Don’t Let Aging Get You Down

We all have to face it—the gradual changing of our bodies as we grow older. And while it’s certainly preferable to the alternative, growing older can take a heavy toll, changing the resilience of our skin and even the overall shape and contours of our bodies.

This is especially true for women, particularly if you’ve decided to have children. Changes that often occur with age, such as the loss of elasticity in the skin and decreased muscle tone, are accelerated with childbirth.

Most adversely affected by childbirth and pregnancy are the breasts. Because the breasts grow so dramatically during pregnancy, muscle tone and skin elasticity can be severely compromised, leaving behind breasts that no longer have that firm, youthful look.

Some women opt for a full breast augmentation that adds firmness, tone, and size to revitalize the breasts. A breast lift, or mastopexy, can restore the firmer contours of your breasts. Breast lifts can be performed with or without implants, depending on the result you wish to achieve.

In general, a breast lift will not change the size of your breasts, or round the upper portion of the breast. It can firm and raise the breast, removing excess skin and tightening the supporting tissue for a more youthful look.

Is a Breast Lift for Me?

You might be a good candidate for a breast lift if:

· You have pendulous (hanging or sagging) breasts, but you’re happy with their overall size

· Your breasts are not as firm as you would like them to be

· Your nipples and areolas point downward, particularly if they fall below the line where the breast rejoins the body

Before undergoing a breast lift, or any cosmetic surgery procedure, you should consult with a plastic surgeon to discuss exactly what goals you have in mind for your surgery. The more information you can exchange with your doctor about why you would like to have a breast lift, and what appearance you would like to achieve, the more likely you are to be satisfied with the final results.

In addition, your results are likely to be much better if you are in generally good health, maintain a stable weight, and are a non-smoker.

What’s Involved in a Breast Lift?

The exact procedure for a breast lift differs depending upon the initial condition of your breasts and the goals you wish to achieve. Some typical incision patterns include:

· Around the areola

· Around the areola, with additional vertical incisions to the crease of the breast

· Around the areola, with additional vertical and horizontal incisions to the breast crease

Once the incisions have been made, the surgeon will lift and reshape the breast tissue, refining its contour and firmness. After the breast’s shape is refined, the areola and nipple are repositioned higher on the breast, for a more youthful appearance. If your areolas are overly large, their size can also be adjusted. To correct sagging due to loss of elasticity in the skin of the breast, excess skin is removed, and remaining skin is tightened as the incisions are closed.

How Long Will the Results Last?

Immediately after your surgery, you will see a dramatic difference in the look of your breasts, but the full effect will change and shift during the healing process. Your body might take a few months to completely reflect the changes achieved by your breast lift. While your incisions will be visible and permanent, some will be hidden in the creases of the breast, and the rest will improve and fade, given time.

The results of your breast lift surgery will be long lasting, but even more so if you maintain a healthy weight and general good health.

If you choose to undergo a breast lift and subsequently become pregnant, the results of the surgery can be severely impacted. However, a breast lift will not impact the functioning of the breast, so breastfeeding should be possible even if you’ve undergone surgery before your pregnancy. To determine the final effects of your surgery and how it might impact your ability to breastfeed, consult with your plastic surgeon.