Breast Lift

The Procedure

A breast lift is usually performed on an outpatient basis while the woman is under general anesthesia. The procedure takes about 1½ to 3½ hours. During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision that determines the boundaries of the area from which skin will be removed and locates a new position for the nipple. After removing the excess skin, the surgeon moves the nipple and areola into their new position and pulls the remaining skin down and together to lift and reshape each breast. Some women with small breasts choose to have breast implants inserted during breast lift surgery. If so, the surgeon inserts the implant in a pocket under the breast tissue or behind the chest wall muscle. The surgeon then stitches the incisions closed.

After Breast Lift Surgery

Gauze dressings and an elastic bandage or surgical bra will be placed over your breasts immediately after surgery. After a few days, you will wear a soft support bra over the gauze bandages day and night for 3 or 4 weeks. Your surgeon will examine your breasts and remove your stitches 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery.

Numbness and swelling will cause some loss of sensation in your breast skin and nipples. The numbness usually goes away in 6 weeks but may take a year or more to completely subside. Your scars will be lumpy and red for a few months and then will fade, but they will never disappear. Resume your activities gradually, according to your surgeon’s instructions. You can probably return to work a week or two after your surgery.

Complications are unusual after a breast lift but can include bleeding, infection, unevenly placed nipples or asymmetrical breasts, or loss of a portion or all of a nipple. You can minimize these complications by carefully following your doctor’s instructions after your surgery.