Breast Lift (for Sagging Breasts)
You can restore a higher, firmer breast shape, so that getting dressed and seeing your reflection feels more at ease with yourself.
Is this right for you?
Choosing to have a breast lift is a personal decision. You should do this for yourself, not to please anyone else or to match some ideal. Below are a few signs that this approach may suit you, along with the situations where you should think it over more carefully.
This may be a good fit if
- You are in good physical health and able to keep your weight fairly stable.
- You do not smoke.
- You have realistic expectations about what surgery can and cannot do.
- You feel your breasts have lost their shape and firmness, with the nipple and areola pointing downward, or the nipple sitting low below the breast fold when unsupported.
- Stretched breast skin, a widened areola, or one breast sitting lower than the other is something that bothers you.
This may not be right if
- You want a clearly fuller breast or more upper-pole projection: a lift on its own cannot do this, and you may want to consider combining it with implants.
- You want your breasts smaller in size: in that case you may want to consider combining the lift with a breast reduction.
- You are planning a pregnancy in the near future, because the breast changes that come with pregnancy can reduce or reverse the result; talk with your doctor first.
- You are planning to lose a significant amount of weight, since this is also worth discussing before you decide on surgery.
How it works
Everything begins with a consultation with a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery. Your doctor will ask why you want surgery, what you are hoping for, your general health and medical history, the medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol and tobacco you use, any previous surgeries, and your family history of breast cancer along with any mammogram or biopsy results you have. The safety of your surgery depends a great deal on you sharing information clearly and honestly.
Your doctor will examine your breasts, possibly taking detailed measurements of size and shape, skin quality, and the position of the nipple and areola, take photographs for your medical record, and then discuss the options with you and recommend a plan. The technique that fits you is chosen based on your breast size and shape, the position and size of the areola, the degree of sagging, your skin elasticity and the amount of excess skin, along with what you want in terms of breast volume.
On the day of surgery, you are given medication to keep you comfortable throughout. Anesthesia is what keeps you from feeling pain during surgery; the options include intravenous sedation (medication given through a drip that makes you drowsy and relaxed) and general anesthesia (you are fully asleep). Your doctor will advise which option suits you.
Your doctor makes the incision along one of several patterns: a circle around the areola, a circle around the areola joined to a vertical line down to the breast fold (a lollipop or racquet shape), or an inverted-T shape. The doctor then removes excess skin, fatty tissue and glandular tissue where present, reduces the areola when needed, and secures the nipple and areola in a higher position. The incision is closed to create the new, higher and firmer breast shape: dissolvable sutures on the inside, non-dissolvable sutures on the outside, and sometimes surgical glue or special tape. For some cases of mild sagging, where the skin still has good elasticity and no increase in size is needed, the procedure may be done endoscopically.
Realistic expectations
Understanding what this approach can and cannot do will help keep your expectations close to reality. Medicine and surgery are not an exact science: results are often good, but nothing can promise it will always be so, and sometimes a second corrective surgery is needed.
What this will not do
- It will not noticeably change the size of your breasts.
- It will not add projection to the upper part of your breasts.
- It does not lock in a fixed result: your breasts can still change over time with aging, weight changes, hormonal factors and illness.
- It will not remove all scarring: the incisions leave lasting scars, though in many cases the scars fade and improve noticeably over time.
Recovery
Once your surgery is finished, the incisions are dressed. You may be given an elastic wrap or a support bra to reduce swelling and hold your breasts while they heal. Your doctor will give you specific guidance on how to care for your breasts, take your medication, look after the incisions, and what to watch for. It matters that the incisions are not put under strain, rubbed or disturbed while they heal.
- The first 24 to 48 hours
- If a drain is placed at the surgical site to let fluid escape, it is usually removed within about 24 to 48 hours.
- The first few weeks
- The incisions gradually become less swollen. You will be scheduled for a follow-up and to have your sutures removed; ask your doctor for the specific timing, as well as when you can return to your normal activities and exercise.
- About 3 to 6 months
- You may see a change right after surgery, but the finished breast shape usually takes about 3 to 6 months, as the swelling settles and the scars fade.
- Long term
- The result improves over time and can last well if you keep your weight stable and a healthy lifestyle; the scars continue to fade.
Risks & safety
Every surgery carries risk, and you should weigh whether the benefits are worth accepting these risks. Your doctor will explain them with you in detail before surgery. The possible complications and risks include:
- Infection; a collection of blood (hematoma) or fluid (seroma).
- Fat necrosis, or loss of the nipple and areola tissue.
- Delayed wound healing and poor scarring.
- Changes in sensation in the nipple or breast, which may be temporary or last a long time.
- Uneven breast shape between the two sides; skin discoloration or pigment changes; breast tissue that feels too firm.
- You may no longer be able to breastfeed; this approach can also affect breast imaging tests.
- Allergy to the dressings, sutures or medical materials; risks from anesthesia; and the possibility of needing a further surgery.
How we do it
At The Gioi Dep, your breast lift is performed by a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, at a facility licensed for surgery, with the full staff and equipment needed to keep you safe. Before surgery, you have testing and a health assessment; sometimes a mammogram is needed before and after surgery to track changes in your breast tissue later on.
Our doctors take the time to examine and measure you so they can choose the technique that fits your breasts in particular, rather than applying one fixed method. You are encouraged to ask any questions openly and to share any feelings of worry or tension before surgery, because following your doctor's guidance is the key to a smooth procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Will this make my breasts bigger?
No. A breast lift restores a higher, firmer breast shape, but it does not noticeably change the size. If you want them fuller, you might consider combining the lift with implants; if you want them smaller, it can be combined with a breast reduction.
Will I have scars?
Yes. The incisions leave lasting scars. In many cases, though, the scars fade and improve noticeably over time, and they usually sit where they can be hidden under a bra or swimsuit.
How long after surgery before I can return to work and exercise?
This timing differs from person to person. Your doctor will give you specific guidance on when you can return to your normal activities and exercise, so ask about this clearly during your consultation.
When will I see the final breast shape?
You may see a change right after surgery, but the finished breast shape usually takes about 3 to 6 months, as the swelling gradually settles and the scars fade.
Will my breasts look natural and even?
Your doctor creates a new, higher and firmer breast shape, and adjusts the position of the nipple and areola. Even so, the two breasts may not be perfectly even, and this is one of the things worth discussing with your doctor beforehand.
Will I still be able to breastfeed afterward?
Your ability to breastfeed after surgery may be limited, and in some cases breastfeeding may no longer be possible. If you are planning to have children, talk with your doctor before you decide.
Will the result last?
The result can last well, but your breasts still change over time with aging, weight changes, hormonal factors and illness. Keeping your weight stable and a healthy lifestyle will help the result hold longer.
Will I need another surgery?
Medicine and surgery are not an exact science. Results are often good but nothing is promised, and in some cases a second corrective surgery may be needed to reach the result you want.
What should I keep in mind once I am home?
Follow your doctor's guidance and keep the incisions from being pressed on or rubbed. If you have trouble breathing, chest pain or an unusual heartbeat, seek medical care right away; if a complication occurs, you may need to be admitted to the hospital for further treatment.
Will this affect breast cancer screening?
Surgery can affect breast imaging tests. Sometimes your doctor will suggest a mammogram before and after surgery, to serve as a baseline for spotting changes in your breast tissue later on.
The next step
The next step is a conversation - book a consultation.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.