Breast Lift After Pregnancy: Treating Drooping and Sagging
At NorthShore Plastic Surgery, we have helped countless patients in and around New Orleans through mommy makeover treatment. Mommy makeovers combine multiple surgeries and are designed to restore a woman's appearance following the effects of childbirth and breastfeeding. While the tummy tuck is one of the most common mommy makeover surgeries, another common surgery is the breast lift (mastopexy), which restores the perkiness and youthful shape to drooping and sagging breasts. Let's consider breast lift surgery after pregnancy and breastfeeding and why it's a good option to consider.
How Pregnancy and Nursing Affect the Appearance of the Breasts
When a woman is pregnant, she experiences changes to her hormone levels and body chemistry. One of the results is an increase in breast size. This continues to change as she produces breast milk for nursing. After childbirth, hormone levels begin to return to their pre-pregnancy levels, causing the breasts to shrink in size. This causes drooping, sagging, and stretch marks to form that can have a negative affect on overall body contour and aesthetics.
The sure way to improve the perkiness, shape, and firmness of the breasts after pregnancy and breastfeeding is a breast lift surgery.
Ideal Candidates for Breast Lift Surgery
The best candidates for breast lift surgery are women who are in generally good health. It's important that they not suffer from any kinds of medical conditions that would make surgery of any kind a potential source of health problems.
Since there are incisions made on the breasts, it's important for surgery candidates to have realistic expectations about the nature of the procedure and the side effects of surgery. Rest assured that the scars will fade with time, and that your surgeon will make sure that any incisions that are made are as conservative as possible.
How long after pregnancy/nursing should I wait before getting a breast lift?
This depends on a number of factors, the most important of which is if you intend to have more children in the future. If that is the case, it's important to wait to undergo a breast lift until you are finished having children. This makes sure that the benefits of the breast lift last and that a secondary surgery will not be required to improve overall breast shape and size.
You can discuss these matters in more detail with your surgeon during the consultation process. Since the timing of surgery is important, you may find that waiting for a breast lift is a more ideal option for you.
The Breast Lift Procedure
During a breast lift, there are three incisions that are traditionally made:
- A circular incision around the areola
- A lateral incision along the crease where the bottom of the breast meets the chest
- A vertical incision along the lower curve of the breast that connects the previous two incisions
Through this anchor-shaped series of incisions, excess skin, fat, and tissue can be removed and the overall contour of the breast enhanced. Fewer/less extensive incisions will be made when the drooping/sagging is less pronounced.
Combined Breast Lift and Augmentation Surgery
It is not uncommon for breast lift surgery to use breast implants in order to improve the overall contour and shape of the breasts. During your consultation process, this option can be discussed in greater detail, as well as other options for advanced mommy makeover treatment.
Schedule a Consultation at NorthShore Plastic Surgery
For more information about breast lift surgery and how it can help you achieve a trimmer, slimmer, and more appealing frame overall, we encourage you to contact our cosmetic plastic surgery center today. At NorthShore Plastic Surgery, we will make sure you receive the right treatment to meet your aesthetic goals.