How Breast Lift Surgery Works

Surgery raises and reshapes sagging breasts by removing the redundant skin and breast tissue.* While your actual breast size remains unchanged, repositioning the breasts makes them appear larger and fuller. Breast implants can also be inserted in conjunction with mastopexy when the volume of the tissue has significantly decreased.

Techniques in Breast Lift Surgery

There are several surgical techniques developed for this procedure. The choice of technique is based on the severity of your breast sagging. (see the reference above) For mild ptosis, an incision around the nipple and a subtraction of tissue may be all that is necessary. For moderate or severe ptosis, surgical incisions are typically performed around the nipple, vertically beneath the nipple, and within the breast crease. With each technique, a varying amount of skin and glandular tissue is extracted to reshape the breast. Dissolvable sutures are placed to close the incisions.

What Is the Breast Lift Recovery Timeline?

Recovery Stages After Your Procedure

Recovery time varies, but the typical breast lift patient should expect about 1 to 2 weeks of downtime. After surgery, your incisions and sutures will be covered in gauze and tape, which will be taken off in about one week. A special recovery bra will be provided to wear for several weeks after the procedure. Some bruising, swelling and discomfort are normal during this time. Dr. Aboolian and our Beverly Hills breast lift surgery team will prescribe a pain medication to control discomfort during your recovery. To ensure proper healing and the best results, physical activities will also need to be limited until recovery is well underway.

Breast Lift After Weight Loss

Sagging breasts are usually caused by the combined forces of gravity or aging. However, for bariatric patients, drooping breasts are a common result of massive weight loss resulting from surgery. Breast lift surgery works by removing excess skin and tissue following this type of dramatic weight loss to improve the appearance and curve of the breasts.

Dr. Aboolian is a world-class plastic and breast lift surgeon in Beverly Hills who often performs breast lifts on post-bariatric patients. After your breast lift, you will notice a dramatic difference: the loose, sagging breasts that appeared after your weight loss surgery will have disappeared, to have been replaced with tighter, perkier breasts. This surgery is often performed along with other post-bariatric surgeries, such as the body lift and tummy tuck.

If you are interested in the cost of breast lift surgery after weight loss, please contact our offices to discuss your options. Our financing options include cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and patient financing plans such as CareCredit.

Interested in a Breast Lift in Beverly Hills?

Dr. Aboolian is an experienced plastic surgeon with special expertise in breast lift surgery and body contouring. During your consultation, you can discuss the risks, benefits, and cost of this procedure.

Restore Your Youthful Fullness with Help from a CA Plastic Surgeon

For women who have lost breast fullness as well as youthful breast position, a breast augmentation and lift can make a dramatic improvement.* Also known as augmentation mastopexy, this procedure combines the surgical placement ofbreast implants with the shaping techniques of a breast lift. To see some examples of our work, view our before & after photo gallery here.

Is This Procedure Right for You?

Beverly Hills breast lift surgeon Dr. Aboolian may recommend the breast augmentation and lift if you present indications for both procedures, such as breast ptosis (drooping) and lack of breast fullness or size. A woman’s breast shape and position will change over the years, often leading to a noticeable reduction in size and a lowered position. In these cases, abreast augmentation with a lift may be ideal.

How The Procedure Works: Augmentation-Mastopexy

Both procedures can be performed in a single operation or they may be separated into two stages. The first stage is typically the breast augmentation, which uses saline or silicone implants to restore fullness and enlarge your breast size. The implants can be placed above or below the chest muscle, depending on your body type and individual circumstances.

After the augmentation, Dr. Aboolian evaluates the degree of breast sagging to determine the proper technique for a lift. He may choose a technique such as the periareolar technique, with an incision around the areola; or an inverted T technique, with an incision shaped like an anchor. In both techniques, Dr. Aboolian extracts excess skin and tissue to reshape and elevate the breasts.

At the end of the surgery, the doctor closes the incisions with sutures, skin adhesive and/or surgical tape.

What to Expect After a Breast Lift and Augmentation

How Long Is A Breast Lift Recovery?

Although each patient’s experience varies, it is prudent to expect a slightly longer recovery period than either breast augmentation or the breast lift performed alone. Dr. Aboolian will provide you with a special surgical bra to wear during recovery, along with pain medications to control discomfort. After about 10 days, sutures can be taken off during afollow-up appointment.

Risks of a Breast Lift

Like all surgical procedures, there is a risk of complications. Possible adverse events include hematoma, seroma, changes in nipple sensation, capsular contracture, delayed healing, scarring, implant rupture, or unsatisfactory cosmetic outcome. During your consultation, Dr. Aboolian can explain these events and their likelihood of occurring in greater detail.