Breast Lift – Mastopexy
Age, weight loss or weight fluctuations, and pregnancy are factors that may cause your breasts to sag and droop due to gravity or lost volume. A full breast lift surgery performed at Capek Plastic Surgery is an excellent solution to uneven breasts; decreased breast volume, sagging nipples, and overstretched areolas. Dr. Capek’s goal is to recreate a more youthful breast contour and perky lift to your breasts. If you also feel there is inadequate breast volume, a breast augmentation with breast implants or natural breast augmentation may be recommended in combination with this procedure.
Patients throughout the Capital District areas of Albany, Schenectady, Troy and Saratoga trust New York Plastic Surgeon Dr. Lucie Capek to perform their breast lift surgery. Many of our patients also travel from New York City, Vermont, Massachusetts and beyond to receive her skilled and compassionate care.
Am I a Good Candidate?
Sagging breast tissue can result from significant weight loss, the natural aging process, or breastfeeding. If you are bothered by your drooping breasts and wonder what a breast lift surgery can do for you, contact our practice to schedule a consultation for a breast lift surgery in Albany, NY. Dr. Capek can fully determine your candidacy for this procedure based on your medical history, your desires, your general health, and your realistic expectations. Some common reasons that breast lift patients desire this surgery are:
- Breasts with inadequate fullness or firmness.
- A nipple-areola complex that points down.
- Breasts that are pendulous, but perfect in size.
- Breasts that appear asymmetrical, not equal in size or shape.
Breast lift patients should be finished having children and breastfeeding and want to restore their pre-pregnancy breast shape and perkiness. Large, heavy breasts can be lifted, but results may not last as long as smaller breasts due to the effects of gravity. A breast reduction may be required to improve your results.
Before Your Procedure
An initial consultation with Dr. Capek will give you an opportunity to discuss your desired outcomes and learn about breast lifts. She will advise on particular breast lift techniques and possibly additional cosmetic surgeries that can help reach your aesthetic goals. You should inform Dr. Capek if you’re planning on having more children or losing weight. These lifestyle changes can affect the long-term results of your breast lift.
To determine your ideal breast lift technique or other procedures necessary, she will examine the anatomy of your breast tissue. If you feel your breasts are too large, she may recommend a breast reduction. If you feel your breasts are too small, Dr. Capek will recommend breast augmentation with implants or a natural breast augmentation with autologous fat transfer. In any case, Dr. Capek wants you to be an informed participant in the procedure planning process so you’re completely happy with your results.
As with any surgical procedure, you should be in a generally healthy state when considering breast lift procedures. Living a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise, will improve your chances for a successful outcome. It’s also important not to smoke cigarettes since it interferes with the body’s natural healing process. Following Dr. Capek’s preoperative guidelines can help ensure a smooth and uncomplicated breast lift procedure.
Your Procedure
A breast lift is typically performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation in a surgical suite. Each breast lift technique is customized to your breast size and shape, areola size and position, the degree of sagging, skin quality, and how much excess skin needs to be removed. There are several options for incision patterns and techniques that Dr. Capek will choose from:
- The “Anchor” Lift: This method involves an incision made around the areola, vertically down towards the breast crease, and horizontally along the crease (an anchor shape). The anchor incision is generally used for women who have severe sagging breasts, or for women undergoing a breast reduction or breast augmentation as well.
- The “Lollipop” Lift: Also known as a keyhole incision is made around the areola and vertically down to the breast crease. This technique is helpful for women with moderate sagging and does not desire a breast augmentation with implants.
- The “Donut” Lift: Also known as the periareolar incision, this involves an incision around the areola only. When board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Capek utilizes this method with the placement of implants, it can provide excellent results for women with mild-to-moderate sagging breasts.
- The “Crescent” Lift: A less commonly used method, a crescent lift involves an incision along the upper half of the areola. A crescent-shaped piece of breast skin is removed and the surrounding skin is attached to the areola. This lift is usually performed in combination with breast augmentation in women with slightly sagging breasts
Whichever technique is performed, Dr. Capek assures only minimalistic incisions will be created using the Harmonic® Scalpel, which helps minimize bleeding. During the breast lift procedure, Dr. Capek will remove excess skin and relocate the nipple and areola to a higher, more youthful position. If your areola is stretched, this can be reduced in size as well.
Skin that was located above the areola is then brought down and tightened to reshape the breast contour. Then excess skin is removed, and your incisions are closed, tightening the skin in the process. Breast lift scars are generally hidden with the natural shape of your breast, except for some light scarring that is generally covered by clothing.
Breast Lift with Breast Implants
Depending on your desired results, you may wish to have a breast lift with breast implants for a more dramatic improvement. After making the incisions for your breast lift, Dr. Capek will create a pocket where she will insert and position your implants in a sub-muscular (below the pectoralis muscle) or sub-glandular position. Then she will continue with the breast lift procedure accordingly to provide a more youthful appearance with perkier breasts.
After Your Procedure
Immediately following your procedure, you can expect to be wrapped in bandages while also wearing a compression garment to maintain your newly contoured chest. You will experience some redness, swelling, and discomfort after surgery. You may also feel some initial discomfort but you’ll be prescribed pain medication. Other side effects include bruising, numbness, and itching, which generally go away within a few weeks. It is important to follow Dr. Capek’s post-operative guidelines to ensure a healthy breast lift recovery.
For the first few days after your breast lift, you will need to get out of bed for short periods of time, but avoid bending, heavy lifting, or straining. You will be instructed to lie on your back. This prevents any pressure on your breasts. After about a week, you may return to work depending on your occupation. As swelling reduces, Dr. Capek will instruct you to wear a surgical bra for a few weeks. Generally, sutures are removed approximately ten days after your breast lift surgery. After having scheduled follow-up appointments with Dr. Capek, she can inform you when you can return to regular activities.
Breast lift results are long-lasting, as long as you don’t have dramatic weight fluctuations or go through a pregnancy. Although the breasts may set into a new position, the nipple position should remain the same.
What Are the Risks?
Breast lifts performed under the care of Dr. Capek have very infrequent complications. However, every surgical procedure carries some risk. Some common complications can include an adverse reaction to anesthesia, infection, bleeding, blood clots, and changes in the sensation of your breasts. If you follow Dr. Capek’s instructions before and after this cosmetic surgery procedure, you can substantially reduce the risk of complications and improve your breast lift results.
If you’re troubled that your breasts sag or have an undesirable breast shape, a breast lift may be an excellent solution for you. Contact our office today to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Capek. Our office is just 13 miles from Albany and 9 miles from Schenectady, New York.
