Sagging and drooping breasts are something a lot of women experience. Feeling unhappy about this deflated breast appearance can change your body language and the way you perceive your beauty. Breast lift surgery restores perky, firm breasts with a rounder shape.Â
If you like the way your breasts look in a bra, but not when unsupported, then this breast procedure may be right for you. To arrange a consultation in Baltimore with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ronald Schuster, please call us at 410-902-9800.
On this page, we discuss:
- What Is a Breast Lift?
- Breast Lift Candidates
- What Are the Benefits of a Breast Lift?
- What Is the Breast Lift Procedure Like?
- Breast Lift vs. Breast Augmentation: Which One Is Best for Me?
- Preparing for Breast Lift Surgery
- Breast Lift Recovery
- Why Choose Ronald H. Schuster, MD?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Time to Invest in Yourself
What Is a Breast Lift?
AÂ breast lift, also known as mastopexy, is a surgical procedure designed to raise and reshape sagging breasts. Factors such as aging, gravity, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight fluctuations can cause the breasts to lose their youthful shape and firmness.Â
During a breast lift, Dr. Schuster removes excess skin and tightens and lifts the breast tissue to create a more elevated contour. The nipples and areolas are often repositioned to a higher, more natural location on the breast.
The goal of a breast lift is to restore a perkier breast profile that enhances your overall appearance and helps your clothing fit better. This procedure can be customized to address your specific concerns, whether you want to correct significant sagging or achieve subtle improvements.Â
Breast Lift Candidates
Breast lift surgery may be right for you if any of the following apply:
- You are unhappy with the shape of your breasts
- You are okay with the appearance of your breasts while supported by a bra, but not the way they look without support
- Your breasts are saggy, elongated, deflated, and/or droopy
- The nipples are pointing downward
- The skin has stretched, and the nipples have fallen too low on the breast crease
- Your breasts are more flat than round
Elongated breasts can be genetic, but these breast characteristics usually arise later in life as a result of pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, and the aging process. Breast lift surgery reshapes the breast gland to create a perky, more youthful bust.
What Are the Benefits of a Breast Lift?
Breast lift surgery offers many benefits to the right candidates. This procedure can:
- Reverse changes caused by pregnancy, massive weight loss, and aging
- Return your breasts to a higher, more youthful position
- Give your breasts a firmer feel and a rounder shape
- Lift drooping nipples and reduce the size of enlarged areolas
- Help asymmetrical breasts look more similar
- Make your breasts look perkier without a bra
- Help you feel more confident in your breast appearance
Many patients are highly satisfied with their breast lift results. Those results can last for many years. Additionally, the downtime is relatively short, and the risk of complications is low.
What Is the Breast Lift Procedure Like?
A breast lift is usually an outpatient surgery. Before surgery, we’ll provide you with medication for your comfort. Your options may include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. The surgeon will recommend one or the other.
Next, he will begin making incisions according to your surgical plan. There are several different techniques for removing excess skin and reshaping the breast contour. He may make circular incisions around the areolas only, or they may also extend vertically down below the breast crease. The incisions chosen by you and Dr. Schuster will depend on the degree of laxity and sagging tissue.Â
After the incision is made, he will lift and reshape the underlying tissue, remove excess skin, and reposition the nipple and areola. If necessary, he will also reduce the size of enlarged areolas.Â
Then, he will tighten the skin while closing the incisions. The entire breast lift procedure typically takes one to three hours to complete.
Breast Lift vs. Breast Augmentation: Which One Is Best for Me?
These two popular breast surgeries accomplish very different goals. A breast lift is best for women who are happy with their breast size but want a perkier, more elevated look. Meanwhile, breast augmentation is ideal for women who wish their breasts were larger or want to restore lost volume. When these goals overlap, a combination of augmentation and a lift is appropriate.
Preparing for Breast Lift Surgery
Dr. Schuster and the staff make sure you have complete information and know how to get ready for surgery. Pre-op guidelines include:
- Go to a pre-operative physical checkup with your family doctor.
- Stop taking aspirin and products containing aspirin two weeks prior to surgery.
- Inform us if you get sick with a cold or any other illness in the two weeks prior.
- Take a multivitamin containing vitamin C, minerals, and iron in the weeks prior.
- DO NOT smoke for three weeks, both before and after surgery.
- Make arrangements with a spouse, family member, or friend to pick you up after your breast lift procedure and stay with you for at least 24 hours.
- Don’t take herbal supplements or supplemental vitamin E in the two weeks prior (small amounts of vitamin E in multi-vitamins are fine).
- Two days before your breast lift appointment, you’ll fill your prescriptions, buy light foods from the grocery store, and purchase Betadineâ„¢ soap and any products you want during recovery.Â
- Shower using your Betadine™ soap the night before surgery. You should also eat a light meal that evening, get a good night’s rest, and do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
- Don’t eat or drink anything when you get up in the morning before surgery.Â
- Do not wear any jewelry, hairpins, or hairpieces.Â
- Wear comfy, loose clothing.
