UTAH’S PREMIER
BREAST LIFT
Breasts often lose their shape and begin to sag due to age, pregnancy and breastfeeding. A breast lift raises sagging breasts and gives them a more natural and youthful appearance. An implant may be needed in order to add volume to the upper part of the breast since the natural tissue does not round out this area. Adding an implant will typically give you the best possible outcome. Keep in mind that typical breast lifts do not consist of using an implant, nor do they increase the size of the breast significantly. So another procedure such as breast reconstruction would need to be combined with the breast lift surgery if an increase in size is desired.
During a breast lift surgery or mastopexy, the surgeon will make a number of incisions on your breasts. The pattern and number of incisions will depend on how much lift they need. The surgeon will fold the breast tissue to move the nipple higher on your chest and bring the sides underneath the breast together in a vertical incision. The surgeon will remove excess skin and tailor your breasts so they have a more attractive contour. The height of the nipple and areola and/or reduction of areola size will help improve the youthfulness of the breast. Our resident cosmetic surgeon, Our doctors, will use precise suturing techniques and dissolvable stitches to minimize scars.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF BREAST LIFTS IN UTAH
There are multiple types of procedures available to help achieve a breast lift, depending on your need and the look desired. Our doctors will help you decide which works best for you and this can be discussed further during the initial consultation. Some of the most common breast lifts are as follows:
- Circumareolar lift — This surgery is for smaller lifts and involves making an incision (cut) around the areola. From there the plastic surgeon will be able to remove any excess skin or breast tissue that may be contributing to the sagging of the breast. This helps to improve the skin’s tightness and will help elevate the breasts to a more youthful and perky position. Once the desired result is achieved, the incisions are closed with the nipples placed at a natural location.
- Vertical (Lollipop) mastopexy — Vertical mastopexy is typically done for medium-sized lifts. A somewhat keyhole shaped incision is made above and around the areola. The extra skin is removed, and often the deeper layers of the breast tissue are sutured together to reshape the breast. Lastly, the areola is raised to a higher position, and the skin is closed around it and down the center of the breast to the inframammary fold. The scar that remains after recovery looks vaguely like a lollipop, hence the nickname for the procedure.
- Wise Pattern or Anchor Scar mastopexy — This surgery is used for patients who require a large lift. The anchor breast lift technique involves three incisions: a circular incision around the border of the areola, a vertical incision from the nipple down to the fold under the breast, and a crescent-shaped incision along the breast fold. Together, these three incisions approximate the shape of an anchor. This is the oldest breast lift technique. It produces the most extended length of scarring, but it can also achieve the most dramatic results.
- Vampire Breast Lift — This, despite the name, is actually a nonsurgical procedure. A Vampire Breast Lift (VBL) augments your breasts without surgery. The breasts are injected with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to improve skin texture and make your breasts appear fuller. Side effects are minimal, but may include bruising, swelling, tenderness, and there’s no downtime. The reasons behind choosing this method vary, but the main draws to this procedure are that it is said to increase elastin (a protein that allows tissue to stretch), promotes growth of collagen (a protein that provides structure to your body), no scarring, and stimulates new cell growth. This method may also help improve skin texture and tone, and reduce the look of wrinkles, stretch marks, and scars.
We take a customized approach to providing each patient with the procedure that will get the results they desire. Breast lift surgery offers solutions that improve life quality after disease or just from the normal signs of aging. They can also restore your appearance and boost your confidence.
Contact us today and schedule your free 45-minute consultation.
BREAST LIFT & RECONSTRUCTION FAQs
What is a breast lift procedure?
Mastopexy is the medical name for a breast lift. In this procedure, a plastic surgeon raises and reshapes your breasts to give them a firmer, rounder look. The surgery also removes extra skin around your breast and reduces the size of your areola — the colored circle around your nipple.
What are the risks of a breast lift?
Breast lift surgeries do have a number of risks that you should be aware of. Although rare, you should consider the potential for problems with anesthesia, infection, bleeding, poor healing, and loss of sensation. If you have flap surgery, you have a risk of losing part or all of the flap. There is also a risk of blood clot and irregularities in the shape of your breasts.
How much does a breast lift cost?
The average cost for a breast lift can range from between $3500-$6000 per breast. Other factors such as insurance can play a part of it in some cases. This can be discussed further in the initial consultation.
Does a breast leave a lot of scarring?
While breast lift scars are permanent and most noticeable after surgery, they do tend to fade and become less pronounced over time. The degree of fading depends on a number of factors such as genetics, skin coloring, type of incision, wound healing experience, and overall patient health.
How long is the recovery for a breast lift?
It’s important to note that, since every woman’s body is unique, there is no exact timeline for recovery. However, it has been agreed that a full recovery can take on average six weeks, and women may notice that they feel perfectly fine after about a week.