Sagging of the breasts can drastically change the appearance of the upper chest, lowering one's self-image and confidence. Our Toronto breast lift procedure works to elevate the breasts to a more youthful position, correcting the nipple placement and revitalizing the upper body. A breast lift often accompanies the breast augmentation procedure for a more comprehensive transformation of the breasts.
What is a breast lift?
Breast lift surgery is good option for women who are looking to restore the volume in the upper poles of the breast which is often lost through the aging process, weight fluctuation and pregnancy. Drooping of the breast tissues occurs in all women over time and is the direct result of loss in elasticity of the skin around their breasts and gravitation pull. Women with larger breast in their youth will often experience a more pronounced dropping with time.
A breast lift, also called a mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that involves tightening the skin and repositioning of the breast tissue and nipples. Unlike with breast augmentation surgery, volume is not added to the breasts during a breast lift procedure. Instead, the existing volume is repositioned higher up on the chest, to a more aesthetically pleasing position.
Who are suitable candidates?
Candidates for a breast lift are patients in good health and are experiencing drooping of the breasts. Other notable points of candidacy are:
- Nipples that face downward when breasts are unsupported by a bra, also know as ptosis of the breasts
- Nipples that are folded under the breasts
- Asymmetry between the breasts
- Breasts that have a loss of elasticity and/or firmness
- Sagging of the breasts with a flat, elongated shape
During your consultation at the Canadian Plastic Surgery Centre, our board-certified plastic surgeons can help guide you in terms of the appropriate surgical options to help accentuate your body contours and achieve your aesthetic goals.
What is breast ptosis?
Ptosis is a medical term that describes sagging of the breast which is a natural consequence of aging. Factors that contribute to ptosis include cigarette smoking, number of pregnancies, breast size and gravity on breast and weight fluctuation. Women after menopause may experience a higher degree of ptosis due to the loss of elasticity in their skin.
The degree of ptosis, classified by plastic surgeons, is in relation to the inframammary fold which influences the surgical procedure and the degree of reconstruction needed for breast lifts.
Procedural details of breast lift
Breast lift surgery is performed under a general anesthesia. During the procedure, an incision is made beneath the breasts along the lower fold and in the middle of the lower breasts from the nipple down to the fold, like an inverted T-shape. A wedge shape area of skin along the lower side of the breast is removed and the breast tissue is lifted up through tightening of the skin.
The nipple areola complex is re-positioned on the breast and the incisions are closed, leaving patients with increase volume in the upper poles of the breast and a more youthful, round and perkier breasts.
How long does a breast lift last?
A breast lift is not a permanent solution as the same forces that initially created the need for a breast lift will eventually cause the breasts to droop again with time. Although the natural aging process cannot be prevented in entirety, women who receive breast lift surgery should take extra care in limiting their exposure to the sun and avoiding large fluctuations in their weight. Staying off the pack and abstaining from smoking also helps in this regard. With proper care, the results of your breast lift surgery should last many years or even decades.
Recovery process
The recovery time for breast lift surgery is on par with or sometimes even shorter than the recovery time of most other elective surgeries. Patients should avoid strenuous activities for roughly two weeks while the incisions heal. After two weeks, patients can engage in increasingly more active behavior, although they should take particular caution from putting strain on their breasts or chest. Most patients will be able to fully resume all normal activities between 4 to 6 weeks after the surgery.
The recovery process also requires a follow-up appointment that will be scheduled at 1, 3 and 6 weeks after the surgery for continual management and proper post-operative care.
Immersion of incisions in baths, hot tubs, pools, oceans should be avoided for 6 weeks.
