What is a Breast Lift and How Can it Help?
Should I get a breast lift? It’s a common question that many women ask themselves. If you feel like you’d like your breasts to be perkier, a breast lift may be the right option for you. If you like the way your breasts look in a push-up bra and would want that look to be more permanent, Dr. Cat can help you to get a more lifted look. Over the past decade, Dr. Cat has become an expert in breast lift surgery.
It’s important to understand that everyone’s body is unique and there are many types of breast lifts. Dr. Cat prides herself on collaborating with each patient and listening to their needs. Then through careful assessment, she can create a realistic plan and approach that provides the best, most long-lasting results.
If you’ve thought about having your breasts lifted, you’ll want to read on to understand the procedure more, what you can expect and the essentials to know before booking an initial consultation.
What is a breast lift?
A breast lift, as the name implies, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that helps address sagging, drooping, excess skin, and downward-pointing breasts. Breast sagging is a natural part of life, which affects each woman differently. Many factors contribute to breast sagging, including:
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Physical activity and gravity
- Weight fluctuations
- Menopause
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
Breast sagging can be uncomfortable and interfere with a woman’s quality of life and confidence.
What are the Types of Breast Lifts?
Although the general term is a breast lift, or as it’s known in medical terminology, mastopexy, there are many different approaches to this procedure. Each type is designed to address a specific anatomical concern. This is why it’s so important to work with a breast lift specialist like Dr. Cat. You may have a vision for the type of lift you want. But it may not be the type of lift that you need. Dr. Cat is a breast lift specialist who assesses each patient’s anatomy so she can advise them on which lift is best for their individual needs. “Many surgeons will give patients what they ask for instead of informing them on their options and what is best for them,” explains Dr. Cat. “But if it is not the type of lift that they need, their results will not last and they will need to have the surgery redone soon after.” There are four types of breast lift procedures, which differ by the incision method. These four types of breast lifts are:
Periareolar Breast Lift
A periareolar breast lift is known as a donut lift because of the shape of the incision, which looks like a circle inside a circle around the areola. This type of breast lift is helpful for women with minimal to moderate sagging. The skin within the incision is removed, to lift the nipple area higher.
Vertical Breast Lift
For women with more significant sagging, the vertical breast lift is a helpful option. It’s known as the lollipop lift because of the shape: a round circular incision around the areola that stops at the bottom of this tissue and goes down in the shape of a stick to the fold of the breast. With this type of breast lift, there may be some visible scarring at the incision area below the areola. Excess skin is removed and the nipple is positioned in a forward-facing position as opposed to facing downward.
Anchor Breast Lift
An anchor breast lift has the most incision points. It’s performed when there are significant sagging and downturned breasts. The breast lift incisions follow the shape of an anchor and pull the breast skin up from the sides and from the top of the areola. This helps to reshape the breasts and reposition the nipple area.
Benefits of Breast Lift Mastopexy Surgery
Just one look at before and after pictures of breast lift cosmetic surgery and it’s easy to see the dramatic changes a breast lift can provide. While most of the attention will obviously go to the more perky, youthful look of the breasts, there are other benefits. Posture can improve, clothing options can expand and bras can be more comfortable to wear. “After breast lift surgery, patients no longer need to wear a push-up bra,” says Dr. Cat. “They can exercise easier and fit better in their clothing. For patients who have breastfed or lost a lot of volume after significant weight loss, they feel that this surgery restores their shape.”
Can I combine a breast lift with breast augmentation?
The short answer: Yes, you definitely can combine a breast lift with a breast augmentation. In fact, Dr. Cat specializes in this procedure. If you’ve ever considered breast implant surgery, a breast lift is a perfect time to add in augmentation. With many types of breast lifts, an incision is made in the areola region, which allows for the insertion of a breast implant from this incision site. Today there are many breast implant options and you can have them in any size you would like to increase breast volume. Breast implants complement breast lift surgery, by providing the additional volume and fullness that many breast lift candidates want.
Should I wait to have a breast lift after having children?
It’s important to discuss your plans for expanding your family with a breast lift expert like Dr. Cat. Because pregnancy and breastfeeding can both change the size and shape of the breast, it may be most practical to wait until you are through with childbearing before you schedule your breast lift surgery.
But if you are particularly bothered by the sag of your breasts, there’s no medical reason to wait until you are through with having children to obtain a breast lift. “Patients typically have breast lift surgery before children if they are having significant discomfort, knowing that they may need another breast lift in the future,” adds Dr. Cat. Although you should still be able to breastfeed after a breast lift surgery, it’s important to go over the side effects of a breast lift with your doctor before making any decisions.
How much does a breast lift cost?
Because a breast lift is a custom procedure and every patient is different, there is no one-size-fits-all pricing. It’s also important to note that because the success of a breast lift relies on the skill, training, and precision of the cosmetic surgeon, it’s not something to look for a bargain on. In fact, with a breast lift done by an inexperienced cosmetic surgeon, you may run the risk of unnecessary visible scarring and results that do not last. And if the results of your breast lift don’t last, you may incur the unnecessary expense of revision surgery. Breast lift surgeries average between $8000 to $12,000, with the highest-end surgeries costing $30,000.
Does a breast lift leave scars?
The goal of a breast lift is to enhance breast positioning and shape, while also giving patients a confidence boost. So the last thing patients want is large, dark, visible scars. That’s why Dr. Cat plans out each breast lift surgery to hide scarring and minimize the need for visible scars. Incisions can be concealed on the darker pigmentation of the areola and under the fold of the breast when necessary. Any visible scarring should diminish with time to become less noticeable.
Is breast lift recovery painful?
Dr. Cat makes sure to be gentle and meticulous with all of her breast lift patients. This care can help ease recovery time and minimize scarring. After surgery, you’ll be given pain medication which will help you manage any discomfort in the two to three days of recovery post-breast lift. You should avoid any strenuous activity for two to three weeks after surgery. But most patients are up and around in the week after surgery getting back to their normal daily activities.
Book Your Breast Lift in Beverly Hills
Patients come from all over the US to take advantage of Dr. Cat’s artistic eye and skilled surgery technique. Dr. Cat has been specializing in breast lifts and breast augmentation for years and she’s thrilled to give women this opportunity to have their breasts back to their desired shape and form. Dr. Cat’s team is happy to answer any questions you may have about breast lift surgery. Contact them today to schedule a consultation and rest assured you’re in the care of a skilled, supportive team that has helped hundreds of women achieve their goal results.
