Types of breast lift

Breast lifts are one of the cosmetic surgeries. Mastopexy will be performed to raise sagging breasts, by changing the size and removing surplus skin. After the surgery, the breasts are shapelier, more contoured, and less sagginess.
Research has shown that in 2018 more than 12,000 women in the UK had some mastopexy. A breast lift is done with the insertion of breast implants.
There are some different mastopexy techniques. Depending on your body type, and your goals, your doctor will do one of the options that are best for you. Being aware of the types of mastopexy helps you to know all about breast lift surgery.

There Are 4 Types Of Breast Lift:

1. Crescent breast lift 2. Peri-areolar breast lift, 3-vertical breast lift, and 4-anchor breast lift. These techniques will be completely explained in the following.

Crescent breast lift:

The crescent breast lift technique is usually recommended for women who have minimal sagging. This surgery requires only one incision around the top outer edge of the areola. Because the incision is so small, often you will have minimal scarring which is hidden within the naturally darker pigment of the areola.
While the crescent technique leaves the least visible scars, it may not deliver the best results for all Portland breast lift patients.

Doughnut or Peri-areolar breast lift:

Peri-areolar breast lift, also called ‘’donut lift’’ is a perfect option for those who have mild sagging. In this surgery, your surgeon will make just one circular incision around the outer edge of the areola. Just like the previous technique, donut lift results in a minimal scar.

Vertical breast lift:

If you are the kind of woman with moderate breast sagging, a vertical breast lift or ‘’lollipop lift’’ would suit you. Women who have moderate breast sagging require more reshaping of the breast compared to women who have minimal sagging.
Therefore, two incisions will be performed for this technique. The first one is a circular incision and the second one is a vertical incision from the bottom of the areola down to the natural breast crease. The shape of the incisions looks like a lollipop, and that is why we call this technique ‘’lollipop lift’’.

Anchor breast lift:

This kind of surgery is done on people who need impressive reshaping to improve substantial sagging. This technique, which is also known as ‘’inverted T’’, needs three incisions: 1. A vertical incision down from the areola to the breast crease 2. Horizontally and along the breast crease 3. around the areola.
Because this technique has the most incisions, the most scarring will be produced. Inverted T is the oldest technique used for mastopexy.

Which type of breast lift is right for you?

For any type of cosmetic surgery, it is crucial to choose a professional surgeon who knows your needs and goals. So, the first thing you should do is set up a consultation with an expert surgeon. You can ask any questions and this can help you to know more about the options you are going to have.
Based on your personal needs and goals, the surgeon will do the best technique he or she thinks is the best for your body. Generally, if the nipples are less than 1 inch below your fold, then your surgeon can only perform the Peri-areolar breast lift technique. Surgeons recommend an incision around the nipple plus a vertical scar, or a circum-vertical if the nipples are 1 -2 inches below the fold.
If your nipples are more than 2 inches, the technique that will be done for you is going to be a full mastopexy or the Anchor breast lift.

Breast lift incision options Leave Scars

The topic of scarring is one of the most important things that we should talk about. During breast lift surgery, the surgeon has to make one, two, or three incisions depending on your needs and goals. Many women are worried about the scars that are the result of the surgery.
You may want to have surgery to correct your sagging breasts and be more confident. But you are thinking if I’m going to have that scar on my breast, how can I be confident then?
The truth is, when you do breast lift surgery, you cannot avoid the scars. At first, the scars are purple or red and so obvious, but over time they will become thin white lines that are significantly less prominent. The scars are permanent but within 1 – 2 years they will fade. To get more information about the scars that last after the surgery, you can check before and after breast lift surgery pictures of the former surgery.
Don’t be disappointed! There are still some ways to minimize the appearance of scars which can be done before, during, and even after mastopexy. For instance, massages can help the scars fade. Staying well hydrated and using vitamin E, creams, or oils help scar tissue to heal.

Why Breast lift done

You may be wondering why someone should do breast lift surgery. As women get older, the shapes of their breasts change. Breasts become less elastic and lose firmness. But age is one of the reasons for breast change. There are other reasons like pregnancy, weight changes, and gravity!

1.Pregnancy:

when you get pregnant, the bands of tissue that hold up the breasts stretch. It happens because the breasts get heavier and fuller during the pregnancy. This stretch may cause sagging breasts. It should be mentioned that this is not related to breastfeeding. Sagging breasts will happen when you get pregnant.

