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A breast lift, or mastopexy, offers the opportunity to raise and firm your breasts. A breast lift returns a youthful shape and lift to your breasts that may have sagged as a result of weight loss, pregnancy, a skin’s natural elasticity fading or simply the effects of gravity. The procedure can also reduce areolar size (the dark skin surrounding the nipple).
For some patients, a breast lift can be combined with breast augmentation for added volume and firmness of your breasts. Breasts of any size can be lifted. Women planning to have children are advised to postpone surgery because pregnancy and nursing may counteract the breast lift effects by stretching the skin.
Dr. Douglas Steinbrech is a Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. He specializes in Minimally Invasive Aesthetics.
Dr. Steinbrech’s practice is located in Manhattan at 60 E 56th Street, Suite 301, New York, NY 10022. To schedule your appointment call:
Benefits of Breast Lift
The main benefit of a breast lift is to restore your breasts to a more youthful and attractive position. Many women find that the shape and appearance of their breasts change as they age due to a loss of skin elasticity, multiple pregnancies, or other health issues. During a breast lift, the plastic surgeon removes excess skin to lessen the appearance of saggy or drooping breasts.
If breastfeeding or nursing has changed the appearance of your breasts, a breast lift can reverse sagging and reposition the nipples and areolas. A breast lift does not increase the size of your breasts, but it will improve the overall appearance, shape, and fullness. Many women decide to extend their breast lift procedure with a breast augmentation to finally achieve the breasts they’ve always desired.
Best Candidates for Breast Lift
Since a breast lift enhances the form and appearance of your breasts by tightening the skin around them, the best candidates are those with sagging or drooping skin. Breast lifts do not change the shape, but merely reveal what has been lost. No tissue is added or removed, so the size of the breast also does not change.
You might also consider a breast lift if your nipples fall below the breast crease or point downward. If your breasts are uneven, or the placement of your nipple/areola has changed over time, a breast lift can help restore symmetry to your breasts.
Patients who receive a breast lift must be physically healthy with a stable weight. Smokers are not encouraged to go under anesthetic and have an increased risk of pneumonia and bronchitis after surgery. Consult with your surgeon if you are unsure if a breast lift is right for you.
Consultation with Dr. Steinbrech for Breast Lift
Patients with small breasts and minimal sagging may be recommended for smaller-incision mastopexy. One such modified procedure is concentric mastopexy also called the ‘doughnut’ mastopexy, in which two concentric circular incisions are made around the areola and a doughnut-shaped swathe of skin is removed.
A number of pre-operative steps are typically taken such as a mammogram, measurement of the bustline and discussion with Dr. Steinbrech about the desired size and shape of the breast that in turn impact the placement of the nipple.
At the initial consultation appointment, Dr. Steinbrech will review your medical history. He will perform a brief physical examination and explain the surgical techniques available. Computer imagery assists in your visualization of your potential results. Before and after photos of past patients will help you make your personal aesthetic decision.
A unique surgical plan for your goals will be created. During the consultation appointment, Dr. Steinbrech will explain all the surgical choices available. He works to provide patients with a comfortable atmosphere so patients will feel safe and confident about their medical care.
Breast Lift Procedure
Mastopexy may be performed in a hospital but more typically is performed in an outpatient surgery center or a surgeon’s office-based facility. The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia and lasts from 1-½ to 3-½ hours.
During the procedure, an anchor-shaped incision is made from the location of the new nipple down to and around the crease beneath the breast. Dr. Steinbrech will remove excess skin, relocate the nipple and areola and reshape the breast using skin from around the areola before closing the incisions with stitches. He uses the underlying breast tissue to improve the shape of the breasts and give them a more defined shape. If necessary, the areola size is decreased by removing the skin at the perimeter.
Types of Breast lift
The type of breast lift your surgeon recommends will depend on the severity of sagging and extra skin that needs to be removed. No tissue is added during a breast lift. Instead, the surgeon chooses the best procedure to reveal the natural shape of your breasts.
Lollipop
The lollipop lift, also called a vertical lift, is for moderate sagging and reshaping. Incisions are made in the shape of a lollipop, one in a circle around the outside of the areola and another vertical from the bottom of the areola to the inframammary fold. If the areola is at or below the level of the inframammary fold, a lollipop lift might be the right choice for you.
