If you’ve got breasts, odds are they are going to sag. Yes, genetics, pregnancy, gravity, and other factors play a role, but most of the time some sagging is inevitable. A surgical breast lift is one of the best ways to correct breast sagging. Do you need a breast lift? Find out below!
What is a Breast Lift?
As the name implies, a breast lift, repositions the breast tissue higher on the chest. Aging, childbearing, and weight loss can all increase the amount of breast sagging a woman experiences. On its own a breast lift takes 2-3 hours, but many patients choose to pair it with breast augmentation which increases the amount of time required for the surgery.
Dr. Lewis has many options available for completing a breast lift, depending on the amount of sagging you have. He typically utilizes one of the following incision styles.
- Donut Incision– For breasts with just a small amount of droop, the donut incision is often effective. An incision is made around the areola. This incision is commonly paired with breast augmentation.
- Lollipop Incision– The most common incision type for a breast is the Lollipop incision. One incision is made around the areola and another from the areola to the bottom of the breast. This incision allows for a fairly substantial amount of lift and removal of more excess skin than the donut incision.
- Anchor Incision– For women with extensive breast sagging, Dr. Lewis may use the anchor incision. This requires three incisions in an anchor pattern across the breast. This allows for substantial lifting and reshaping.
No matter which incision style is used, Dr. Lewis will strive to minimize and camouflage any scarring that may occur.
What’s Recovery Like?
A breast lift is an extensive surgical procedure and your body will need plenty of rest to recover. Plan on taking 7-10 days off from work and avoiding strenuous activities for at least a month. Dr. Lewis will give you pain medications, antibiotics, and other medications to aid in your healing.
Will I Need Breast Implants?
Many women that choose a breast lift also opt for breast augmentation at the same time. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to a dramatic loss of breast volume and implants are often the best way to restore this volume. Implants are not needed unless you lack sufficient breast tissue.
Pairing a lift with implants allows Dr. Lewis to correct drooping while increasing size. If a lift is needed, you wouldn’t want to just get implants. Implants in sagging breasts will just lead to larger saggy breasts. A lift plus implants is the best way to achieve a larger size and better shape. Dr. Lewis can help you decide which procedures are needed to achieve the results you want.
Do I Need a Breast Lift?
One of the best ways to determine if you need a surgical breast lift is to come in and talk with Dr. Lewis. He can take some measurements, discuss your options, and create a plan for your breasts. He can also utilize our Vectra 3D imaging system to show you what you would look with a breast lift, with breast implants, or with both. Being able to see the results before surgery is a tool many women find useful when making the breast lift decision.
Call us today and schedule your breast lift consultation with Dr. Lewis.