Palm Beach Gardens Breast Lift | Mastopexy Port St. Lucie, and Jupiter

Breast Lift in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Port St. Lucie

The breasts are an essential feature of a person’s sense of femininity, so when someone is disappointed with the appearance of their breasts, it can affect their overall confidence and self-image. Breast tissue and elasticity can weaken over time, due to genetics, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, or the aging process. Changes to the breast skin over time can lead to mild or pronounced sagging and a body contour that is less than desirable. The surgeons at Lickstein Plastic Surgery use surgical procedures like mastopexy, also referred to as breast lift surgery, to effectively reverse these changes and restore a perkier, more youthful body profile for patients in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Port St. Lucie.

What Is Mastopexy?
Candidates For Breast Lift Surgery
Preparing For Breast Lift Surgery
The Breast Lift Procedure
Breast Lift Recovery
FAQs About Breast Lift Surgery

What is Mastopexy?

A breast lift or mastopexyis a cosmetic surgery designed to raise the breasts to a more attractive position on the chest wall. In addition to repositioning and reshaping the breasts, the procedure can also reduce the size of the areolas and lift nipples that face downward to enhance the overall look of the breast. Board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. David Lickstein and Dr. Craig Forleiter tailor this procedure to the specific needs of each patient to produce a look that is proportionate, natural, and beautiful. While breast lift surgery doesn’t significantly reduce or enhance the size the breasts, this procedure can be performed in combination with breast reduction or breast augmentation.¹

Patients with breast sagging may also experience a loss in volume. To further enhance their outcome, many patients choose to combine a breast lift with other breast surgery such as augmentation using implants. This procedure increases the size of the breasts while improving the shape and correcting any asymmetries.

Patients that combine these procedures may be more satisfied with their results, in addition to saving time and money over scheduling two separate surgeries. You and your surgeons can discuss the option of combining the procedure at your initial consultation to determine whether that is the right approach for you.

There are different reasons why a woman might choose to undergo a breast lift

Candidates For Breast Lift Surgery

Ideal patients for breast lift surgery are in good health and have realistic expectations about their results. A breast lift is not considered a weight-loss procedure and should only be Good candidates for breast lift surgery are in good health and have realistic expectations about their results. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a breast lift is not considered a weight-loss procedure and should only be performed on patients that have established a stable weight.² It is also not recommended for individuals planning on having children in the future, as pregnancy and breastfeeding can significantly alter the results of the procedure. Specific reasons a person might consider a breast lift include:performed on patients that have established a stable weight. It is also not recommended for women planning on having children in the future, as pregnancy and breastfeeding can significantly alter the results of the procedure. Specific reasons a woman might consider a breast lift include:

Age-Related Sagging

The natural aging process can cause breast tissue to weaken over time, while skin laxity can exacerbate the issue. It is impossible to prevent this process completely, but breast lift surgery can reverse it by removing the excess, loose skin and lifting the breast position. The restoration of firmness helps many patients feel more comfortable with their appearance, and the results are long-lasting, so you will enjoy your refreshed look for years to come.

Following Weight Loss

Weight fluctuations can significantly alter the appearance of your breasts, but not always in ways you desire. Even if you manage to reach your weight loss goals, the changes can lead to sagging breasts that lack definition. This can be frustrating for many people since poor breast shape doesn’t complement their new and improved physique. Many patients opt for breast implants in addition to their lift to restore lost breast volume and provide more sensual curves.

Significant weight loss can alter more than the position of the breasts. People that lose massive amounts of weight may have redundant folds of excess skin around the abdomen, hips, back, and thighs. Breast lift surgery can be included in a post-weight loss body contouring procedure, which removes folds of skin around and below the waistline. By combining these treatments, patients can restore a slimmer, fitter physique that makes clothing fit more comfortably and gives them the outcome they want from their weight loss process.

Post-Pregnancy

Following pregnancy, individuals are likely to develop sagging caused by breast deflation—regardless of whether you breastfeed. Breast descent becomes even more pronounced in those who have had multiple pregnancies. Sagging, deflated breasts often negatively impact a person’s self-esteem, particularly for those that are struggling to accept the toll pregnancy typically takes on the body. For these individuals, a breast lift with or without augmentation can help to restore their bodies and their self-confidence. Because pregnancy can affect numerous areas of the body, including the breasts, a breast lift is often incorporated into a combination of surgeries known as a mommy makeover. Mommy makeover usually includes cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation and lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction. The primary goal of the mommy makeover is to reverse the changes caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding and restore a patient’s pre-baby body as closely as possible.

