Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Many factors—such as gravity, childbirth, and genetics—can cause your breasts to sag or droop over time. To correct breast sagging and achieve a more shapely look, many women undergo a mastopexy or breast lift, a commonly requested cosmetic breast surgery. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Henry Garazo offers beautiful, natural-looking breast lift results to his patients at Plastic Surgery Services in Hagerstown, Maryland.
What is mastopexy?
A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, is a procedure in which your surgeon removes excess skin and reshapes your breasts for a firmer, more youthful appearance. Depending on factors such as the severity of drooping, skin elasticity, and breast size, a variety of breast lift methods can be used to achieve the desired results. For those seeking to increase or restore volume as well, a breast lift can be combined with a breast augmentation. During your personal breast lift consultation, Dr. Garazo will explore your breast lift options with you and help you determine which techniques and procedures will work best to achieve your goals.
“Excellent service! Dr. Garazo is amazing, with excellent bedside manners! The staff made me feel very comfortable and stress free throughout my procedure ( Bilateral Standard Mastopexy) with a successful outcome! Dr. Garazo and staff personally contacted me after my procedure to make sure I was ok, and if I needed anything. I would recommend Plastic Surgery Services for all your cosmetic surgery needs!”
—Real review from a 2023 breast lift patient
View Breast Lift results in our Before & After gallery »
Good candidates for breast lift surgery
Hagerstown breast lift candidates include women of all ages who are unhappy with sagging or drooping breasts. The best candidates tend to be physically healthy women who do not smoke and who maintain a fairly stable weight. It’s also important to possess specific, realistic expectations about the results. If you do not fit these exact criteria, a consultation with Dr. Garazo can help you determine if a breast lift is a safe, viable cosmetic option for you.
Breast lift recovery
Many of our patients are pleasantly surprised to find their breast lift recovery is not as long or as uncomfortable as they assumed. After your surgery, you’ll spend some time in recovery as you stabilize after anesthesia—and then you’ll be able to go home and rest in your own home. You’ll need a designated driver and a little help around the house that first night as the effects of anesthesia wear off. While there will be some discomfort, most patients find they can switch to OTC pain relievers within just a few days. Some swelling, tenderness, and bruising are normal, and your surgeon may recommend intermittent icing for your comfort. Though quite dark at first, if cared for properly, your breast lift scars will gradually fade over time.
“Absolutely 100% glad I picked PSS and Dr. Garazo as my place to have my BL and BA done. The results are beautiful and I couldn’t be more pleased. Also every person in that building treated me as a friend not a patient. Thank you! I won’t be going anywhere else for further needs.”
—5-Star Google Review
If you have a non-strenuous job, you should be able to go back to work within a few days. All strenuous activity, heavy lifting, and exercise will need to be avoided until you get permission from your surgeon, which is typically around 4–6 weeks after your surgery.
Combining a breast lift with other procedures
For a more complete body makeover, a breast lift is often combined with other cosmetic procedures, such as Hagerstown breast augmentation, breast reduction, abdominoplasty, or liposuction.
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- Key Benefits
- Glossary
- Improved Breast Shape and Position: A breast lift elevates and reshapes sagging breasts, creating a more youthful, lifted, and aesthetically pleasing breast contour.
- Enhanced Nipple and Areola Placement: A breast lift can reposition downward-pointing nipples and reduce the size of enlarged areolas, aligning them with the newly shaped breasts for a natural look.
- Improved Symmetry: Breasts that are asymmetrical in terms of size or shape can be made more symmetrical through a breast lift procedure.
- Reduced Skin Irritation: By lifting the breasts and removing excess skin, the procedure can reduce skin irritation beneath the breast fold, which is common with sagging breasts.
- Restoration After Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: A breast lift can restore the breasts to their pre-pregnancy shape and position, addressing changes that occur during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Anesthesia: Medication used to prevent pain during surgery; breast lift procedures typically require general anesthesia to ensure patient comfort throughout the surgery.
- Areola: The pigmented area surrounding the nipple; a breast lift can reposition or reduce the size of the areola to better match the newly lifted breast shape.
- Breast Asymmetry: A common condition where one breast is different in size, shape, or position than the other; a breast lift can correct asymmetry, making the breasts more symmetrical.
- Breast Lift (Mastopexy): A surgical procedure aimed at raising and reshaping sagging breasts to a more youthful appearance and position.
- Breast Ptosis: The medical term for sagging of the breasts, which can be caused by aging, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight fluctuations; a condition that breast lift surgery addresses.
- Incision Patterns: The surgical techniques used during a breast lift, which vary based on the degree of lift needed and the patient’s anatomy.
- Mammogram: A specialized X-ray of the breasts used for cancer screening; it’s important to inform the radiologist about the presence of breast lift scars or implants for accurate mammogram interpretation.
- Nipple-Areolar Complex (NAC): Refers to the nipple and the surrounding areola as a single unit; a breast lift can elevate a downward-pointing NAC to a more forward-facing position.
