There’s no denying gravity, not ever. Woman of a certain age take this to heart as they notice their breasts looking droopy and saggy. After the abuse caused by gravity, pregnancy, and/or weight loss, it makes sense that they would droop, but that doesn’t make it any easier when looking in the mirror.
A mastopexy procedure, commonly known as a breast lift, works to undo the toll taken on your breasts by raising them back up. To make them appear more youthful, however, it’s more than just lifting them. Dr. Michael Beasley of Charlotte, North Carolina performs breast lifts often and knows how to restore youth. Here he describes the three goals a breast lift accomplishes in order to return a woman’s breast back to their youthful beauty.
By Michael E. Beasley, MD
and Adam McMillon
The Plastic Surgery Channel
Gravity, pregnancy, weight-loss, and time… The enemies of youthful breasts
There’s certainly no stopping gravity, nor is there a way to keep your body looking the same after the trials of pregnancy. There is, however, a way to reverse the damage that has been done.
“Women find that their breast shape changes and they may have more droopiness than they desire.” says Dr. Beasley, discussing why a patient may begin to consider a breast lift.
The 3 goals of a breast lift
The breast has more than just descended, it’s shape has also been altered. Even the volume of your breasts has fluctuated and redistributed, causing an imbalance that needs more than just lifting it up.
“With this procedure, it’s very safe and effective at accomplishing a patient’s goals,” says Beasley. “Whenever we do a breast lift, it accomplishes three things:”
- The breast itself is uplifted to reduce the overhang of the breast so that you’re able to see underneath, the crease of the breast
- The nipple/areola complex is elevated to a more central location on the breast mound, which visually helps the shape of the breast
- It helps restore superior pole fullness to the breast by moving that tissue upward
What about the scars associated with a breast lift?
Even with a perfect result, it’s challenging to consider the scars involved. Depending on the severity of the operation, the scars may be bigger or smaller, but never non-existent.
“It is a concern for all women, and we have to try to allay that anxiety as best we can,” admits Beasley. “Sharing photographs of other patients and letting them see what scars look like over the course of time really does help the anxiety to dissipate.”
Will the downtime interfere with my daily life?
Beyond scars, would-be patients are curious about downtime and recovery. Will the time it takes be worth it?
“This is an outpatient operation which is usually performed in a couple of hours,” explains Beasley. “You spend an hour in the recovery room, then you’re able to return to home. Even though there is some discomfort with this operation, it’s fairly minimal. In a matter of days, all of the discomfort has resolved, and then it’s just a matter of letting the incisions heal before returning to all of your normal daily activities.”
A restorative experience
Even with scars and downtime, patients find the benefits of a breast lift to be overwhelmingly positive. “I think all patients who undergo a breast lift operation are extremely pleased,” says Beasley. “They’re willing to accept the scars and downtime associated with the procedure because it helps restore the youthful appearance of their breasts that they desire.”