Breast Lift

Breast lift and breast reduction are related to one another. Both procedures result in a rejuvenated breast that sits higher on the chest. They may also have similar scar patterns such as a scar around the areola, a scar around the areola and down the lower part of the breast (also known as a lollipop incision), and a full anchor pattern that adds a horizontal scar under the breast. Both surgeries will also result in some volume reduction in the breast because at least skin is removed to tighten and rejuvenate the breast. In a breast reduction significant amounts of breast tissue is removed in order to decrease the heaviness and size of the breast. Frequently, these large breasts have caused the patient significant discomfort, self-consciousness, or have made it difficult to find clothes that fit. Occasionally, unlike breast lift, breast reduction can be covered by insurance. To qualify, usually there needs to be significant documentation over several months of attempts to reduce discomfort non-surgically.

This is a relatively common misconception about a breast lift surgery. Except in extremely rare cases, the nipple remains attached to a leash of breast tissue at all times. This leash is swung up into a better position and the breast tissue is re-shaped around the leash and the skin then closed. This creates coning and projection of the breast that appears more youthful. By maintaining this leash, I am also maintaining the blood supply and nerve supply to the breast so that the sensation should be preserved.

The nipple gets its sensation from multiple nerves that swing around the body from the sides and the front. It is my goal to maintain the main nerve supply to the nipple when I perform a mastopexy. However, on rare occasions, the anatomy of the patient is different than the textbooks and the nipple sensation can diminish or even go away. This is a relatively rare complication, but needs to be addressed prior to surgery.

Like the nerves, the blood supply to the nipple is also from multiple areas on the chest. I maintain at least two of the main blood supplies to the nipple to reduce the risk of nipple loss after surgery. This is an extremely rare complication but can have an increased risk in patients who may be undergoing a very large breast reduction with lift or in patients who have had multiple breast lift surgeries. I have a lot of experience with revision breast lift and I take extra care to maintain the blood supply in these scenarios.

This is a good question that has a unsatisfying answer: it really depends. By definition, your tissues have proven that they are not great at holding themselves up and therefore there is some risk the weight of the breast may fall into the lower part of the breast and the upper pole will become flatter again. If the breast does fall again, it is possible to do revision breast lift, if necessary. Depending on the quality of your tissues, I do sometimes offer a special internal bra that helps to keep the breast lifted. I definitely recommend this internal bra for patients who are revision breast lift patients.

Yes, it absolutely is! Fewer people are smoking these days, but there are still a good number of people who are smoking or have replaced smoking with vaping. Vaping is still a problem because it frequently contains nicotine. Nicotine is a very toxic substance that greatly hurts the blood supply to your tissues, even if you are not having surgery. This is why people who smoke have an increased risk of wound healing problems and in the case of breast lifts, death of the skin and death of the nipple. Nicotine clamps down on the blood vessels feeding the healing tissue and reduces their ability to bring oxygen-rich blood to the surgical area. If you are an absolute smoker, I cannot operate on you. If you are able to stop for a month prior to surgery and at least two weeks after surgery, then I can consider operating on you. But for your health and wellness, please stop smoking!