Breast Lift

Plastic Surgery in Charleston, SC

The shape of a woman's breasts depends on a balance of the strength of skin and ligaments against the pull of gravity. As a woman ages, skin and ligaments lose some of their elasticity and life events like weight gain and loss can stress them. Smoking is particularly damaging to skin elasticity. This means breasts can sag or lose shape with age. If this is your situation, a breast lift can give your breasts a more youthful shape.

If the sagging of your breasts makes you feel self-conscious or unattractive, a breast lift may be an option for you. Schedule a breast lift consultation with Charleston, South Carolina plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Widenhouse at Port City Plastic Surgery today.

What is a Breast Lift?

A breast lift (or mastopexy) is a technique for reshaping a woman's breasts to reduce sagging and give them a youthful shape and fullness. It is a good technique for women whose breasts have begun to sag due to age, weight loss, or childbirth. In a breast lift procedure, excess skin is removed from the breasts and the nipple is repositioned higher. The breast is reshaped to restore a more youthful contour.

A breast lift can:

• Raise sagging breasts to a higher, more youthful position
• Tighten loose skin
• Reposition your nipple and areola higher on the breast for a more youthful appearance
• Restore a youthful breast shape by bringing together breast tissue that has spread out

For many women, breast augmentation with implants provides enough uplift and reshaping with less scarring than a breast lift. Sometimes breast implants are used in combination with a breast lift procedure (augmentation mastopexy).

The Breast Lift Procedure

A breast lift procedure is performed under IV sedation. There are several different types of incisions used in breast lift procedures. The one used depends on the amount (or degree) of ptosis (sagging) in your breasts. The most common is the anchor incision. It is used when a woman needs the most lifting possible. The incision begins above the nipple, extends past the nipple down to the breast crease and along the crease. It leaves what is known as a "lollipop scar," which goes around the areola and down to the breast crease.

The incisions allow for the nipple to be repositioned higher on the breast into a natural, youthful position. The areola can also be reduced if it has become stretched. With proper postoperative care, the scars from a breast lift will generally be faint. All scars from a breast lift are at or below the nipple and will be concealed in swimsuits and low-cut clothing.

Is a Breast Lift for me?

A breast lift can benefit you if your breasts are sagging but have enough volume to make a pleasing breast size and shape. Sometimes a breast lift might need to be combined with breast implants (augmentation mastopexy) to give the results you desire. You can learn more about breast sagging on our Breast Lift Questions page.

The best way to determine whether you are a good candidate for a breast lift is to schedule a consultation with Charleston, South Carolina plastic surgeon Dr. Brian G. Widenhouse. Please contact him today at Port City Plastic Surgery.