Breast Lift

A breast lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure that reshapes and repositions a patient’s breast by removing excess skin for the appearance of a more youthful and lifted breast mound. Breast skin and tissue descends with age, pregnancy, and other factors. This procedure intends to lift and reshape the breast to improve projection and nipple orientation. For those experiencing sagging or deflation of volume causing excess skin around the breast, a breast lift can greatly improve a patient’s body image.

At The Everett Clinic, Dr. Marc Everett is a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs all major cosmetic procedures but is a renowned specialist for breast lifts. Serving patients in Manhattan and Queens, NY, he and his talented staff cater each procedure to your specific cosmetic desires. If you are ready to take the next steps toward your dream breast contour, schedule a private consultation with him today by calling (212) 774-7715. You may also fill out our contact form and we will get back to you shortly.

Before and After Photos

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What is a Breast Lift?

In the United States, over 100,000 women undergo breast lift surgery to correct ptosis (sagging) every year. ⁽¹⁾ The procedure seeks to achieve three goals during one operation. These goals are:

The nipple-areolar complex should be located on the most projecting part of the breast. When patients experience ptosis, the nipple can shift downward and sit much lower on the breast. With severe ptosis, the nipple can even be positioned at the bottom of the breast and point downwards. This makes even breasts with volume look aged and droopy. Breast lift procedures aim to correct this by shifting the tissue and removing the extra skin to create the ideal aesthetic. ⁽²⁾

To lift the breast mound, this surgery removes a section of skin directly underneath and/or around the nipple. The most commonly performed incision patterns for mastopexy are: ⁽²⁾

Dr. Everett chooses which incision pattern will work best for each patient individually by examining how much skin needs to be removed. For those with less ptosis, a periareolar incision pattern may provide enough lift to achieve the desired result. Patients with large amounts of excess skin and severe sagging typically require the use of an anchor incision pattern. 

Why Does Breast Ptosis Happen?

Ptosis or sagging of the breasts can be brought on by:

The degree of ptosis in a certain patient can be a combination of these things. As we age, the breasts naturally develop varying degrees of ptosis no matter what, but some younger patients experience it as well. Dr. Everett evaluates your breast shape and condition during your private consultation to plan the best possible surgery route for your individual needs.

Benefits of a Breast Lift

Breast lift procedures can improve:

Ideal Candidates for a Breast Lift

You are a good candidate for a breast lift procedure if you have any degree of sagging or are unhappy with the shape, position or symmetry of your breasts. You may have deflated upper breast poles with downturned nipples, or loose skin surrounding the breast tissue. To qualify for surgery, you must be in good health with no serious underlying medical concerns that will impact recovery. If you plan to or have recently undergone a large shift in weight, you must achieve a stable weight before receiving a breast lift so that Dr. Everett can remove the maximal amount of skin and reposition the breast as high as possible.

Personal Consultation at The Everett Clinic

During your consultation, Dr. Everett will perform a physical examination to make sure you are fit for surgery. He will take detailed measurements of the treatment area to help create a procedure plan. He will also order all necessary lab tests to determine you are in good health. You will have time to ask questions and voice your concerns during this appointment. It will be your chance to learn about breast lifts and what yours will be like. Dr. Everett will describe how to prepare for surgery and recovery to make sure you are fully informed. At the end of this meeting, a member of his staff will assist you with scheduling your breast lift and all follow-up appointments. 

Preparation

If you smoke, we require that you quit beforehand and refrain from tobacco and nicotine use throughout your recovery. Dr. Everett may suggest altering your daily medications.

Please do the following leading up to your procedure:

Breast Lift Procedure

This surgery starts with extensive preoperative marking by Dr. Everett to measure the breasts, predict their new shape, and estimate the degree of skin removal. We then administer the appropriate anesthetic. Breast lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia. During surgery, Dr. Everett will also utilize local and regional anesthesia in order to create the most up-to-date post-operative pain reduction strategies. 

