Breast Lift Surgery & Mommy Makeover – Top 8 Considerations

Posted on: March 30th, 2016 by California Skin Institute

Many patients who visit California Skin Institute for a mommy makeover have lots of questions about breast lift surgery. To help you better understand this procedure and all the pertinent steps, we’ve put together this educational installment with the top 8 things to consider before getting the surgery. If you have any questions, please call a California Skin Institute practice near you, or send us an email through the Contact Form.

#1 What is the goal of breast lift surgery?

The main goal behind breast lift surgery is to give the breasts a more youthful appearance.* The shape of the breasts can change drastically over time. This can be due to pregnancy, gaining and losing weight, loss of skin elasticity, and a number of other factors.

Over time, the breasts can start to look deflated, and their shape can change quite a bit. With a breast lift, the goal is to create a more lifted appearance and create a fuller shape.* This makes the breast look more youthful and lifted.*

#2 Who is a typical patient for a breast lift or mommy makeover?

The expert plastic surgeons at California Skin Institute have worked with a lot of patients over the years, from many different backgrounds.*

Many women who visit our practice have gone through several pregnancies, and just don’t feel like their bodies reflect who they are anymore. It’s very common for a patient to say that she doesn’t recognize herself and just tries not to think about how her body has changed, because she doesn’t feel beautiful. And it’s always really heartbreaking to hear, because motherhood is hard enough, and many of our patients just feel stuck in a body that they don’t identify with anymore.

So in many ways, a breast lift isn’t really about enhancement, it’s about reclaiming your body and regaining your confidence and sense of self.*

#3 What’s involved in breast lift surgery?

The main goal of the surgery is to lift the breast and sculpt the breast mound in a way that creates a lifted, fuller appearance.* The actual technique will depend on the patient’s unique anatomy and the how much of a transformation is needed.*

For patients who need just a small amount of lift, we can use the peri-areolar incision, where we make a circular incision around the areola.* If a more drastic change is needed, we can use an inverted T incision, which allows for much greater sculpting.* There’s also the lollipop incision, which is a mix between the two, and is often used in moderate situations.*

#4 What about Breast Lift Scars?

That’s always a very important consideration, because you want a lifted appearance, but also to minimize the  scars as much as possible.* The plastic surgeons at CSI pay a great deal of attention to this.*

But most of the time it all comes down to how much of a change the patient is looking for, because a greater lift and shaping requires a larger incision. So the scar from a peri-areolar incision is smaller and very difficult to see afterwards, because it follows the outline of the areola.*

An inverted-T incision, for more dramatic improvement, will create a larger scar.*

#5 What about implants during breast lift surgery?

There are many misconceptions regarding the use of implants during breast lift surgery to augment breast size. Many women believe that adding an implant will give them a “fake” or “too round” appearance. This is simply not the case.*

While it is possible to achieve a very good improvement without implants, it all depends on what the woman’s goals are.* Most women who seek a breast lift are unhappy with the flat appearance of their chest, in addition to the deflated appearance of the breast. After a breast lift, this does not necessarily change at the top of the breast, or what is referred to as the chest-breast junction.*

In order to have an improvement to this area, adding an implant can actually achieve the most youthful-looking breast.* This does not mean “big” or “fake”.* While that look is possible with certain types of implants, we have many options in implant sizes and styles to achieve a natural look and to customize to what a patient desires within the limits of their anatomy.*

#6 Can other procedures be combined during the surgery?

Many procedures can be performed at the same time as a breast lift as part of a Mommy Makeover.* This can include liposuction, tummy tuck, breast implants, scar revision, and labiaplasty (“vaginal rejuvenation”).* Facial procedures can also be performed at the same time depending on the patient’s specific needs and desires.* The limiting factor is based on the time required to perform all of the procedures, and some combinations cannot be performed at the same time.*

#7 How long does recovery take after breast lift surgery?

It usually takes about a month for most of the healing to take place, but this will vary from patient to patient.* Of course, the body will continue to heal for a few months afterwards, but the most important period is the typically first month.* During this time it’s important to avoid heavy lifting, or lifting objects over your head.* You have to give the incisions enough time to really heal.*

#8 What are some of the other major considerations for Breast Lift surgery?

Besides finding a very experienced surgeon who understands all the nuances of the treatment, the other important step is to find a surgeon who listens to you and tailors the treatment to your goals.

If you ever feel pressured by the surgeon or feel that your goals aren’t being really listened to, then you have to address that head-on, or find another provider.

Because when you do a breast lift, or any mommy makeover procedure, you want it to be a positive experience. It’s a renewal of sorts, and you want it to be a positive experience not just from a physical perspective, but from an emotional perspective as well. If you really “click” with the surgeon, you’ll have better communication with them, and it will be an exciting step in your life. So find a compassionate surgeon who will genuinely care for you and will put your goals front and center.*

Taking the Next Step

The best way to see if breast lift surgery is right for you is to set up a personalized consultation with one of the compassionate plastic surgeons at California Skin Institute.*

To learn more, please call a CSI practice near you, or fill out the Contact Form, below!

*Individual results may vary and are not guaranteed.