As a woman ages, her body changes. One change that is often especially noticeable is skin loses its firmness, particularly around the breasts. A firm, perky bust can turn downward and droop, which might leave you feeling self-conscious and missing the figure you used to have. But with a breast lift, you can reclaim your youth and the shapely breasts you once had. If you’re in Edinburg, TX, our team at Rios Center for Plastic Surgery can get you feeling more confident and gorgeous in no time.
Getting a breast lift is a simple and straightforward process that involves a doctor making small incisions in the skin over and around the breasts. A local anesthetic is used, and the entire procedure lasts around two hours. All in all, it’s quick and very effective, as the results are a buoyant bust that restores your former shape and leaves you feeling more confident than ever. To get a better understanding of what it’s like to get this procedure, read on.
What Is a Breast Lift?
This procedure, which is commonly known as a mastopexy, is a method of raising a sagging breast so that it sits higher on the chest and looks more perky and youthful. It is a surgical procedure and a highly popular choice for women looking to correct ptosis, restore their bust to the shape it was when they were younger, or recover firmness that has been lost due to sagging.
Why Do Breasts Sag?
Sagging breasts can be caused by a whole host of factors, including childbirth and nursing, fluctuating weight, a loss of reproductive hormones, and sun damage. Larger breasts are often predisposed to sagging over time. Genetics can also be a big determinate – many women find they’ve had misshapen, low-hanging breasts since puberty.
But the most common cause is aging. A woman’s ovaries naturally produce estrogen, which is responsible for the growth of breast tissue. But as a woman reaches middle age, the production of estrogen slows, which can cause breast tissue to lose its elasticity and become dehydrated. There’s also just the downward pull of gravity that, over time, causes breasts to droop. So while women of all ages seek out this procedure, they are most common among those in their forties, as this is when these changes become more obvious.
What Can I Do to Prevent Breast Sagging?
There isn’t a whole lot that can be done to prevent sagging. As with most cosmetic concerns, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight and take care of yourself, and avoid smoking and over-exposure to the sun. Things like bras and creams might provide temporary solutions, but are unlikely to offer long-term restored perkiness in the breasts.
While there are estrogen supplements available, they are not FDA-approved and no data has been found to show they actually work. Too much estrogen in the body can also lead to breast cancer, which leads many women to avoid supplements.
For these reasons, a breast lift has become an incredibly popular solution to sagging breasts. An expert team of qualified plastic surgeons can offer a safe and long-lasting remedy for drooping breasts that leave women feeling more confident and youthful.
How Does This Procedure Work?
This procedure removes excess skin from the breast and chest region. The method used involves a surgeon making tiny incisions around the line of the areola. The exact way the incision is made and how many are done will depend on the individual and their cosmetic goals, but common methods include:
- Going along the line surrounding the areola
- Making a vertical line down the breast’s natural crease
- Making a horizontal line under the breast fold
Excess skin is carefully removed, and the tissue under the breasts is tightened. Then the remaining skin is lifted and the incisions are closed using specialized sutures.
Before the Procedure
Prior to your procedure, you will come in for a consultation where we’ll discuss your cosmetic goals and plan exactly how we’ll perform your breast lift and what incisions will be made. After all, this procedure is a totally individualized process that depends on what you want and what kind of body you have. For instance, if you’re unhappy with the size of your areolas, we can plan to reduce them during the procedure. We’ll also go over your medical records and ensure that you’re a good candidate for the procedure.
During the Procedure
This procedure is performed at our in-house accredited surgery center in Edinburg, TX. We will use a local anesthesia and perform the surgery as planned using one of, or a combination of, the previously described incision methods. Typically the whole process takes about two hours and then you are free to leave. It’s as simple as that!
After the Procedure
Following the procedure, we encourage you to avoid strenuous activities, such as lifting, immediately afterward, and allow your body to rest. The exact amount of time needed to properly recover will depend on the individual, but we do recommend moving within 48 hours following the procedure. Typically, patients feel well enough to return to work and life activities after five to ten days.
What Kind of Results Can I Expect?
