Breast Lift Procedure
If pregnancy, weight loss, or simply aging have affected the shape and firmness of your breasts, you’re not alone. At Virden MD, we understand how these changes impact your self-esteem and confidence.
A breast lift—also known as mastopexy—can help you achieve a more youthful and perky breast profile. Our focus is to create natural-looking results that flatter your unique body shape.
Breast
lift in Reno, Nevada
A breast lift procedure offers benefits including:
- Improved shape and appearance to lift and tighten tissues to create a perkier, more youthful breast profile.
- Enhanced confidence and self-esteem because of your rejuvenated appearance and ability to wear more form-fitting clothes.
- Reduced skin issues like irritation or infections under the folds of sagging breasts.
- Improved nipple position to correct nipples that point downwards due to sagging.
- Better fit into clothes with more lift and support.
- Natural looking results that complement your body type.
A breast lift may also be performed in tandem with breast augmentation—a surgical procedure to increase breast size, shape, or fullness—to both elevate and add volume for a rejuvenated appearance.
Ideal Candidates for a Breast Lift
Dr. Virden will conduct a thorough exam to determine if a breast lift is right for you.
If your breasts sag, appear stretched, or lack symmetry, you may desire a perkier, more lifted appearance. The same applies if you have downward-facing nipples or have lost skin elasticity due to pregnancy, weight loss, or age. A breast lift in any of these cases may be right for you.
It’s important to have realistic expectations about the improvements that a breast lift can offer. If you think you may be a good candidate for a breast lift, book an appointment with us today.
What to expect during your breast lift
Breast lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia and is an outpatient surgery, meaning you can go home the same day. During your consultation, Dr. Virden will discuss the specific details of your surgery, including the most suitable incision type for your individual procedure. Common incision options include:
- Anchor/T-shaped incision: This is a standard incision ideal for significant lifting and reshaping. It involves an incision around the areola (the darker, pigmented area around your nipple), and a vertical incision down and along your breast crease.
- Lollipop/Keyhole incision: This is a popular choice for moderate sagging and is effective at removing excess breast tissue and skin. It involves an incision around your areola and a vertical incision down to your breast crease.
- Crescent incision: This is a less invasive option used for minimal correction and minor sagging. Your surgeon will make a crescent-shaped incision along the top of your areola.
- Concentric/Donut incision: This incision is made around the edge of your areola, resulting in a circular or donut-shaped scar. One potential advantage is reduced scar visibility as the scar blends with the natural color transition of your areola.
The specific incision type Dr. Virden recommends will depend on the extent of correction needed, your desired outcome, and your anatomy.
Post-Surgical Care and Recovery
To optimize your healing time and minimize scarring, our team will provide detailed instructions on proper wound care. We understand the importance of comfort during recovery, which is why we offer a complimentary post-surgical bra to all our breast lift patients. This bra features a front closure, lacks underwires for comfort, and provides gentle compression to support your healing breasts.
Anticipated Results
You will see an initial improvement in your breast shape immediately after surgery. Because it takes time for swelling to subside, you’ll see the final result after around 2 to 3 weeks. Remember that recovery varies, especially if your breast lift is combined with another procedure like augmentation or reduction.
We encourage you to perform light activity (like walking) within the first 48 hours to promote blood circulation. Normal activities can typically resume after 2 to 3 weeks, but we strongly advise against heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for 6 to 8 weeks.
There is a common misconception that you won’t have to wear a bra again after a breast lift. This is not the case. Your breasts will naturally age over time, and even if the change in your breasts’ position isn’t as severe as pre-procedure, you’ll want to wear a bra to keep them in the right position.
Common Breast Lift FAQs
How Long Does a Breast Lift Last?
Most women enjoy the benefits of a breast lift for 10 to 15 years. As everyone’s body and aging process is different, some women may see results for longer while others may require a revision procedure earlier. Factors including age, genetics, weight fluctuations, and your lifestyle habits can all affect the longevity of your breast lift results.
Is a Breast Lift Painful?
Everyone experiences pain differently, and some women find breast lift recovery more manageable than they anticipated. If your breast lift is combined with another procedure, like breast augmentation, you might experience more discomfort.
- Immediately after your surgery, you’ll likely experience soreness, tightness, and swelling around your breasts. You will be prescribed pain medication to help manage this discomfort.
- Within the first few days post operatively, you may experience the most discomfort. Pain medication and proper care—like applying ice packs—can help significantly.
- Discomfort gradually reduces over the following 2 to 3 weeks and you’ll likely transition to over-the-counter pain relievers as needed.
What is a Good Age to Get a Breast Lift?
There is no “good age” to have a breast lift. Many women choose to have this procedure as they approach 40, 50, and 60-years old. But some factors to consider regardless of age include:
- Your breasts are fully developed.
- You’ve hit a stable weight to avoid large fluctuations.
- You’re done having children as pregnancy and breastfeeding affect breast shape.
- You’re experiencing sagging or loss of elasticity.
- You understand the realistic expectations: a breast lift improves shape and firmness but won’t stop the natural aging process.
Does Your Bra Size Change After a Breast Lift?
Individual results vary. Some may see a decrease in bra size because the more lifted and supported shape allows for a better-fitting bra, but others will not.
Does Insurance Cover a Breast Lift?
In most cases, a breast lift is considered an elective cosmetic surgery and is not covered by insurance. Our office does not bill insurance.
Do You Lose Size When You Get A Breast Lift?
While your bra size might change after a breast lift, it’s not because your breasts have shrunk in volume. You typically won’t lose a significant amount of breast tissue during a breast lift. The goal is reshaping and redistribution, not reduction.
Get back your perky breasts
You can have the healthy and youthful breasts you once had with breast lift surgery. We invite you to have a complimentary consultation with our plastic surgeon today and discuss if this surgery is right for you. Whether it is suggested to have just a breast lift or more, we can help you look and feel younger and fantastic.