degree of breast sagging, are not interested in implants, and won’t be able to reach their goals through other treatments, procedures, or techniques.
The Donut Lift
A donut lift, or periareolar incision, is made around the perimeter of the areola but does not extend further down the breast. Less invasive than lollipop lifts and anchor lifts, the donut lift is often performed on patients who are experiencing mild-to-moderate breast sagging.
The Crescent Lift
Crescent lifts aren’t as common as the aforementioned techniques. It involves an incision along the upper half of the areola but does not continue all the way around as it does in the previous surgical options. It’s often used in conjunction with breast augmentation implants that are experiencing only minor sagging.
Can It Be Paired With Other Procedures?
The procedure will lift and enhance your bust, creating a more youthful and appealing contour. However, for patients looking for a more dramatic transformation, combining your lift with another procedure can significantly improve your results.
Breast Augmentation
If you want to not only create perkier breasts but larger ones too, a breast augmentation procedure might be a good idea. Since your surgeon is already working on the area, it’s relatively easy to add implant to the procedure to produce more dramatic results.
Tummy Tuck
If you have loose, sagging skin around your abdomen and flanks as well as your breasts, you may want to pair your procedure with a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, involves removing excess skin and fat from the waistline and tightening of the abdominal muscles to create a flatter, more toned midsection.
Liposuction
Liposuction is sometimes recommended by an aesthetic professional, and other times by the patients themselves. Liposuction is a way to add a greater degree of improvement in the area around your breasts. It can be used to remove axillary fat (the fat under your armpits) to create an even more defined breast once they’re lifted.
Why Work With Us?
Our Northstate Plastic Surgery team consists of plastic and reconstructive surgeon Drs. Kevin D. Myers. We specialize in plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery procedures that address the breasts, body, and face. It’s our goal to ensure every one of our patients is satisfied with their procedure and we pride ourselves on helping our clients meet their aesthetic goals.
Breast lift procedure have been performed for decades, and the technique has been modified and upgraded over the years to suit a wide variety of patients and help them get the body they want. The procedure itself involves an incision through which your breasts will be lifted and tightened. You can even combine it with other cosmetic procedures for a significantly more dramatic result.
If you’re unhappy with the shape of your breasts and you desire change, call Northstate Plastic Surgery in Chico, CA to speak with an aesthetic professional. The body you want isn’t far – call today.