Restore your youth with a Breast Lift
Childbirth, gravity, and the natural aging process can all take a toll on a woman’s breasts. Over time, these factors lead to physical changes, like a sagging, deflated appearance in the bust, but can also lead to self-esteem and confidence issues. For these reasons, many women choose to address their aging breasts with breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy. This effective cosmetic surgery is performed to dramatically improve the contour and appearance of sagging breasts.
Mastopexy works by moving the nipple and areola higher up on the chest and reshaping the breast tissue to provide a lifted and more youthful appearance. Dr. Gabriel E. Salloum, M.D., F.A.C.S., is a reputable, double board-certified plastic surgeon known throughout South Florida for his ability to achieve beautiful results with breast lift surgery in Miami Beach. He performs breast lift procedures on an outpatient basis at the Miami Center for Plastic Surgery.
- What is Breast Lift surgery?
- Why choose to get a Breast Lift in Miami Beach?
- Who is a good candidate for Mastopexy?
- A Breast Lift surgery consultation in Miami Beach
- Preparing for Breast Lift surgery
- What are the risks of Breast Lift surgery?
- The Mastopexy procedure
- Recovering from Breast Lift surgery
- Frequently Asked Questions about Breast Lift
What is Breast Lift surgery?
A breast lift is a surgical procedure designed to create more youthful breasts. Dr. Salloum performs this procedure by trimming excess breast skin, reshaping and lifting the breast tissue, and reducing the areola.
Women who want to rejuvenate the appearance of their breasts after breastfeeding, weight fluctuations (massive weight loss), and the aging process may find this procedure to be a great option. In fact, breast lifts have grown in popularity in the last two decades and now surpass augmentation with breast implants by almost double.
However, many women choose to have both a breast lift and an augmentation procedure performed simultaneously. Others opt to have a breast reduction in combination with a breast lift in Miami Beach. Most women are very pleased with the end result as it provides a firmer, more youthful-looking breast shape and contour.
*All patients are unique and individual results may vary.
Why choose to get a Breast Lift in Miami Beach?
Just as with most cosmetic surgeries, there are numerous reasons a woman may seek out mastopexy. As women age, their breasts lose firmness due to a number of factors, including:
- Pregnancy – This causes a woman’s breasts to fill out and get heavier which can put a strain on the ligaments, causing them to stretch. While breastfeeding is often attributed to sagging breasts post-childbirth, the pregnancy itself and the changes it causes in the breasts also have an effect on breast sagging.
- Weight changes – It’s natural for a woman’s weight to ebb and flow throughout her life. These fluctuations, however, can make the skin on the breasts stretch and become less elastic, eventually causing the breasts to sag.
- Gravity – Gravity is a major factor in aging. Over time, gravity pulls down on the ligaments of the breasts, giving them a droopy appearance.
Who is a good candidate for Mastopexy?
Women who have lost volume or shape in their breasts, or find that their nipples fall below the breast crease and point downward may be good candidates for mastopexy. A woman may also want to consider mastopexy if one breast is lower than the other or if the areolae have stretched out of proportion to the breasts.
Mastopexy can be performed on women with small or large breasts. The effects of the surgery tend to last longer in women with smaller breasts since the weight and gravity pull will be less than with larger breasts. Breast lift surgery isn’t for everyone, however.
Women considering becoming pregnant again might want to put off the procedure until after they are done having children. Pregnancy may stretch the breasts again and undo the effects of the breast lift. Getting a breast lift before becoming pregnant may also make it more difficult to produce sufficient milk.
Cosmetic surgeries such as mastopexy should be performed only on individuals who are generally in good health and are non-smokers. Smoking can impair healing, so if you do smoke, you’ll need to stop three weeks prior to surgery.
A Breast Lift surgery consultation in Miami Beach
Scheduling an initial consultation at our Miami Beach facility is an important part of the breast lift planning process. During this meeting with Dr. Salloum, he’ll ask you questions about your medical history, including any current or past medical conditions, mammogram results, and breast biopsies. If you have a history of breast cancer, be sure to share this with the doctor.
The doctor will perform a breast examination to determine the right treatment option. He will consider the position of your nipples and areolae as well as the size and shape of your breasts and your skin quality. A more elastic skin will lead to enhanced, long-lasting results.
In addition to reviewing your medical history and undergoing a physical examination, you can expect to discuss your surgical goals during the consultation. It’s important for Dr. Salloum to know why you want a breast lift and your expectations from the surgery. The surgeon will then go over the surgical risks and benefits unique to you and your body.
Preparing for Breast Lift surgery
Dr. Salloum may recommend that you schedule a mammogram prior to surgery and another one afterward. These screenings will help the surgeon notice any changes that may occur within the breast tissue.