He then begins the procedure by creating a new nipple shape and preserving the underlying anatomy. Even though the nipple is moved, it always remains attached to your body. Dr. Everett follows his preoperative markings, taking care to preserve the essential breast tissue and to remove the skin and tissue he does not intend to utilize. At this point, he will shift the tissue to reposition and reshape the breast mound. 

Next, he positions the nipple-areolar complex and tests the new breast shape by sitting you upright. If everything looks good, he lays you back down and starts to close the breasts with deep internal sutures. These provide support and keep the shifted breast tissue in place throughout recovery. Dr. Everett then closes the breast incisions in multiple layers to keep tension off the outermost stitches. Lastly, he will clean and cover your incisions before he places a compression garment around the chest. This protects your incisions, preserves your results, and reduces swelling. A breast lift typically takes 2 to 3 hours to complete. 

Internal Bra

Dr. Everett can also perform a breast lift with the internal bra technique. Using a special kind of biological mech called GalaFLEX Mesh, which dissolves over time and is eventually absorbed by the surrounding tissues, Dr. Everett can construct a supportive “hammock” or sling that helps the breasts maintain their lifted positioning on the chest wall. After the mesh is fully absorbed by the body, a layer of strong tissue is left behind, creating this internal bra that continues to support the lifted breasts.

Recovery

Most patients experience minimal discomfort after a breast lift and many of Dr. Everett’s patients do not require any pain medication at all. Still, some will take pain medication for a couple of days. Most patients will take off 5-7 days of work. With Dr. Everett’s approval, you may return to light exercise at two weeks and full activity at four weeks. Please take any prescribed medications as directed and keep yourself hydrated to promote healing. Avoid heavy lifting and overexerting yourself for the first postoperative month. 

Results

You may notice your results right away, and more so as the swelling reduces, deep sutures absorb, and skin and tissue settle into position. Your breasts will settle into their new shape over the next few months. They may look fuller and more structured after the excess skin is removed, and your bra cup size may or may not change but they will fit differently. The results of a breast lift are long-lasting.   

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures 

Breast Reduction

For those who wish to reduce the size of their breasts as well as lift them, a breast reduction procedure can achieve both. Through the same incisions, Dr. Everett removes excess breast tissue from the unwanted areas of the breast. He then repositions the nipple-areolar complex after giving it a more proportionate shape and size. A breast reduction can provide patients with a smaller, lifted breast contour. It is commonly performed to restructure a stretched-out or oversized breast, often relieving patients of neck and back pain. Reductions can be significant or slight depending on the patient’s preferences. 

Breast Augmentation 

If you are receiving a breast lift, it can be easily combined with a breast augmentation to add volume and more structure to the chest. During the lift procedure, Dr. Everett can place silicone implants above or below the pectoral muscle to enhance the chest and increase breast size. Another option to increase your breast size during a breast lift is to utilize breast fat grafting. Instead of an implant, Dr. Everett can add fat from another part of your body to your breasts at the same time while performing a breast lift. 

If you are curious about other types of breast surgery that Dr. Everett commonly performs, read The Everett Clinic’s blog for more information.

How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost in New York City?

Breast lift procedures are catered specifically to the patient’s cosmetic needs. Your overall cost likely looks different compared to someone else getting the same surgery. Dr. Everett creates an estimated cost and procedure plan during your private consultation with us. To schedule yours today, call our Manhattan or Queens, NY office at (212) 774-7715. 

References

1. Abdelkader R, Malahias M, Naguib I, Abdelghani S, Raafat S. Mastopexy: with or without Acellular Dermal Matrix? Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2022;10(4):e3952. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000003952
2. Wagner RD, Lisiecki JL, Chiodo MV, Rohrich RJ. Longevity of ptosis correction in mastopexy and reduction mammaplasty: A systematic review of techniques. JPRAS Open. 2022;34:1-9. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpra.2022.05.003