Breast Lift Recovery
You’ll rest in bed when you get home. It’s important to get up and walk around every hour or so to get your blood flowing; don’t stay in bed. You can also move your legs around while you’re resting to keep blood circulating.
Stick to liquids for the rest of the day after surgery. Progress to a light diet as you feel up to it. Discomfort should be alleviated by pain medications or extra-strength acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Keep your bandages clean and dry (we’ll instruct you how to sponge bathe). Bandages will stay on for about a week. We’ll give you information about buying a post-op bra to provide the right kind of support about a week after surgery. You’ll continue to wear it for about a month. If you smoke, don’t smoke for at least two weeks after surgery.
Bruising and swelling are normal after surgery and will subside over time. Your breasts may feel tender and swollen initially, but they should return to a normal feel and a soft, natural appearance after about three months. You may experience some residual numbness, which can last from six weeks to six months. You should be able to drive and return to work about a week after your breast lift surgery.
Why Choose Ronald H. Schuster, MD?
Dr. Ronald H. Schuster is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He is a graduate of Emory University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree with honors. Dr. Schuster completed his general surgery training at Sinai Hospital and his plastic surgery residency at Washington University. His dedication to excellence is reflected in his numerous professional affiliations, including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.Â
As a highly respected practitioner in the Baltimore area, Dr. Schuster combines his surgical expertise with a compassionate approach to patient care. He’s committed to delivering personalized, natural-looking results that enhance your unique beauty. Whether you're looking to restore your pre-pregnancy body or simply want to feel more confident in your appearance, Dr. Schuster offers the expertise and care you deserve.
"Dr. Schuster is extremely professional and compassionate. He made me feel comfortable, not objectified, and was very supportive throughout the process. The results are wonderful, and I'm feeling very confident about my body post procedure." - M.C.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a Breast Lift Affect My Ability to Breastfeed?
Breast lift surgery can potentially affect breastfeeding, but many women retain the ability to breastfeed after the procedure. If you are planning to have children and are concerned about breastfeeding, it's important to discuss this with Dr. Schuster during your consultation.
What Kind of Results Can I Expect Immediately After Surgery?
Immediately after surgery, you can expect your breasts to be swollen and bruised, and they may appear higher on your chest than expected. This is normal and temporary. As the swelling subsides and your breasts settle into their new shape, you will start to see the final results, which typically become fully apparent after a few months.
How Long Will My Breast Lift Results Last?
Breast lift results can last for many years. In fact, women often enjoy their cosmetic outcomes for decades after surgery. A breast lift won’t stop the aging process, but it can reset the clock.
Keep in mind that things such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and significant weight fluctuations can take a toll on your breast lift results. For that reason, it’s best to schedule the surgery after you’re done having kids. Maintaining a stable weight will also improve the longevity of your breast lift.
Here are a few additional steps that can make your breast lift results last longer:
- Wear a supportive bra
- Don’t smoke
- Keep good posture
Are There Non-Surgical Alternatives to a Breast Lift?
While there are non-surgical treatments that can improve skin elasticity and firmness, they cannot provide the same level of lift and reshaping as surgical options. Dr. Schuster can discuss both surgical and non-surgical options with you to help you decide the best approach for your goals.
What Are the Risks Associated With Breast Lift Surgery?
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved with breast lift surgery. These can include infection, scarring, changes in nipple sensation, and asymmetry. Dr. Schuster will inform you of all potential risks and complications with you during your consultation.
My Breasts Are Different in Size. Can That Be Corrected With a Breast Lift?
Yes, a breast lift can help improve breast symmetry. During the procedure, Dr. Schuster can adjust the shape and position of each breast to make them more similar in size and appearance. In some cases, combining a breast lift with breast augmentation or reduction on one or both sides can further enhance symmetry and achieve your desired results.
Does My Breast Size Change Much With a Breast Lift?
A breast lift primarily focuses on reshaping and lifting the breasts rather than changing their size. While the procedure can result in a slight reduction in breast size due to the removal of excess skin, it does not significantly alter the overall volume of the breasts. If you are looking to increase or decrease your breast size, you may consider combining a breast lift with breast augmentation or breast reduction.
Is There an Age Limit for Breast Lift Surgery?
There is no specific age limit for breast lift surgery. The suitability for the procedure depends more on your overall health, skin elasticity, and aesthetic goals rather than your age. Women of various ages, from their 20s to their 60s and beyond, can benefit from a breast lift.
Time to Invest in Yourself
Dr. Ronald Schuster is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Baltimore. He believes each woman deserves to look and feel like the very best version of themselves. Sometimes, the boost you get from a breast lift is exactly what’s needed to make your outside match your inner energy and youthfulness.Â
The next step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Schuster by calling 410-902-9800. We proudly provide cosmetic surgery care to women from across the region, including Owings Mills and Towson.
*Individual results may vary