Anchor
In an anchor breast lift, incisions are placed in the shape of an anchor. This technique is for dramatic reshaping and significant sagging. The three incisions go on the outer edge of the areola, vertically from the bottom of the areola to the inframammary fold, and horizontally along the breast crease. The anchor lift is the most comprehensive breast lift available and most recommended by surgeons.
Donut
The donut lift is a subtle breast lift for women with mild sagging. One incision is made around the outside edge of the areola and a donut-shaped piece of skin is removed. Scars are minimally visible. This technique is best for people who are unsatisfied with the location of your nipple and areola.
Crescent
The crescent lift, also known as a periareolar breast lift, uses the smallest incision for minimal sagging. A crescent-shaped incision is made halfway along the top of the areola and a small piece of skin is removed. The scar is hidden by the darker coloring of the areola and so scars are mostly undetectable.
Risk and Side Effects
Complications are uncommon but may include uneven asymmetrical positioning of the breasts or nipples, raised or widening scars, bleeding, infection, numbness, and widening of scars. Scars may be covered even beneath bathing suits and low-cut tops. The more straightforward the procedure, the fewer the risks, and side effects.
Side effects might also include tissue loss, difficulty breastfeeding, anesthesia risks, fluid accumulation, partial loss of nipple or areola, and a possible need for revision surgery. When patients choose to work with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon, like Dr. Steinbrech, they reduce the potential for complications. Your surgeon will go over all of the potential risks and side effects with you before the procedure to make sure you feel confident going into your procedure.
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Recovery from Breast Lift Surgery
Your surgeon will give you a list of activities and medications to avoid after surgery as well as schedule follow-up appointments to check on the progress of your healing.
After surgery, the breasts are wrapped with gauze dressings, over which an elastic bandage or a surgical bra is placed. After a few days, a soft support bra can be used by the patient-worn 24 hours a day for approximately one month. Some patients report mild to moderate pain for the first few days postoperatively. Your surgeon can prescribe pain medication if you are uncomfortable.
Ideally, you will want three to seven days off from work to recover. Most patients can return to their normal schedules and activities after about three weeks. The final shape of your breasts takes 6 to 12 weeks to be visible.
Dr. Steinbrech
Dr. Douglas Steinbrech is a Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons (AMBS). He specializes in minimally invasive aesthetics and incorporates this philosophy into all of his surgical and non-surgical techniques. He has been selected as one of America’s Top Plastic Surgeons by the Consumers’ Research Council of America.
The ABPS is one of 24 medical specialty boards that make up the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Through ABMS, the boards work together to establish common standards for physicians to achieve and maintain board certification. The boards were founded by their respective specialties to protect the public by assessing and certifying doctors who meet specific educational, training and professional requirements.
Surgical Training
Dr. Steinbrech underwent eight years of surgical training at New York University in General Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive surgery. He was trained in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the prestigious NYU Institute of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. This included training at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital by recognized plastic surgery mentors including McCarthy, Aston, Baker, Tabbal, and Pittman.
To schedule an appointment with our plastic surgery office in New York City.
Frequently Asked Questions
The breast lift procedure entails leaving scars on the breasts which usually heal well. The mastopexy scar is exchanged for your improved breast contour. The amount of scarring around the breasts is a function of how much breast lift is required for your aesthetic goal which is in turn determined by the patient’s individual breast anatomy.
Depending on the size of your breasts, the scars will vary. Given Dr. Steinbrech’s expertise and vast training, he will intended to minimize scarring.
Fees for a standalone breast lift include surgical fees, anesthesia fees, facility fees, and follow-up. Crescent and donut lifts are less expensive, about $2500. More intensive procedures, such as the anchor and lollipop breast lifts, cost anywhere from $5000-$7000. Many women choose to have a breast lift in addition to a breast augmentation to save on facility fees.
After your initial consultation, your surgeon will put together a package with all the information about your procedure including a price quote. A 20% deposit will be required to book your appointment and payment will be expected in full before your procedure. Financing options are available and forms of payment can be discussed once you’ve decided to go ahead with the procedure.
Of course! A breast lift offers to reshape sagging and uneven breasts, but a lift alone does not increase the volume of your breast, so if it is your aesthetic goal to lift and enhance your breasts, then breast implant addition would be for you. A breast lift alone can dramatically improve your breasts’ appearance, but not the size. In most cases, a breast lift with implants can be done at the same time.
If you live in the states of New York or California, Douglas S. Steinbrech, MD offers breast lift among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.
