Breast Lift

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Breast Lift Surgery in Orlando

The effects of time, pregnancy, and weight loss can produce dramatic changes to the appearance of the breast. These changes include loss of breast volume, loss of skin elasticity, descent of the nipple below the crease, stretch marks, a flattened look of the breast with loss of projection, and a widened areola. Patients wanting to reverse these changes can benefit from a breast lift. This operation places the nipple at a higher position on the chest. The breast mound is reshaped to restore a youthful well-rounded appearance. Schedule your consultation today at 407-999-2585 with Dr. Kenrick Spence or Dr. Fernando Ovalle at Hillcrest Plastic Surgery. Also feel free to browse through our Breast Lift Before & After Photos.

Evaluation for Breast Lift

  • Overall health evaluation
  • Evaluation of the breast, chest, and torso to detect any asymmetry to be corrected
  • Outline of new nipple position
  • Discussion of different kinds of breast lifts and the scars associated with each
  • Detailed discussion of the breast shape and breast volume to be achieved

Preparation for a Breast Lift

  • Mammogram as needed
  • Stop all blood thinning agents prior to surgery
  • Must stop smoking 6 to 8 weeks prior to the procedure

Procedure: Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

There are several different kinds of breast lifts performed by our Orlando plastic surgeons. Each procedure produces a different shape to the breast and different extent of scarring.

Types of scars from Breast Lift Surgery:

  • Periareolar - scar around the nipple hidden between the dark skin of the nipple and the light skin of the breast
  • Vertical scar - "lollipop" - a scar around the nipple and a single vertical scar down the underside of the breast
  • Anchor scar - scar around the nipple, down the underside of the breast, and across the crease of the breast (Wise pattern)

The vertical scar lift, with a technique called autoaugmentation, has become very popular at Dr. Spence's practice. This technique uses the lower drooping portion of the breast tissue like a breast implant. This is sewn to the chest wall producing a full rounded natural appearance to the upper portion of the breast. Many patients have commented that this technique gives the appearance of a natural body breast implant.

Risks of Breast Lift Surgery

  • Loss of nipple sensation
  • Poor healing (more common among smokers)
  • Poor scarring: breast lift scars will take several months to reach their final appearance

This is a short list of risks associated with the surgery. When you meet with our doctors about your surgery, you will be given a more extensive list and the preventive measures to reduce these risks.

Breast lifts are as much an art as they are a science. Your plastic surgeon should be properly credentialed. The focus should be well-balanced body proportion, and a restoration of youth and femininity. To schedule a breast lift consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeons at Hillcrest Plastic Surgery, call 407-999-2585 or request a breast lift consultation online.

To see payment options, please visit this website's financing page.

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Lift

This is a question your plastic surgeon will help you answer. A common thought among patients is the pencil test, i.e. if a pencil can be held in the crease of your breast then a lift is needed. This is sometimes but not always true. In general, the lower the nipple is from the crease of the breast and the more stretched skin there is, the higher the likelihood of needing a breast lift.

Most breast lifts allow you to safely breast feed following the procedure. The less disruption of the milk ducts, the higher the chances of success. Speak with your plastic surgeon to determine the specific technique to be employed.

Breast lift scars take many months to mature and reach their final appearance, often as long as a year. The following methods are used to reduce scarring:

  • Taping the scars
  • Intense pulse light
  • Silicone sheeting
  • Silicone based gels
  • Topical steroids
  • Bleaching creams

No, the nipple is typically not removed with a breast lift. The nipple is moved to a higher position on the chest and the excess skin is removed to form and shape the breast to a more youthful appearance.

Most breast lifts last several years depending on the technique used, skin tone, and weight gain or loss; these all factor into how long the operation will last.

There is a risk of losing nipple sensation although this is not always the case.

This is not usually the case except with extremely large breast reductions. The nipple is not removed in our practice.

Yes, this is possible, but the skin tone must be good and the patient must be an appropriate candidate.

Usually breast lifts are cosmetic operations designed to restore the youthful appearance of the breast. Breast reductions are performed to reduce breast size for the relief of back, neck, and shoulder pain.

No, all breast lifts are not the same. Different pedicle techniques may produce different shaped breasts (pedicle is the method by which the nipple is kept attached and the breast volume is preserved).

Dr. Spence uses 5 different types of pedicle techniques depending on the shape of breast he wishes to create:

  1. Superior pedicle
  2. Medical pedicle
  3. Inferior pedicle
  4. Central pedicle
  5. Bipedicle (a combination of pedicles)

Stretch marks on the lower portion of the breast and those immediately around the areola will be removed. Those at the top of the breast will remain.

Although Dr. Spence cannot endorse any specific vendor, a description of an ideal bra will be provided to you during your consultation. A soft supportive, well-padded bra with wide straps and no under wire is usually best. There are special circumstances where a push up bra will be recommended.

Dr. Spence revises breast reconstruction patients in his Orlando Breast Revision Practice frequently, he uses the concept of a Bioengineered breast with the use of fat graft and acellular dermal matrix.

By staging your breast revision, removing the implants and allowing the breast tissue to “SNAP” back a smaller implant can sometimes be placed without a lift.

The responses to Frequently Asked Questions listed here are not intended to be medical advice, but are the practice of Dr. Spence and will vary from surgeon to surgeon and patient to patient.

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To schedule a consultation with Dr. Spence at Hillcrest Plastic Surgery, call 407-999-2585 or request a consultation online.

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