Breast Lift Fredericksburg

Dr. Palmer performs breast lift surgery, or mastopexy to restore a more youthful appearance to a woman’s breasts. Over the years breasts can lose their shape and firmness due to pregnancy, nursing and loss of skin elasticity, causing them to sag. Mastopexy will raise and reshape breasts—slowing the effects of aging and gravity. This procedure can reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple.

Mastopexy is commonly performed before breast augmentation (implants), if a larger size is desired after the lift. This may appeal to women who have lost breast volume after pregnancy. Pregnancy and nursing often result in stretched skin and therefore decreased volume. If you are planning a future pregnancy, it is advisable to postpone your breast lift as pregnancy will likely cause further stretching.

As with all cosmetic surgery, realistic expectations and emotional stability are important. Though breasts of any size can be lifted, women with smaller breasts enjoy longer lasting results.

The Procedure

Though not a simple operation, mastopexy is normally safe when performed by a qualified cosmetic surgeon. Mastopexy is performed in our office surgical suite. Dr. Palmer uses IV sedation in conjunction with tumescent anesthesia. You will be in a twilight state but will be able to breath on your own. This type of anesthesia is safer, has fewer side effects, and is less costly than general anesthesia.

The surgery may take between 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. A more common approach involves an incision along the natural contour of the breast where excess skin will be removed. The nipple and areola are then repositioned. The breast gland itself is repositioned to give better projection and shape to the breast tissue. Following this, the skin surrounding the areola is brought together to reshape the breast, with stitches around the areola and the lower breast area. The length of the incisions involved depends on your preoperative breast shape and degree of sagging, as well as the quality of the skin.

Possible Complications

As with any surgery, there are possible complications. A patient may suffer an adverse reaction to the anesthesia (rare), or experience bleeding and infection following a breast lift, causing scars to widen. Poor healing and wider scars are more common with patients who smoke.

Because milk ducts are left intact, mastopexy will not affect your ability to breast-feed.

For best results, follow your physician’s advice both before and after surgery.

After Surgery: What to Expect

After surgery, your wounds will be covered with surgical tape and an elastic bandage or a surgical bra will hold the breasts in place. Your breasts will be bruised, swollen, and you may experience some mild to moderate discomfort for a several days. Dr. Palmer will prescribe pain medication. A soft support bra replaces the bandages or surgical bra after a few days. In the recovery stage, it is important to wear the bra at all times.

Some noticeable, permanent scarring is normal, but easily covered by your bra or bathing suit. The scars may be red and lumpy for a few months, eventually fading and becoming less obvious. The procedure can also leave you with unevenly positioned nipples, or a permanent loss of feeling in your nipples or breasts, although measures are taken to reduce the likelihood of this.

To ensure proper healing, plan to stay at home for at least a week before returning to work. You will need to avoid lifting anything over your head for 3-4 weeks and avoid strenuous sports for a month.