- Periareolar Lift: A type of breast lift that involves an incision solely around the areola, suitable for patients with mild sagging who require minimal lifting.
- Ptosis Grades: The classification system used to measure the degree of breast sagging, ranging from Grade I (mild) to Grade III (severe), which helps in planning the appropriate surgical approach.
- Recovery Time: The period needed for healing post-surgery, where patients may need to limit physical activity and follow specific care instructions to ensure optimal healing.
- Sutures: The stitches used to close incision sites after surgery, which may be absorbable or require removal during a follow-up visit.
- Vertical Lift: Also known as a “lollipop” lift, this technique involves incisions around the areola and vertically down to the breast crease, suitable for moderate sagging.
- Anchor Lift: The most extensive breast lift technique, involving an anchor-shaped incision pattern to correct significant sagging and reshape the breast comprehensively.
Breast lift FAQs
How much does a breast lift cost in Maryland?
In our Hagerstown, Maryland plastic surgery office, the cost of a breast lift procedure can vary depending on any special considerations, anesthesia time, etc. The final cost of your procedure will depend on a few factors. Your cost of surgery will include:
- Dr. Garazo’s surgeon’s fee
- All of your pre- and post-operative visits
- Operating room time and supplies in our Quad-A accredited surgery center
- Anesthesia
- Post-surgical bra
After your consultation with Dr. Garazo, we’ll provide you with a surgery fee quote with your exact price. In addition to accepting cash, check, and card, we also work with CareCredit for plastic surgery financing.
What types of incisions are used in breast lift surgery?
Breast lift incisions include the anchor (inverted T), vertical (lollipop), and periareolar (around the areola) techniques. Depending on how much breast sagging you have, Dr. Garazo will determine which incisions will allow him to create the best results possible.
Will I have visible scars after a breast lift?
Yes; however, Dr. Garazo thoughtfully places incisions to be inconspicuous and sutures them carefully so that scarring fades beautifully. You can further minimize the look of breast lift scars by following all aftercare instructions and keeping your scars away from UV light.
What kind of anesthesia is used during a breast lift?
You’ll be asleep and numb during breast lift surgery with general anesthesia.
What aftercare protocols will I need to follow after a breast lift?
Each patient receives personalized post-op guidelines to follow based on their needs, but in general, you’ll be asked to wear a compression garment, avoid strenuous activities, care for your incisions, and attend your follow-up appointments so we can track your progress.
How long should I take off work for breast lift surgery?
Depending on the type of work you do, you may choose to take 1-2 weeks off, more if your job is physically demanding.
Will a breast lift affect nipple sensation?
You may experience temporary changes in nipple sensation as you heal, and although much less common, some patients may have permanent changes.
Can I breastfeed after a breast lift?
Many women can breastfeed after a breast lift, but some may experience difficulties, especially if the nipples were repositioned significantly and milk ducts and nerves were compromised. Dr. Garazo is very careful not to disturb these tissues when possible.
Is a breast lift permanent?
Breast lift results can last for several years, but surgery cannot stop the natural aging process. Time, gravity, and weight fluctuations will eventually impact your initial results.
What is the difference between a breast lift and breast augmentation?
A breast lift raises and reshapes sagging breasts, while breast augmentation increases breast size using implants. Combining both procedures often achieves the best of both worlds—beautiful shape and volume and a perkier position.
Will a breast lift change my bra size?
Probably; a breast lift changes the shape and position of the breasts by removing excess skin and tissue, so it’s common for patients to see a subtle change in cup size.
Will a breast lift improve breast symmetry?
Yes, a breast lift can improve symmetry between each breast and it can also reposition the nipple-areola complex to be more centered on your newly reshaped breasts.
Can a breast lift correct tuberous breasts?
Yes, a breast lift can help correct tuberous breasts, especially when combined with breast augmentation. Breast implants are highly effective in creating a youthful roundness to tuberous breasts.
How will my breasts feel after a breast lift?
Your breasts will typically look and feel firmer and more youthful after a lift.
What is the difference between a breast lift and a breast reduction?
A breast lift raises and reshapes sagging breasts without significantly changing their size, while a breast reduction decreases the size and weight of the breasts. Most breast reduction surgeries also include a lift, as Dr. Garazo often has to lift the remaining breast tissue to create a beautiful, lifted shape.
Meet Dr. Henry Garazo
Dr. Garazo is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience offering aesthetic procedures in the greater Hagerstown, MD area. Known for his thorough, expert, and friendly care, Dr. Garazo is a 6x winner of “Best Plastic Surgeon” in the Herald-Mail Tri-State’s Best Community’s Choice Awards. He prides himself on offering comprehensive, informative consultations and ensures every patient always meets personally with him.
Your Hagerstown breast lift consultation with Dr. Garazo
For those considering a breast lift, board-certified Hagerstown breast surgeon Dr. Henry Garazo invites you to explore your options through a patient consultation. To schedule a consultation at Plastic Surgery Services, contact us online or call (301) 791-1800.
References »
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