Breast lift has gained in popularity over the past few years
A recent report by the American Society of Plastic Surgery has shown the gradual increase in the number of breast lift, or mastopexy, procedure. There has been an increase by 70% since 2000, with approximately 59,000 breast lift procedures performed in the U.S. last year alone. This procedure is outpacing breast implants by 2-1 at this rate.
The mastopexy raises the breast, which ultimately provides a more youthful, perky, and uplifted breasts. This is done by essentially removing the extra loose skin and rearranging the surrounding breast tissue in order to reshape and support the newly formed breast form. At the same time, the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) is raised to the aesthetically-pleasing position above the fold beneath your breast (the inframammary fold) as well as being placed the most projecting portion of your breast. Oftentimes with age or following pregnancy, the NAC becomes widened and enlarged. This may be reduced in size during the breast lift procedure.
It is common for the breast to lose its firmness and perkiness over time, which is also accentuated with age, pregnancy/breast feeding, weight gain/loss, and gravity. This results in breast ptosis, or sagging of the breast with a “deflated” appearance. Women seek the mastopexy procedure to regain the previous youthful appearance of her breasts and women report increased confidence, self-esteem, and femininity once achieving this desired shape and fullness. Breast lifts may or may not be performed with implants – the implant would add increased size but also greater fullness in the upper pole of the breasts which creates more cleavage.
The breast lift is a relatively simple procedure with minimal downtime and little to no discomfort postoperatively. There is little to no change in nipple sensation following a routine mastopexy procedure and it does not change the ability to breastfeed. Typically, there is an incision that goes around the NAC and vertically down the breast, oftentimes termed a “lollipop” incision.
There are several options offered by our surgeons, all of whom have done extensive work and additional training in breast surgery. See more photos of breast lifts performed.