Following this procedure, patients find that their breasts are perkier and higher on their chests. Maybe you’ll find your bust is now more similar to what it was when you were younger, or maybe you will have finally addressed a life-long frustration of sagging breasts caused by genetics. Whatever it is, you will enjoy a more youthful bust and a figure that is nicely filled out by supple, perky breasts. If you wanted your nipples reduced in size of centered up during the procedure, then you can enjoy a more balanced bust thanks to the repositioning of your areoles.
All of this can lead to a huge boost in confidence as you enjoy a body that you feel more yourself in. You can wear the clothes you want without worrying about how your breasts might be filling them out, and even rock a bathing suit in the warmer months! As long as you seek out this procedure for yourself and your happiness, then you can enjoy the results.
How Long Will These Results Last?
Because this procedure permanently reshapes breast tissue, the results are long-lasting. Patients need to be aware that aging will still change the shape of the breasts with time, as will the pull of gravity. But that’s something that happens over many years, so it won’t be an issue for quite some time following the procedure!
To best maintain their results, it’s helpful if patients stay at a similar weight to what they weighed at the time of surgery. New additional weight can put stress on the breast tissue, which may weaken it and cause the breasts to droop again. Losing too much weight may encourage more sagging. Patients who look after themselves and lead consistent lifestyles are the best candidates for this procedure.
Will My Breasts Get Bigger Following This Procedure?
This procedure is designed to lift and reshape the breasts using the tissue that’s already inside them. It does not add size, although the newfound perkiness brings a lot of additional shape and the appearance of volume to your figure. If you’re interested in going up cup sizes or balancing out breasts where one is smaller than the other, we recommend a breast augmentation instead. This is a surgical procedure where implants are inserted behind the breast tissue to change the size and shape of the breast.
How Do I Know if I Have Saggy Breasts?
You may have noticed your bust changing shape over time, but are unsure if it qualifies as “sagging”. There’s a simple way to test this – can a small object, such as a pencil, sit under the folds of the breast without you holding it there? If so, your sagging might be harsh enough for you to consider this procedure. If you’ve spotted that one of your breasts is hanging noticeably lower than the other, this might be another reason to look into altering your bust.
You can also look to your nipples to measure the severity of your sagging. Nipples that are very downward-facing, or have even folded under the breast, are commonplace for sagging breasts. The same goes for nipples where the skin surrounding them is extremely stretched-out.
Ultimately, you’re the one who understands your body and what you’d like to change about it. But if there is anything you’re unhappy with and want to at least learn more about your options, come in for a consultation and we can talk through everything.
How Do I Know if This Is the Right Procedure for Me?
During a consultation, our expert team can help you decide if this procedure will be the best method to get your bust to a shape that makes you happier. If not, we can suggest alternative procedures and treatments, such as the previously mentioned breast augmentation, which is more suited to those who want to increase their bust size. If you’re looking to address sagging skin on the rest of the body, we might suggest a procedure such as a Tummy Tuck, which removes excess skin from the abdomen.
Can I Combine a Breast Lift With Another Procedure?
Here at Rios Center for Plastic Surgery, we’re happy to combine procedures to produce the best results. A popular choice for many is our Mommy Makeover. If your sagging skin has been caused by pregnancy, this might be the right option right for you, as we can target several problem areas at once using a customized plan designed specifically for your body. That might mean performing a breast lift alongside liposuction or a tummy tuck.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
This procedure must be performed on developed breasts, which means candidates have to be over the age of 18. Ideal candidates are at a stable weight and will continue to be at one, so they can best maintain results. Patients should not have any underlying conditions that could complicate surgery, which can include diabetes or a history of breast cancer. This is something we’ll go through during a consultation.
Importantly, patients should have a good understanding of what results this procedure can offer and have realistic expectations for the outcome.
Schedule a Consultation Today
If you’re ready to say goodbye to sagging, downward-facing breasts, and reclaim your youth with a more shapely chest, then a breast lift may be right for you. In just a few hours, you can balance out your body thanks to a perky, supple bust. Contact Rios Center for Plastic Surgery in Edinburg, TX, and schedule a consultation today. We can help you feel more yourself and gorgeous in no time.
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