If you have concerns about skin laxity and sagging breasts, a breast lift can make your clothes fit better.
The Breast Lift is a highly sought-after plastic surgery procedure that can give you a better overall appearance and boost your self-confidence. Dr. Mark Schusterman specializes in breast lifts, as well as breast augmentation, Silicone or Saline breast implants, and “Mommy Makeovers”. For patients in Houston breast lift surgery can be incorporated into your surgical plan as a stand-alone procedure or as part of a more comprehensive restoration. It is an excellent solution to lift drooping breasts to a more youthful position.
What is a Breast Lift?
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a cosmetic surgical procedure to correct the following breast issues:
- Breast Sagging
- Breast Asymmetry
- Nipple Repositioning
Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Schusterman will reshape and restore your breasts to give you a fuller and rounder appearance that works the best for your body type. His goal is always that you receive the very best Breast Lift in Houston.
What is the Difference Between a Breast Augmentation and a Breast Lift?
On average, over 100,000 women annually elect to have breast lifts performed. It’s important to discuss and decide what is the best procedure to meet your expectations with Dr. Schusterman. Here is a quick look at the differences between these two common cosmetic procedures:
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is a cosmetic breast surgery to increase breast size by placing silicone implants or saline implants under the breast tissue or the chest muscle to make the breasts fuller and rounder in appearance. Breast augmentation does not technically raise the breasts’ position on the body, though the additional volume can improve the look and shape of the breasts. Fat transfer can also be used for breast augmentation.
Breast Lift
During a breast lift Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Schusterman will remove excess skin, reshape, and tighten the breasts to correct sagging and give a more lifted and youthful appearance. Breast lifts do not add volume to the breasts, but they can help make the breasts more symmetrical and improve breast position on the body. Breast lifts are often done in conjunction with breast augmentation to give Dr. Schusterman the ability to create a procedure that provides the benefits of both breast lift and breast augmentation.
How Will I Know if a Breast Lift is Right for me?
Choosing cosmetic surgery is a personal choice. The reasons for a breast lift are different for each patient. Breast lift candidates need to have a positive and healthy outlook on how you want your breasts to look.
Patients should ask the following questions when deciding if a breast lift is right for them:
- Will a breast lift help correct the size differences in my breasts?
- Will a breast lift help me look better in my clothes and overall appearance?
- Will a breast lift help make my breasts look like they did before I had kids or lost weight?
It is important to discuss your goals with Dr. Schusterman to determine how a breast lift can benefit you. He will review your goals and explain how his procedures can help you meet your desired results.
Breast Lift Procedure
There are many breast lift techniques Dr. Schusterman can use to give your breasts the needed lift. Here is a quick look at each procedure:
The “Scarless” Lift
The main focus of the Scarless Lift is using as few incisions as possible. This breast lift procedure works great in tandem with breast implants. While no procedure is truly scarless, the scarless lift uses thermage and smart lipo to decrease the incision’s size and hide it to minimize the scar.
The Crescent Lift
One of the least invasive procedures, the Crescent Lift, uses a semi-circular incision on the top half of the areola. The crescent lift is used on women who only require a minor adjustment.
The Donut Lift
The Donut Lift is also known as the Benelli lift, developed by French surgeon Dr. Benelli; and uses only a singular incision around the areola. The areola is repositioned, the nipple is made higher while tightening the breast skin. You can also combine this technique with breast augmentation if you feel you need to make your breasts even fuller.
The Lollipop Lift
The Lollipop Lift technique is one of the original methods created when breast lifts became popular in the 90s. It is named after the shape of the incision made around the breast. A circular cut is made around the areola, then cut below the areola to the breast crease (under the boob). The Lollipop lift is a popular option for women who need to correct a lot of sagging, and who are not getting breast implants.
The Anchor Lift
The Anchor Lift is the optimal procedure for women who need to correct excessive sagging. Similar to the Lollipop Lift, this technique has one additional incision placed horizontally along the breast crease. This additional incision gives Dr. Schusterman the ability to further reshape and reposition the breasts and correct sagging, creating more dramatic results than less invasive lifts.
Breast Lift Results
Once your swelling subsides and your incisions are healed, you will be more than pleased with the results. A breast lift typically lasts 10-15 years, which is why this procedure is so popular.
Breast Lift Recovery
As an outpatient surgery, you will be under general anesthesia during your breast lift surgery, so you must have someone to drive you home after surgery. The surgery generally lasts two hours plus recovery time. Like all of our Houston breast lift patients, you will be given a specific post-surgical plan to follow. It is recommended that you refrain from upper body activity for the next 7-10 days. Your bandages and support garments need to remain in place to help with recovery.
Schedule Your Houston Breast Lift Consultation with Dr. Schusterman
It is important to have a frank conversation about your expectations and have a healthy outlook on the results.
There is no permanent procedure that will ever bring your body back to your teen years. If you are currently living with the embarrassment of sagging breasts, call Dr. Schusterman for a consultation about a breast lift, and learn more about the breast lift techniques that can help you today.
Breast Lift FAQs
Invasive cosmetic surgery will have some pain and discomfort. Dr. Schusterman will ensure you will have the necessary medication to alleviate any pain you may have.
A breast lift surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure and not covered by insurance. You can always check with your insurance provider. Dr. Schusterman offers many options of payment to make this procedure affordable for you.
There is no heavy lifting for 7-10 days, and you will want to give your body a chance to heal for at least two weeks to avoid anyone accidentally bumping into you.
While all surgical procedures carry the risk of scarring, Dr. Schusterman employs techniques aimed at minimizing and strategically placing scars to make them less noticeable. The “Scarless” Lift, for example, focuses on using as few incisions as possible to reduce visible scarring.
The duration of a breast lift surgery can vary depending on the complexity of the procedure and the technique used. On average, the surgery lasts about two hours, but this time frame can vary.
After the surgery, patients are provided with a specific post-surgical plan, including wearing bandages and support garments. It’s recommended to avoid upper body activities for 7-10 days to ensure proper healing.
A breast lift’s effects are long-lasting, typically around 10-15 years. However, factors like aging, gravity, and changes in weight can affect the longevity of the results. Some patients may choose to have additional surgeries in the future to maintain their desired appearance.
Preparation for a breast lift involves several steps, including undergoing a medical evaluation, adjusting current medications, and stopping smoking. Dr. Schusterman will provide detailed instructions based on your specific situation.
As with any surgery, there are risks, including infection, changes in nipple or breast sensation, and scarring. Dr. Schusterman will discuss all potential risks and how they are mitigated during the consultation.
In most cases, a breast lift does not impact your ability to breastfeed, but it can vary depending on the technique used. If you plan to breastfeed in the future, please discuss this with Dr. Schusterman during your consultation.
It’s recommended to wait until at least six months after giving birth or breastfeeding to consider a breast lift. This waiting period allows a return to a stable breast shape and size for optimal results.
The cost of a breast lift can vary widely depending on several factors, including the complexity of the surgery, the technique used, the surgeon’s experience, and geographic location. Additionally, costs may include anesthesia fees, hospital or surgical facility costs, medical tests, post-surgery garments, and prescriptions for medication. Dr. Schusterman will provide a detailed cost estimate during your consultation, which will give you a clearer understanding of the total investment required for your breast lift surgery. Keep in mind that breast lift surgery is generally considered cosmetic and is not covered by insurance, although financing options may be available to help manage the cost.
