Breast-related cosmetic surgery procedures have increased by 48% in 2022. If you are unhappy about your breast shape, breast size, or breast position, there is always something you can do about it. Breast lift or breast augmentation procedures are often performed to help individuals regain their confidence.
Reaching your cosmetic goals has never been easier with so many surgery options as well as skilled plastic surgeons. If you have been considering breast lift or breast augmentation, keep reading to find all the information you need.
What is a breast lift?
A breast lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure that aims to elevate a person’s breasts. In order to achieve this, a plastic surgeon removes excess skin whilst also reshaping the breast tissue.
Surgical breast lifts are often confused with breast augmentation, but the two cosmetic procedures are actually quite different. A breast lift aims to raise droopy breasts, whereas breast augmentation surgery focuses on the size and shape as opposed to the position of the breasts.
Is breast lift surgery painful?
A breast lift is performed under general anesthesia so it doesn’t hurt while the surgery is being performed. However, as you can imagine, you will feel some pain after the surgery. As the anesthesia wears off, you will begin to feel sore and tender around your chest area. The good news is that the pain shouldn’t last for too long and is usually localized around the vertical incision made by your surgeon.
What is involved in a breast lift?
- The initial consultation. If you think a breast lift is the right solution for you, the first thing you need to do is consult a plastic surgeon. They will talk you through your options and assess whether or not you are a good candidate for surgery.
- The surgery. Traditional breast lifts are done by removing excess skin from under the breasts and tightening the remaining skin to lift the tissue.
- The recovery. Once the surgery is over, you will enter the recovery phase. It is important to be careful throughout the healing process in order to ensure minimal scarring.
Frequently asked questions about cosmetic surgery
Who is a good candidate for a breast lift surgery?
Anyone that leads a healthy lifestyle is a good candidate for breast lift surgery. Below are characteristics that ideal candidates for surgery share:
- Large breast volume
- Drooping breasts
- Minimal weight fluctuation
- Healthy habits
- No smoking
- Realistic expectations
What are the different techniques used for breast lift surgery?
Crescent breast lift
A crescent breast lift is a fairly non-invasive procedure that is performed with a single incision that is made parallel along the top of the areola. Since this method is so minimal and does not include an abundance of skin removal and tissue moving, it is only recommended for people that want a slight lift in their breasts.
Per-areolar breast lift
This is another technique that will not leave visible scarring thanks to the fact that the incision is made along the entire circumference of the areola, hence blending in with your natural skin pigmentation. This skin is then used to lift the entire breast into a more desirable position.
Vertical breast lift
Unlike the previous two types of breast lift, this method is used for people who need a moderate change as opposed to a mild change in their breast position. It is achieved by cutting around the areola as well as vertically down from the base of your areola. This larger incision allows your surgeon to rearrange your breast tissue into a perkier shape.
Anchor breast lift
Anchor breast lifts are reserved for women with larger breasts who require a significant amount of lifting and reshaping. It is called the anchor method because an anchor-shaped incision is made on each breast in order to properly account for the movement of tissue and chest muscles that are positioned within larger breasts.
What to expect during a breast lift consultation
The initial consultation is the most important part of the entire process because it is where you and your surgeon will set out your expectations. Not only is this your opportunity to express the outcomes you would like but it is also your chance to ask questions and better understand the procedure. An experienced plastic surgeon will take this opportunity to let you know if they think you are a good candidate for this procedure.
How much does a breast lift cost in Canada?
The average cost of a breast lift in Canada is around $12,500. However, different factors can influence the final price of this type of surgery such as:
- Surgeon’s experience
- Surgery location
- Recovery time at the clinic
- Anesthesia fees
- Surgery method
- Facility fees
- Etc.
The best cosmetic surgery clinic
What to expect following breast lift?
Following your breast lift, you can expect to feel sore and tender around your chest wall, but especially surrounding the incision site. The recovery period isn’t too intensive as you will be up and walking within 2-3 hours of surgery. Of course, as with any surgery, you should ensure your daily activities are not too strenuous. Apart from that, you can get back to your normal daily activities almost immediately as post-operative pain should subside quickly.
What are the risks of breast lift surgery?
Just like with any kind of surgery, breast lift procedures include some risks such as:
- Soreness, swelling and bruising
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Raised or red scars
- Uneven breast shape
- Partial loss of nipples
- Nerve damage
- Etc.
Can breast lift be combined with other surgeries?
Yes, you can combine a breast lift with other surgeries. It is often makes a lot of sense to undergo simultaneous procedures to get multiple cosmetic changes done in one go. For example, you could easily get a breast lift and tummy tuck at the same time. This is possible since the two procedures are on completely different parts of the body. This can help you save time and money because you won’t have to pay for additional anesthesia or hospital stay fees
Schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon
If you are considering breast surgery, it’s important that you get the advice of an experienced doctor who is board certified. At Plastic Surgery Canada, we have one of the best surgeons around, Dr. Richard Moufarrège, who is a world-renowned specialist in his field.
Dr. Moufarrège specializes in breast surgery and performs different types of cosmetic procedures such as:
