Considering a Breast Lift? Lubbock Women Should Plan Ahead

Women have several plastic surgery options for breast enhancement. Mastopexy, or a breast lift, creates a youthful look by raising sagging breasts. The procedure gets rid of excess skin, lifts the nipple to a more forward position, and reshapes the existing tissue to give an overall more perky appearance. A breast lift can help with asymmetry and makes clothing and swimwear fit more comfortably. For women who think they may be interested in a breast lift, Lubbock Dr. Jane Rowley recommends preparing for the procedure and following all pre- and post-operative instructions. She wants all of her patients to have a comfortable and smooth experience on the day of their breast lift, and getting ready beforehand is one way you can make sure that happens.

Preparing for Your Breast Lift

At your preoperative doctor visit, you will discuss your medical history, previous surgeries, and any medications or supplements you take. You will have a physical exam of your breasts so the doctor can determine your skin tone, positioning of your nipples, and other details for your breast lift. Lubbock patients should communicate clearly with their doctor about their surgical expectations and why they want a breast lift. It is always important to consult with your doctor before any procedure so you can understand exactly what the procedure can or cannot do and what the expected recovery will be. You may be asked to have a mammogram done before your surgery to establish a baseline for tracking changes in your breast tissue. To learn more about what to expect from a breast lift, watch the video below.

Preparing for Your Surgery

The right preparations for the day of your surgery can have an effect on your recovery. You will need to follow any pre-surgical instructions from the doctor carefully. You will be told what things you will need to bring and what type of clothes to wear after your breast lift. Lubbock patients may be advised not to take some of the medications they are taking. Be sure to avoid any anti-inflammatory drugs or herbal supplements as they can increase your risk of bleeding. If you use nicotine, you will need to stop for several weeks before and after your surgery, as nicotine can affect your healing by decreasing blood flow to the skin. You will also want to make arrangements for someone to help you after your procedure.

The First Few Weeks

For the first two to three weeks following their breast lift, Lubbock patients can usually expect to bruise, swell, and have some postoperative pain. Incisions can feel sore and you may experience numbness in your nipples. All of these symptoms are normal, but they will vary from patient to patient as pain tolerance and recovery times differ for each individual. If pain management is difficult or you have any concerns about your recovery, contact your doctor.

During the first few weeks after your surgery, it is critical to give your body the opportunity to heal from surgery for the best results of your breast lift. Lubbock patients should ease gently back into parts of their normal routine as they start to feel better. Some things you can do to help your recovery be successful include:

• Wearing a compression bra for the recommended amount of time
• Staying elevated at a 25 to 45-degree angle, even when sleeping
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach
• Avoid any activity that involves lifting, bending, or straining 

The First Few Months

It may take a month or two before all swelling is gone and you start to see the final results of your breast lift. Lubbock is full of fun things to do, but be patient with your body and you should be able to resume normal activity 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery. It’s important not to overestimate how good you are feeling too soon after your surgery and jump back into your daily routine too quickly. Remember that your body needs time to heal properly, so give yourself permission to slow down and take it easy. Numbness in the nipples is usually gone in the first couple of months after surgery. Scars may appear pink or red at first but will continue to fade over the next 12 months.

Combining Procedures for Dramatic Enhancements

If you are thinking about having a breast lift, you may have other areas of your body you’d like to address as well. Patients who undergo multiple procedures simultaneously save time and get more dramatic results. Combining procedures is often referred to as a “mommy makeover,” but moms are not the only ones who can benefit from doing so. Any plastic surgery candidate with more than one area of concern can consider treating all of those issues at the same time. Here’s a look at some of the procedures that are commonly paired with a breast lift in Lubbock.   

Breast Augmentation

Mastopexy provides lift and a youthful rejuvenation to the breasts, but it does not increase cup size. Many women are happy with their results without implants, but if you would like to add volume to your bust, you may choose to add breast augmentation to your plastic surgery wish list. Breast enhancement is a highly customizable procedure; you can select options from various sizes, implant types, and surgical placements. 

Implant Size

When it comes to choosing an implant size for your breast augmentation, you should think carefully about your goals. While it may be tempting to choose a much larger cup size, that may not always be the best choice, especially when combining breast enhancement with a breast lift in Lubbock. Your plastic surgeon can give you both added volume and a lift, but if the implants are too large and heavy, they can end up weighing your breasts down and negating the effects of your breast lift. However, having a breast lift and augmentation at the same time can perk up your breasts and give them the size that makes your confidence soar.