2.Weight changes:

weight changes can cause the stretch and breast skin to be less elastic.

3.Gravity:

gravity can be the reason for breasts stretching and sagging over time.

Women might consider breast lift surgery or mastopexy for the following:

1.If the breasts have lost shape
2.One of the breasts is stretched more than the other
3.The areolae and nipples point downward

Risks
Like all surgeries, cosmetic surgery, including breast lifts, poses various risks. One of them is the scarring we explained in the previous paragraphs. An uneven size, or shape of the breasts, changes in the nipples, breast sensation, total or partial loss of the areolae or the nipples, and trouble breastfeeding are the risks of mastopexy.
For example, breastfeeding is usually possible after a mastopexy, but some women might have trouble producing milk to feed their babies.
Side effects like bruising or swelling will occur and the shape of the breasts may change after some time.

Preparing for the surgery

After you decide to have cosmetic surgery, it is time to talk to a professional plastic surgeon about the types of breast lifts and your goals and desires. Be clear about your expectations and how you want your breasts to look after the mastopexy. Make sure you know every detail of this plastic surgery including benefits, risks, scars, changes in sensation, recovery, incision options, etc.
The surgeon will examine your breasts to determine the treatment options. The surgeon can examine your breasts by the position of your nipples or your areolae. The quality of your skin tone is a matter for the operation. A good breast skin tone will hold the breast in a better shape after a mastopexy. The surgeon takes pictures of your breasts for medical records.
What to expect
This cosmetic surgery will be done in a hospital or sometimes an outpatient surgical facility. Some of the procedures are done with local anesthesia. It means only part of your body will get numb. Some of the other procedures are done with general anesthesia, which means you won’t be awake.

After the surgery

After the mastopexy, your breasts will be covered with a surgical support bra and gauze. You will likely have pain and soreness near your incisions. For a few months, these incisions will turn pink or red. Numbness in the areas of areolae, breast skin, and nipples lasts for about six or seven weeks.
After a few days, take the pain medication that your doctor recommended. Avoid lifting and bending as much as you can. Sleep on your side or on your back to keep pressure off your breasts.
Ask your doctor when it is OK to begin daily activities again. These daily activities may include washing your hair, bathing, or showering.  
Keep wearing the surgical support bra for 4 to 5 days. After that, you’d better wear a soft support bra for at least 3-4 weeks. Your doctor might suggest you use gel or silicone tape for your incisions to improve healing.
The length of the procedure is about 90 to 120 minutes. certain things you should do after the surgery are :1. Stop smoking because it can slow the process of healing. 2. Do not drink alcohol for the first few weeks after the operation 3. Avoid certain medications like anti-inflammatory drugs or herbal supplements because these medications can increase bleeding and 4. Make sure someone will drive you home after breast lift surgery and stay by your side for recovery. You may need a person to help you with your daily activities.
In the process of healing, try to keep your breasts out of the sun. You should also protect your incisions against sun exposure.

Recovery from breast lifts

As you might imagine when you awake from breast lift surgery, your chest may be wrapped and the incisions will be covered. You will need to book at least 3-4 weeks off to work. One or two weeks are taken for swelling, bruising, and discomfort. Non-dissolvable stitches are removed after two or three weeks.
When all the wounds are healed, the surgeon will want to see you after 4 – 6 months of surgery. You cannot drive for the first two weeks. You cannot lift anything heavy (like over 10 – 12 ponds) for three or four weeks. This includes children too.

Results
You may find out that your bra size is smaller after a mastopexy. This is because of the mastopexy result that your breasts are firmer and rounder now.
Breast lift surgery results might not last forever. It depends on some factors like lifestyle or your age. When you get older, your skin will become less elastic. If you have heavier and larger breasts, sagging might occur. By keeping your weight stable, you can retain your results much longer. Most patients find that one mastopexy or breast lift is sufficient.
Conclusion
There is not one ideal breast lift technique for each patient. Each patient is different and various factors must be considered when choosing the most effective technique for every patient. We believe in thorough assessments when consulting each patient, our doctor in Ermateb takes under consideration factors like your tissue characteristics and therefore the amount of skin you have got. We will advise you on the simplest technique which will reap the most effective possible result..