In the world of cosmetic breast therapies, implants often hold the spotlight. But another treatment, the breast lift, deserves its own attention. This procedure can reposition and firm breasts without changing cup size. It is the ideal way to achieve a more youthful silhouette. At SANDS Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery in Metairie, LA, you can look forward to both professional service and beautiful results.
How Long Does a Breast Lift Last?
We like to provide patients with as much information as possible and are happy to say your results can last between 10 and 15 years. This is, of course, just an average, and a number of patients enjoy their results for well over 15 years. Your own timeline will depend on many factors, including the lifestyle you choose.
Before we get into the ways you can prolong your lift results, it’s important you understand what causes drooping breasts in the first place. Typically, sagging is the result of stretched skin that itself is often caused by aging, genetics, pregnancy, or substantial weight loss. A lift may be right for you if you want to correct cosmetic concerns like:
- Nipples that point downward
- Overly large areolas
- Asymmetric breasts
- Elongated breasts
What to Expect from Surgery
During your one-on-one consultation, our staff will perform a thorough examination of your breasts. We’ll also discuss your goals, answer all of your questions, and craft a surgical plan to meet your personal needs. No two women are alike, meaning your lift procedure will be slightly different from that of another woman’s. Your results will also be slightly different, just as we intend them to be, to suit the unique proportions of your body.
You will likely be placed under general anesthesia on the day of your surgery and can expect the procedure to take around two hours. We will then make the appropriate incision based on the surgical technique chosen for your body. The techniques from which patients can choose include inverted T, vertical, and peri-areolar. We’ll discuss each of these patterns during your consultation to ensure that, together, we make a well-informed decision.
How Lifts Work
The incision pattern chosen for your procedure will be based on factors like:
- The degree of sagging you’ve experienced
- The position and size of your areolas
- The natural shape and size of your breasts
- The extra skin contributing to your breast sagging
That last point is especially important, as lifts are designed to address and remove excess breast skin. This helps compensate for the loss of tissue elasticity that comes with age. Lift surgery also helps reshape underlying breast tissue to restore firmness and contour. The nipple and areola are both repositioned to look more youthful, and enlarged areolas (another effect of the aging process) can be reduced so they are again proportionate to the rest of your breast.
The Recovery Process
Just as the nature of surgery varies from patient to patient, so does the recovery process. Generally speaking, most women are ready to return to work after one to two weeks of rest. Although you will need to refrain from strenuous physical activity for six weeks or more, you can engage in exercise like walking or light cardio much sooner. You will also need to follow the postoperative guidelines we provide you, which will likely include directives to:
- Get plenty of rest
- Attend all follow-up appointments as scheduled
- Wear supportive undergarments as discussed
- Avoid heavy lifting
Ways to Extend Your Results
By this point, you probably want to know what you can do to extend the lovely, shapely results of your breast lift. We’ll start by discussing those factors over which you have little or no control, the chief of which is your skin. The way this organ ages – and yes, skin is an organ – can largely be explained by genetics. If your mother, grandmother, or sister grapples with loose, wrinkled, or sagging skin, chances are you will as well.
But you’re not totally helpless in this area. Diet is one of the most important tools available in achieving firm skin that glows with health. We recommend you avoid processed foods made with excessive amounts of sodium, fat, and sugar. Reach instead for plant-based foods that promote regular cellular turnover and feed your body with crucial nutrients. Also, choose water over soda or juice to keep your skin hydrated.
Factors Beyond Your Control
As you might have guessed, aging is another factor that takes its toll on breasts. Breast tissue is composed of fat and ligaments but no muscle. This means that no amount of exercise can lift or strengthen your bosom. Over time, breast ligaments stretch and lose elasticity. The overall breast shape becomes compromised as the support system wears down and fat diminishes.
Likewise, years of gravity can cause sagging so that breasts appear deflated. Although women with smaller breasts are subject to this phenomenon, it can be especially evident in women with larger breasts.
Simple Self-Care Tips
Lifestyle choices are among the most important when it comes to caring for your breasts and maintaining your lift results. Avoid tobacco use to ensure your skin stays strong and radiant for years to come. Tobacco, in general, can damage collagen and elastin, while cigarettes especially contain chemicals known to hinder strong blood flow.
It’s equally important that you avoid excessive sunlight exposure. Again, UV rays damage collagen and elastin at rates that far exceed the normal aging process. To better understand, you might think of collagen and elastin as the foundational structure upon which your skin sits. Once compromised, that structure can quickly give way to wrinkles and sagging that diminish your breasts’ youthful appearance.
Choose the Right Breast Support
We’ve already established that gravity is the enemy of a firm bosom. You can fight this enemy by wearing a supportive bra as often as possible, especially during exercise. The right bra can help deter premature sagging and, after surgery, hold ligaments and fat tissues in place.
Time Your Surgery Optimally
There’s never a “perfect” time to choose a breast lift. This is a highly personal decision that should be made to please you, not somebody else. With that in mind, we recommend you postpone surgery until after you have reached your family planning goals.
Pregnancy comes with significant weight fluctuations and hormonal changes that can change the way your breasts look and feel. Timing your surgery appropriately can help you enjoy long-lasting results.
Reasons to Choose a Lift
Women once had little choice but to accept the changes heaped on their bodies over time. Now, however, a lift can deliver a refresh of sorts. This procedure can restore perkier breasts and more youthful curves with an easy recovery period. You need only be willing to commit to some rest, relaxation, and time away from work.
As the breasts begin to sit lower on the chest, a patient’s silhouette undergoes a dramatic change. In short, a woman loses definition throughout her upper body and is often forced to buy bigger clothes than she really needs. Positioning the breasts so they sit higher on the chest can balance the body and add structure to your curves.
Enhanced Shape and Comfort
Breasts often look tubular as they soften and lose shape. A lift can restore more natural-looking fullness and firmness. In addition, the excess skin that tends to cause chafing under and around the breasts will be gone. The result is softer, smoother skin free of painful and irritating chafing.
Many patients also find that exercise becomes more comfortable once excess skin is removed from the chest area. Athletic and supportive undergarments typically work more effectively, and going to the gym or simply walking in the fresh air can be more enjoyable. Daily activities like chasing pets or organizing a closet similarly become easier.
Higher Self-Esteem
Finally, a lift can help you feel more confident in your body. You might find yourself buying clothes that fit better and even reveal a sexier, flirtier side of your personality kept hidden for some time. Even if you choose not to change your wardrobe, you will likely smile when the mirror reflects your body’s newfound curves.
A Life-Changing Surgery
With a holistic approach to health – one that includes a nourishing diet, proper breast support, and protection from excessive sun exposure – you can enjoy long-lasting results from your breast lift. Many women experience a dramatic and visible change that lasts 15 years or more, and now you can be one of them. Schedule your consultation today by contacting SANDS Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery in Metairie, LA.