Implant Type

Women can choose from silicone gel or saline breast implants. Every implant has an outer shell made of silicone, but you have a choice as to which type of filling you want for the inner portion. Silicone gel implants are more popular because they look and feel more realistic. But silicone gel breast implants come with a risk for silent rupture, or leakage that can go undetected. The FDA recommends women with silicone gel implants get an MRI every few years to keep an eye out for silicone gel leakage. These MRIs are not covered by insurance and can add to the expense of your breast enhancement surgery over time.

Saline breast implants are another option for women considering adding volume to their breast lift in Lubbock. These implants have long been used by plastic surgeons and can look great on the right patient. They are filled with saline (sterile salt water solution), which the body can easily absorb in the event of an implant rupture. Additionally, no costly MRIs are necessary to detect leakage of a saline implant, because it will deflate noticeably. Another advantage for patients who choose saline implants is that they can be inserted through a smaller incision during surgery, resulting in minimal scarring. The drawback to saline breast implants is that they tend to lack an authentic feel. Some women, especially those who are very thin, may be able to see wrinkling or rippling of their saline implants through the skin. There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to the type of implant you choose. Talk to your doctor about your personal goals and priorities, and they will be able to guide you in your decision-making process.      

Breast Implant Placement

You can choose to have your breast implants placed under the pectoral muscle (submuscular placement) or under the breast tissue (subglandular placement). Patients who opt for submuscular placement typically have a longer surgery and recovery period, but the results look more natural. When the implant is placed beneath the muscle, it creates a more realistic slope to the breast. It also minimizes scar tissue and makes future mammograms easier to read. Perhaps most importantly, patients with implants under the muscle are less likely to experience capsular contracture. A study of 156 breast augmentation patients found capsular contracture to be much more common among those whose implants were placed over the chest muscle. Of the women who developed the complication, 58 percent had their implants on the subglandular level, and 9.4 percent had submuscular implant placement. 

Placing breast implants on the subglandular level results in a less complicated surgery and an easier recovery. It also helps patients avoid the animation, or unintended movement of the implants when the chest muscles are flexed. If you spend a lot of time at the gym in just a sports bra, you may prefer to have your implants over the chest muscle so this movement is not visible. Breast implants placed over the muscle can sometimes look less natural, and are more risky in terms of capsular contracture. The type of placement you choose for your breast implants depends on your lifestyle, preferences, and your anatomy. Talk to your doctor about how each method would affect the results of your breast lift in Lubbock.     

Breast Lift with Body Contouring

Many women who experience sagging in their breasts also feel dissatisfied with the appearance of their midsection. Belly flab and deflated breasts are very common for women who have had children, but these two areas can be completely rejuvenated with the right combination of plastic surgery procedures. Some patients may wish to combine a breast lift with liposuction or tummy tuck for a mommy makeover. 

• Tummy Tuck: Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck gets rid of the excess skin women develop on their midsections as they age or after they have children. Many women struggle to redefine their tummy area after their skin has been stretched. It can be frustrating when diet and exercise don’t produce the results you want, but a tummy tuck can help. During surgery, excess skin is removed and the abdominal muscles are tightened. This means that if you experienced diastasis after pregnancy, abdominoplasty can repair those separated muscles. The outcome of a successful tummy tuck is a leaner, flatter stomach and a tighter core. When mommy makeover patients combine a tummy tuck with a breast lift in Lubbock, they can regain their youthful look and boost their confidence. 
• Liposuction: Some patients struggle with stubborn fat on different areas of their body. For example, the thighs and love handles are notoriously difficult places to target with diet and exercise. Liposuction is a procedure that removes fat from specific locations on the body that retain fat despite your best efforts at the gym. Your plastic surgeon can give you a sleeker silhouette by suctioning out fat in areas with good skin elasticity. If you need to lose a significant amount of weight, liposuction may not be right for you because it is not meant to be a weight loss tool. However, it does get rid of unwanted fat and can create exceptional results when used on the right patient in the right area. 

Consider This

Before committing to a combination of procedures, you should take some time to educate yourself about what you can expect. With more surgeries come a longer recovery period and a higher risk for complications. The term “mommy makeover” may sound fun and exciting, but you should consult with your doctor before moving forward with multiple plastic surgeries. Consider Dr. Rowley’s thoughts on mommy makeovers:

There are benefits to combining a breast lift in Lubbock with other procedures. If you are a good candidate for a mommy makeover, you can save time and money by having multiple surgeries at once. Discuss with your doctor what options are best for you. 

Explore Your Breast Lift Options

Dr. Jane Rowley is a board-certified plastic surgeon with 20 years of experience helping her patients achieve their aesthetic goals. She takes the time to discuss your goals thoroughly, explains the procedure, and gives a clear expectation of what is involved with your expected recovery. At Rowley Plastic Surgery, we put our patients needs first and make their care and comfort our highest priority. Schedule your no-obligation consultation today.