Breast Lift in Santa Barbara, CA
Many women notice their breasts tend to sag and change with age. Breast sagging is especially common in women with naturally large breasts, whose weight has fluctuated through life and who were pregnant and have breastfed.
While breast sagging is perfectly normal, it can lead to low self-esteem and even anxiety for some women. A breast lift can help restore the perkiness you once had or wish to experience. Also known as a mastopexy, a breast lift refers to several different techniques that rejuvenate and lift droopy and sagging breasts.
If you wish to have a breast lift, Santa Barbara’s Montecito Plastic Surgery is an excellent choice. Dr. Lowenstein, along with his experienced staff, has perfected several breast lift techniques, sometimes combined with other procedures like breast augmentation or the mommy makeover. Dr. Lowenstein has been double-board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery and has extensive experience in the field.
What Is a Breast Lift?
Medically known as a mastopexy, a breast lift is a cosmetic procedure that lifts and reshapes the breasts for a more youthful look. Often, the size of the areola is reduced as well.
As women age, their breasts tend to sag and droop. Some women may also experience breast sagging after pregnancy, breastfeeding or significant weight loss. Others have always had sagging breasts or severely asymmetrical or unusually shaped breasts. Because breasts do not have any muscles in them, no amount of exercise can correct sagging once it takes place. That is why a breast lift is necessary in some cases.
A breast lift is not one single procedure but involves many different surgical techniques. All of these techniques come with the same goal: to rejuvenate the breasts. The techniques performed at Montecito Plastic Surgery are:
The Binelli breast lift (donut lift)
The Vertical breast lift (lollipop lift)
The Weiss pattern breast lift (anchor breast lift)
We also offer breast lifting combined with other procedures, such as a tummy tuck or breast augmentation.
Depending on the techniques used, a breast lift can help you achieve:
Breast elevation
Forward projection
Improved symmetry
Higher positioned nipples
Smaller areolas
Your plastic surgeon will decide which surgical technique or combination of procedures you should undergo based on your unique concerns and body constitution.
How Is a Breast Lift Performed?
At your initial consultation, Dr. Lowenstein will explain what you can expect with this surgery and what the benefits and risks are. Informed consent is a top priority at Montecito Plastic Surgery. That is why Dr. Lowenstein will carefully walk you through the procedure and discuss whether it can result in the goals you are trying to achieve.
Before your procedure, we may ask you to stop using certain medications and stop smoking if you are a smoker. Once you are ready for your scheduled appointment, our surgeon will mark your breast area to determine where your breasts should sit. An anesthesia provider will then put you under general anesthesia.
Our surgeon will mark the areas where the incision should be. Dr. Lowenstein chooses incision areas that will be less visible and lead to minimal scarring. Then, he will remove excess skin and lift the breasts. He will also reposition and reshape the areolas to match the improved breast position.
The final stage of surgery is closing the incisions with stitches or tissue adhesive. Once this is complete, you will be taken to the recovery room, where our nurses will monitor you until you wake from the effects of anesthesia.
The surgery itself takes approximately one to three hours. Preparation, anesthesia and recovery add a couple of hours to that time. You will be able to see your final results within a few months, as it does take some time for breast tissue to settle post-surgery.
What Is the Recovery Like Following a Breast Lift?
You will have some discomfort after surgery, which we will help you manage with pain medication. Recovery time varies depending on the patient and the procedure, but most can return to their day-to-day activities within two weeks. Plan to postpone any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for a couple more weeks.
A breast lift is a surgical procedure, so downtime is a necessary part of the process. We advise our patients to take time off from work if their jobs involve physical exertion. You may be able to get back to work sooner if you work in an office.
Post-surgery, your breasts may be a bit tender and swollen. You will need to wear a post-surgical garment for a short time so that your incisions can heal correctly. Not wearing a bra or wearing the wrong type of bra can lead to stretching of the scar tissue and infection. If you notice significant swelling, oozing and pain, or if you develop a fever during your recovery, please contact us immediately. These issues are exceedingly rare at Montecito Plastic Surgery.
You won’t see your final size and shape until you have healed completely, which can take up to two months. Our surgeon chooses areas where you can cover the scarring with bras, bathing suits or clothing. Scars can be expected to heal to fine white lines in most cases.
Questions about Breast Lift? Contact Us today or call (805) 969-9004
FAQs
Also known as purse-string mastopexy, the Benelli mastopexy is an ideal technique where only little lifting is required. Ideal candidates are young women with mild sagging. But moms and older women with significant deflation may also be candidates. This technique involves taking out an oval (or donut) shape of tissue around the nipple and closing the incision with a purse-string suture that “cinches” the breast envelope centrally and upward to provide lift. Scarring is only around the nipple and not on the breast itself.
The mainstay of breast lift surgery is Vertical mastopexy. As with the Binelli technique, your surgeon can pair the Vertical breast lift with breast implants to create full, shapely breasts. The scars from this procedure are lollipop-shaped: around the nipple and down the center of the lower breast. This vertical lift is more versatile in elevation than a Binelli and works very well in most women.
Classically, breast lifts were done through a pattern similar to breast reductions, resulting in a scar around the nipple, down the center and underneath the breast, somewhat shaped like an anchor. This is known as the Weiss pattern breast lift. Ideal candidates are women with a lot of extra skin — like women who lost a massive amount of weight.
Weeks before your surgery, you will have one preoperative visit where we will review your plan for your breast lift and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you might still have. The night before your surgery, you may need to shower with special antibacterial soap and avoid all food and drink past midnight. You will get a call from your anesthesia provider, so please make sure your phone is on and working.
Dr. Lowenstein sometimes combines breast lifts with other procedures at Montecito Plastic Surgery in Santa Barbara. Breast augmentation (implants) is the most common type of procedure to go with breast lifts to provide fullness in the upper part of the breast. Much of the time, Dr. Lowenstein can create a natural breast shape without the need for implants. A tummy tuck, liposuction or even a facelift can be done as well. Whether you’re a candidate for multiple procedures mostly depends on your goals and your health.
Breast lifts themselves are not too painful. Dr. Lowenstein will provide you with narcotic painkillers to ease discomfort, though many patients choose not to take these because the pain is not too significant after a breast lift. Later on, you can use less potent medication, like Tylenol, to avoid side effects and dependence.
Breastfeeding after a breast lift may or may not be possible depending on the surgical technique and amount of breast lifting required. Dr. Lowensten may need to remove some milk ducts during your operation. If breastfeeding is important to you, discuss this with Dr. Lowenstein. He will recommend options that are more likely to retain your ability to breastfeed.
Scarring is part and parcel of healing after any operation. Dr. Lowenstein will do his best to make incisions where you can hide the scars, and he will rely on techniques that minimize scarring. Scarring depends on your genetic makeup as well, and you will be given instruction on the best means for optimal healing.
Dr. Lowenstein utilizes plastic surgery techniques that have stood the test of time, but no result lasts forever. Think of your breast lift as a reset. You will continue to age, and gravity will continue to exist. However, you can expect to look better in 10 years with a breast lift than if you did not have one.
A breast lift typically takes Dr. Lowenstein one to three hours, depending on the type of breast lift technique, the amount of lifting required and whether there are multiple procedures involved.
Dr. Lowenstein has performed many revisions of breast lift operations done by other physicians. It is always helpful to know what kind of breast lift was previously done, but having a second or third breast lift is certainly possible if required.
After any plastic surgery operation performed by Dr. Lowenstein, he will ask that you avoid vigorous activity for three to four weeks. However, returning to work may be possible as soon as one week following surgery if your job is not physically demanding. Most patients are back to normal activity after two weeks.
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