Preparing for a Breast Lift Surgery

Before undergoing breast lift surgery, you will have a thorough initial consultation with one of our surgeons to discuss your expectations, preferences, and medical history. This meeting will allow you to develop a customized treatment plan with our doctors to produce the best possible results for you. You will be advised to quit smoking six weeks before your surgery, and you should avoid taking blood-thinning medications for two weeks before your procedure. A healthy diet and ample hydration leading up to your surgery day will also provide your body with the nutrients your body needs for healing.

The Breast Lift Procedure

A breast lift is usually performed under general anesthesia or local anesthetic with sedation. Dr. Lickstein or Dr. Forleiter begin by creating thin, discreetly placed incisions and use advanced suture techniques designed to allow for long-lasting support and inconspicuous scars. The extent of your incisions will depend on the type of correction required to achieve the results you desire. Possible incision locations might include:

Periareolar (Donut Lift) – This incision surrounds the pigmented area surrounding the nipple, known as the areola.
Vertical (Lollipop Lift) – This incision encircles the areola and extends vertically down the lower portion of the breast.
Standard (Anchor Lift): – This incision surrounds the areola, and runs vertically down the midline of the lower breast and horizontally along the breast crease to reshape and lift your breasts.

Once incisions are made and excess tissue, skin, and fat are excised, the remaining breast tissue is raised to a more attractive position on the chest. The projection of the nipples and the size of the areolas can also be improved at this time. Sutures are also placed within the breast tissue to provide additional support and long-lasting lift to the breasts. GALA Flex mesh support may be added as well if necessary. Once all the corrections are made, incisions are closed and bandaged.

Breast Lift Recovery

Immediately after surgery, you will be placed in a surgical bra which you will wear for the duration of your recovery to help your body mold to its new breast contours. Bruising and swelling of the breasts are common after a breast lift and you can expect to have some discomfort after your surgery. You will stay overnight so that your initial recovery can be overseen by attentive medical staff. Once you return home, you will be advised to rest for several days to provide your body time to heal and recuperate. Most patients head back to work within two weeks of their procedure and can resume their regular exercise routine after four weeks. Most of your swelling should be gone within six weeks, but you may continue to experience minor swelling for many months.

The Patient Experience

When considering a breast lift, your choice of plastic surgeon will be paramount in ensuring a positive experience, safe procedure and successful outcome. See what our former patients have to say about their experience at Lickstein Plastic Surgery:

"Thank you for all you have done. You are both kind and patient!"

"I wanted to feel like my body was proportionate. My results make me feel better about myself."

"My life has been changed for the positive."

Breast Lift FAQ: Is a Breast Lift Permanent?

Before & After

A standard of excellence recognized year after year by patients, the community, physician peers, and professional societies. The results speak for themselves.

Front Side

FAQs About Breast Lift

It is normal to have some concerns before undergoing any surgery, including mastopexy. Individuals considering this procedure often have many questions at their first meeting with our surgeons.

Will there be Scarring After My Surgery?

Breast lift surgery uses thin, well-placed incisions designed to limit visible scarring. However, scar development varies based on a patient’s natural healing abilities. If you do develop scarring, it is likely to fade over time and our team will provide you instructions on how to care for your incision to ensure it heals well to minimize visible scarring later.

How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost?

The price for a breast lift varies among patients, depending on the extent of correction required. Factors such as surgical costs, facility fees, and anesthesia expenses will all impact the final cost of a breast lift. The team at Lickstein Plastic Surgery provides patients with a detailed quote during the initial appointment with us.

Will a Breast Lift Hurt?

Any surgery will involve a degree of discomfort, but we will take steps to maintain your comfort level during your recovery process. A numbing solution and prescription pain medication may be used to prevent excessive discomfort in the days following surgery. Most patients find the soreness subsides within a few days.

Does Breast Lift Have Risks?

Any surgical has some risk of complications, however, these are greatly minimized when performed by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. One factor that can complicate the breast lift procedure is the poor quality of the patient’s existing breast tissue. This, along with skin laxity can result in a recurrence of a droopy or sagging appearance.³Our surgeons utilize the most advanced techniques including building surgical scaffolds with GALA Flex mesh support to stabilize and support weakened or compromised tissue to ensure optimal long-term results.

We believe the best results are born from an in-depth discussion of patient goals, followed by a customized treatment plan.

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Sources

¹Mayo Clinic. Breast lift. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-lift/about/pac-20393218. Accessed June 3, 2022

²ASPS. Breast Lift Candidates. Available:https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-lift/candidates. Accessed June 3, 2022.

³Aesthetic Surgery Journal. The Use of Poly-4-Hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) Scaffold in the Ptotic Breast: A Multicenter Clinical Study. Available: https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/38/5/502/4833561?login=false. Accessed June 3, 2022.

The Doctors at Lickstein Plastic Surgery have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
Page Updated: June 15, 2022