Breast Lift in St. Louis

For A Perkier You

Pregnancy, weight changes, and gravity all end up taking their toll on the breast. Over time, the breasts can deflate, sag, and lose their desired shape. A breast lift procedure will reposition the breast and nipple higher on the chest wall, giving a perkier, more youthful appearance.

During your consultation, your surgeon will review the changes you have experienced to your breasts, and take time to clearly define your goals in restoring the look and shape you want. They will discuss options for removing the loose, excess skin and tightening the surrounding breast tissue to add shape and support. If your areolas have stretched over time, these can be reduced as well. If you desire an increase in breast size, or fuller look to the upper part of your breasts , your surgeons will discuss adding an implant augmentation to help you achieve your goals. Alternatively, if you desire smaller breasts, a reduction can also be performed.

QUICK FACTS:

  • Length: 2-3 hours
  • Anesthesia: General
  • Outpatient surgery – home the same day
  • Recovery: 5-10 days
  • Side Effects: Bruising, swelling, temporary numbness or nipple sensitivity

A BREAST LIFT CAN

  • Remove excess skin
  • Improve the droopy appearance
  • Improve symmetry
  • Reduce areolar size
  • Create a more youthful shape
  • Replace lost volume (implant)

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Breast Lift Before & After

Patient #1137

Before:
Breast Lift
After:
Breast Lift

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PREPARING FOR BREAST LIFT

Smoking and all forms of nicotine should be stopped at least 4 weeks prior to any breast reshaping.
This includes e-cigarettes, patches, and gum.

Any medications and supplements which cause an increased risk of bleeding should also be stopped 2 weeks prior to any major surgery. Please see our list of medications and supplements to avoid. As always, make sure to check with your doctor before stopping any medications.

Medications to avoid

BREAST LIFT TECHINQUE:

In the preoperative area, your surgeons will repeat measurements and place surgical markings on your breasts for the new nipple location and areas of tissue tightening. They will design the breast lift depending on the amount of sagging breast skin that needs to be removed. This will require one of 3 main incisions:

Periareolar Incision:

This hides the scar in the transition between pigmented areolar tissue and your normal breast skin. This technique is useful for small elevations (2-3 cm) in the nipple, and for areolar reduction.

Keyhole Incision:

This also places incisions around the areola, with the addition of a vertical scar from the nipple down to the breast fold. This allows improved shaping of the breast and a more powerful lifting effect. This can be combined with implant placement and is our most commonly used breast lift technique.

Anchor Incision:

This allows removal of most breast skin and is useful for managing large elevations in the nipple or in breasts with significant deflation. In addition to the keyhole incisions, an additional scar will be discretely placed in the breast fold.

During the operation, your surgeon will reshape and support your breast tissue. If the additional volume or upper breast fullness was discussed, a temporary implant sizer will be placed and the breast will be shaped around this. Once the desired look is created, the permanent implant will be placed (if applicable) and the breast tissues will be meticulously closed with special absorbable sutures. A medical skin glue will be placed on top of this to seal out bacteria and make the breasts waterproof so that you can shower the next day. Thin surgical drain tubes may or may not be placed to help remove any fluid during your healing process. You will be placed in a postoperative bra that will need to be worn at all times other than bathing for the first 6 weeks to help support the breasts while they heal.

RECOVERY FROM BREAST LIFT SURGERY

Breast lift surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. Patients will have some discomfort, but typically this procedure is not overly painful. Women can shower the following day. Drainage tubes (if used) are removed within 1-2 weeks when the daily fluid output has decreased to acceptable levels. Plan to take 1-2 weeks off of work. Light exercise can typically be resumed in 2-3 weeks, with a return to full activities in 4-6 weeks. It takes a little time for the breast tissues to “settle in” and most women will see final lifting results in 2-4 months. Our surgeons use special plastic surgery techniques to keep your scars as faint and thin as possible. Most remain quite hidden and fade well within 1 year with ongoing good scar care.

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Breast Lift FAQs
Do you Have a Question?

No two breasts are the same. Most women are quite surprised to learn the vast majority of people have measurable differences in the size, shape, and appearance of their breasts and nipples. Fortunately, a breast lift, augmentation, or reduction by one of our surgeons can help correct most of these asymmetries. Your surgeons will do everything possible to make the breasts symmetrical, but very minor differences may remain.
A standard breast lift will help remove sagging breast tissue and skin, while repositioning the nipple to a more youthful location. Although this significantly enhances and rejuvenates the breast, it cannot add volume to the upper portion. This can be achieved with implant augmentation along with the breast lift, for a dramatically improved appearance.
Most women prefer to have the stretched areolar tissue reduced to a much smaller size during the breast lift.

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