Breast Lift Procedure/Mastopexy in Franklin & Nashville TN
As women grow older, the breasts naturally sag for a variety of reasons. Pregnancy, nursing, gravity and a loss in skin elasticity negatively affect the appearance of the breasts. Heredity and changes in weight can also cause the breasts to lose shape and firmness. For many women, this is difficult emotionally. Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, restores sagging breasts to a more youthful shape.
Some patients may desire a breast lift surgery, in conjunction with breast augmentation, to increase both the firmness and size of their breasts. Based on the amount of sagging that needs to be corrected, Dr. Brought will recommend what type of breast lift should be performed, which can affect the amount of scarring post-surgery.
Schedule A Mastopexy Consultation TodayAre You a Good Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery
Women who are already living a healthy lifestyle and are at or near their goal weight are usually the best candidates for this procedure. You should also have realistic expectations about what breast lift surgery will do for your appearance.
Women who have small, sagging breasts typically achieve the best results, but any size breast can be lifted. However, the results may not last as long due to the weight of larger breasts and gravity.
Pregnancy and nursing can leave your breasts with less volume and stretched skin, which may be corrected with a breast lift. However, if you plan to have more children, it is best to postpone a breast lift surgery until after as pregnancy can stretch the breasts again and offset the results of the procedure.
Breast Lift Scarring
The amount of scarring can vary, however you should expect permanent scarring. While the scars may remain noticeable, they’ll be covered by most bathing suits or bras. You should also be prepared for other risks, such as a loss of feeling around the nipples or unevenly positioned nipples.
Preparing for Breast Lift Surgery
During your consultation, Dr. Brought will examine your breasts and discuss items that may affect the results of the procedure. These factors include the current size and shape of your breasts, your age, and the current condition of your skin. During this time, you’ll also discuss with Dr. Brought the location of the nipple and areola, since they'll be moved up higher during the procedure to a more appropriate location. As with all plastic surgery procedures, Dr. Brought will discuss your expectations of the procedure.
About the Surgery
Typically a breast lift procedure takes two to four hours. Although Dr. Brought may choose to proceed differently in your case, he most often makes a lollipop-shaped incision that avoids a long horizontal scar under the breast. If you are having implants along with your lift, he will place them under the breast tissue or in a pocket under the muscle.
During breast lift surgery, Dr. Brought will remove loose skin and tighten the tissue around the breasts. This process improves the contour of your breasts, and it may also reduce the size of your areolas.
Recovery After Surgery
Dr. Brought will dress your incisions with gauze, and you will awaken wearing a surgical support bra. The bra, which will protect your breasts during recovery and help you feel more comfortable, may be replaced by a soft sports bra a week after surgery. You should plan to wear this bra all day and all night for several weeks. The stitches Dr. Brought uses will dissolve as your surgical wounds heal — you will not have to have them removed. You may experience some loss of feeling in your nipples and breast skin, as a result of the surgery. You may also notice numbness, which usually fades over time, but in rare situations can be permanent.
While very rare, it is possible to have loss of circulation to the areola after a breast lift surgery. This could cause part of or the entire nipple areolar complex to become necrotic, leaving an open wound. While this is very rare, it is more common in smokers or diabetics.
If you work, plan to take off about a week or more, depending how you feel. You should be able to get up and about after a day or two, however. Do not lift anything heavy or any object over your head for three to four weeks. If you become pregnant after surgery, breastfeeding is still possible because mastopexy leaves the milk ducts intact.
Keep in mind that gravity and aging will continue to play a role in the shape of your breasts, and although the surgery results may last for a long time, sagging or ptosis will recur.
Breast Lift Cost
The cost of your breast lift depends on how much intervention you need, and whether or not you want breast implants. Breast lifts range in cost from $4,000 to $9,000, with an average price of $7,800. In Nashville, the average cost of a breast lift lies around $5,500. Dr. Brought will discuss your breast lift options with you in order to determine the exact cost for your surgery.
Dr. Nathan Brought
Dr. Nathan Brought serves patients in the Franklin, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga, TN region. For more information about breast lift surgery or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Brought, contact SPRSI.
Information on Other Breast Procedures
- Breast Reduction
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breast Augmetnation/Implants
- Breast Revision Surgery
- Pectoral Implants
- Male Breast Reduction/Gynecomastia
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