Breast lift surgery, or mastopexy, doesn’t change the size of breasts but reshapes and firms them. Breast lift surgery is a common plastic surgery procedure and it is performed right here at our location in Gainesville, Florida.
We recommend you read this article to see how a plastic surgeon performs mastopexy to restore breasts’ natural shape and youthful firmness. Then the next step for any cosmetic surgery procedure is meeting with a plastic surgeon at the University of Florida Health to ensure the procedure is right for you.
1. Initial consultation and establishing a plan
Your Gainesville plastic surgeon will need to discuss your goals and perform an examination to determine the incision pattern they will use. The appropriate technique will be determined by several factors like breast size and shape, size and position of areolas, degree of breast sagging, skin quality and elasticity and the amount of extra skin.
2. Administration of anesthesia
A breast lift is a quick cosmetic surgery procedure that is administered under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation at our Florida plastic surgery center. Your surgeon will recommend the best type during the initial consultation. DO NOT EAT BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
Without anesthesia, your body would immediately go into a defensive mode resulting in an increased heart rate, breathing and blood pressure, because it would think you have been injured. Anesthesia acts as a pain reliever first of all but also prevents you from remembering the experience, immobilizes you and reduces or eliminates your body’s natural reactions to injuries.
3. Cutting the incisions
After the anesthesia is administered and you are asleep or fully sedated, the plastic surgeon will cut the incisions. Which incision pattern they choose depends on the factors outlined in step #1.
Around the Areola
Around Areola and Vertically Down to Breast Crease
Around Areola, Vertically Down from Breast Crease and Horizontally along Breast Crease
4. Reshaping and positioning
Once the surgeon cuts the incisions, he/she will lift and reshape the underlying breast tissue to improve the breasts’ contour and firmness. The nipple and areola is also repositioned to a more natural and youthful position. To compensate for the loss of elasticity, surgeons remove excess breast skin.
If necessary, the plastic surgeon reduces enlarged areolas by excising skin around their perimeter.
5. Closing the incisions
After reshaping and removal of excess skin, the plastic surgeon tightens the remaining skin and closes the incisions. Natural breast contours conceal some of the incision lines but not all of them. All incision lines are permanent but will fade and improve over time.
Surgeons place sutures, or stitches that hold tissue together, deep within the breast tissue to support the newly shaped breasts. To close the skin, the plastic surgeon may use sutures, skin adhesive or surgical tape.
Most people who undergo anesthesia have no problems, but results can vary from person to person. You may take awhile to wake up or may wake up abruptly, and when you do, you may feel hot, cold or a bit numb. You may even feel a little nauseous and go through either a crying or giggling spell. Don’t worry, it’s all normal and your surgeon will be watching over you as the anesthesia wears off.
Recovery time is pretty short – post-surgical recovery usually lasts 24 to 48 hours with additional reduced activity for a few days. You will likely experience soreness and swelling for a few days. Your breast lift surgeon will guide you in your recovery, including any follow up examinations.
Bookmark and check back often with the Florida Center for Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics’ knowledge center for more articles and information concerning breast lift surgery and a wide array of plastic and cosmetic surgery options available from UF Health plastic surgeons in Gainesville.
Take the next step to a new you. Call 352.265.8402 or contact us today to schedule a consultation.
*Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2006 National Plastic Surgery Statistics