In preparation for surgical procedures in Miami Beach, including mastopexy, patients must stop smoking at least several weeks before surgery as smoking can impair healing. Aspirin and similar medications should be avoided two weeks before surgery to reduce the risk of excessive bleeding and other complications.
Make sure to arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from your procedure. It’s best to have someone stay with you during the initial stages of the recovery time as tasks such as hair washing will be difficult.
Patients should be at a stable weight prior to undergoing breast lift surgery in Miami Beach. If you have lost weight recently, try to maintain a regular exercise regimen and diet to keep your weight from fluctuating.
What are the risks of Breast Lift surgery?
Breast lift surgery poses few risks when it is performed by a licensed and board-certified plastic surgeon. However, as with all surgeries, there are possible risks and complications, including:
| Scarring | Anesthesia complications | Loss of nipple sensation |
| Breast asymmetry | Infection | Breastfeeding difficulty |
The Mastopexy procedure
Breast lifts are typically performed as an outpatient procedure. Dr. Salloum performs this surgery at his accredited medical facility in Miami Beach.
The procedure is performed under either local or general anesthesia. Dr. Salloum will go over the type of anesthesia to be used during the consultation. He will also discuss the specific technique that he’ll use to perform your mastopexy.
Typically, the procedure takes about two to three hours to complete. The incision techniques commonly used to perform breast lift surgery include:
- Anchor Lift – The anchor shaped incision looks like an upside-down “T”. This technique is used when a large amount of lifting and reshaping is needed. It is also the method that is typically used when breast reduction is combined with mastopexy.
The technique requires three incisions. One incision is made vertically from the bottom of the areola down to the crease of the breast, one along the breast crease, and one all the way around the areola.
- Lollipop Lift – This incision pattern surrounds the edge of the areola and extends down to the crease of the breast. It is also called the “keyhole” incision. This method is used when sagging is moderate. The lollipop lift is a favorite technique of many plastic surgeons since scarring is minimal and easy to hide.
- Crescent Lift – This method uses an incision at the top of the areola and is often used together with breast implants or when minimal lifting is required.
- Doughnut – This technique achieves moderate lift and can reduce the size of the areola by making an incision around the edge of the areola. Surgeons prefer this method along with the crescent when performing breast augmentation along with a breast lift.
Recovering from Breast Lift surgery
To aid in recovery after a breast lift in Miami Beach, patients are instructed to wear a surgical support bra for about four days, followed by another, softer bra to support the new contours of the breasts. Tubes will be placed in the incision sites temporarily to drain blood and fluid.
For about two weeks after the surgery, the breasts will appear bruised and swollen. Pain at the incision sites is normal and the incisions themselves will stay pink for several months after the procedure. The nipples and areolae may be numb for up to two months.
In the first few days after surgery, patients should take pain medication as instructed by Dr. Salloum. After a few days, the drainage tubes are typically removed and the bandages will be changed. Exercise and sex should be avoided for at least two weeks after breast lift surgery or as directed by Dr. Salloum. The surgeon will instruct you when normal activities like bathing can be resumed.
Frequently Asked Questions about Breast Lift
A breast lift shapes and lifts the breast tissue, nipples, and areolae back to a higher, more youthful position and creates a firmer appearance.
Breast lift surgery is not meant to change the size of the breasts or provide more roundness. For fuller breasts, many patients in Miami Beach choose to undergo breast augmentation in conjunction with a breast lift.
Most breast lifts are not covered by insurance since they are considered cosmetic procedures. At the Miami Center for Plastic Surgery, we understand that it isn’t always convenient or even possible to pay for cosmetic surgery out of pocket, which is why we provide our patients with flexible financing options.
All cosmetic surgeries require doing sufficient research before selecting a surgeon to make sure you’re making the right decision. Whether by word of mouth or internet search, make sure that the surgeon you choose is a board-certified plastic surgeon with a strong reputation for achieving the kind of results you’d like for yourself
Look at before and after photos of Miami Beach breast lift surgery patients, read online reviews, and ask around to make sure you’re choosing a reputable and talented doctor. Finally, schedule a consultation to make sure you are comfortable and confident in your surgeon’s expertise.
Dr. Gabriel E. Salloum, M.D., F.A.C.S., is double board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He specializes in reconstructive plastic surgery, as well as body and facial restructuring.
If you live near Miami Beach, FL, Miami Center For Plastic Surgery offers breast lift among its services, and is conveniently located at 4308 Alton Road #720 Miami Beach, FL 33140
Dr. Salloum takes pride in his ability to meet patients’ unique aesthetic goals and achieve naturally beautiful breast lift results. To request a consultation for breast lift surgery in Miami Beach, call the Miami Center for Plastic Surgery at 305-783-2551.
