Quick Facts About Breast Lift
- Sedation: Breast lift surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia.
- Potential Benefits: Firmer, more youthful-looking breasts with improved cleavage contours; a perkier position on the chest wall; enhanced symmetry; and a reshaped, better-proportioned nipple-areolar complex.
- Potential Side Effects: Swelling, bruising, and soreness, typically manageable with pain medication and rest.
- Recovery Time: Most patients take at least a week off from work, with strenuous activities like exercise reintroduced gradually as Dr. Hinojosa approves.
- Cost: Starts at $6,460, though the total varies based on the technique used and the specifics of your treatment plan.
- Surgeon: Dr. Cassidy Hinojosa, a board-certified plastic surgeon, is one of the few female cosmetic surgery providers in the Corpus Christi area and brings a woman’s perspective to every mastopexy she performs.
What Is a Breast Lift?
A breast lift is a surgical procedure designed to firm and tighten sagging breasts for a more youthful aesthetic. This is accomplished by removing excess, inelastic skin and elevating the breasts to a higher position on the chest wall. The nipple-areolar complex can also be reshaped and/or repositioned during a mastopexy, if needed. Breast sag (ptosis) can be caused by a variety of factors, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, and age-related changes in skin elasticity. Dr. Hinojosa often performs breasts lifts as standalone procedures, but they are also frequently incorporated into mommy makeover and post-bariatric body contouring treatment plans.
What Are the Benefits of a Breast Lift?
A breast lift can yield a variety of potential benefits, including:
- Firmer, more youthful-looking breasts with improved cleavage contours
- A “perkier” aesthetic, as the breasts are elevated to a higher position on the chest wall
- Enhanced breast symmetry
- A reduction in excess skin and sagging (breast ptosis)
- A rejuvenated nipple-areolar complex that better complements your breast proportions, as desired
Before & After Photos
Who Is a Candidate for a Breast Lift?
Ideal candidates for a breast lift wish to address sagging or drooping breasts, which can be the result of aging, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. If your nipples point downward, your breasts have lost firmness, or you experience a deflated appearance, a breast lift may help restore a more youthful contour. Otherwise, candidates should be in good overall health, at a stable weight, and have realistic expectations for their results.
It is important to note that a breast lift is primarily designed to address excess skin and sagging tissues. If patients are interested in adding or restoring volume to their breasts, a breast augmentation or a combination breast lift with implants procedure may be recommended instead.
Degrees of Breast Ptosis
Breast ptosis is typically classified into degrees based on the position of the nipple in relation to the inframammary fold (the natural crease beneath the breast),1 as discussed below:
- Pseudoptosis: The nipple remains at or above the fold, but the lower portion of the breast tissue hangs below it.
- Grade I: The nipple is at the level of the inframammary fold.
- Grade II: The nipple is below the level of the fold but still above the lowest point of the breast.
- Grade III: The nipple sits well below the fold and at the lowest point of the breast.
Breast Lift vs. Breast Augmentation
Though the two procedures are often mentioned together, a breast lift and a breast augmentation are designed to solve different problems. A breast lift removes excess skin and repositions the breast tissue higher on the chest wall, correcting sagging without changing breast volume. Breast augmentation, on the other hand, uses implants to add size and fullness, but it does not correct significant sagging on its own.
Many patients considering their options aren’t sure which procedure best fits their goals, and that decision usually comes down to what the breasts need most. If your primary concern is a deflated or drooping appearance with nipples that point downward or fall below the breast crease, a lift is generally the more appropriate solution. If you’re happy with your breasts’ position but want more volume or fullness, augmentation alone may be sufficient.
Many patients, however, are dealing with both sagging and lost volume, in which case Dr. Hinojosa may recommend a combination breast lift with implants to address both concerns in a single surgery. During your consultation, Dr. Hinojosa will evaluate your degree of ptosis, skin elasticity, and aesthetic goals to help you determine the best path forward.
How Is the Breast Lift Procedure Performed?
The breast lift treatment process begins with a consultation with Dr. Hinojosa, during which she will assess your aesthetic goals and the degree of breast ptosis you are experiencing. From there, a custom treatment plan can be developed to help you achieve the rejuvenated breast aesthetic you desire.
The mastopexy procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. During surgery, Dr. Hinojosa removes excess skin, tightens and sculpts the remaining breast tissues, and reshapes and/or repositions the areolar complex, as needed.
Depending on your unique needs and cosmetic goals, Dr. Hinojosa may employ one of several mastopexy techniques:
- The crescent lift can correct mild sagging using a small incision around the top half of the areola
- The peri-areolar or “donut” lift can correct mild sagging and decrease your areola size using a circular incision around the entire areola.
- The vertical or “lollipop” lift can help correct more moderate sagging while also allowing for a greater degree of breast reshaping. This method requires an incision surrounding the areola and a vertical incision leading from the bottom of the areola into the inframammary fold.
- The inverted T or “anchor” lift technique allows for the most extreme level of lifting and reshaping. It uses the same incision pattern as the lollipop lift, with the addition of a third incision along the inframammary crease.
The type of lift you receive will be determined by you and Dr. Hinojosa ahead of time based on your specific needs and goals.
What Can I Expect During Breast Lift Recovery?
Every patient is unique, and different people heal at different rates. In general, most patients choose to take at least a week off from work to focus on their recovery. Swelling, bruising, and soreness are fairly common during the first week after surgery, but patients typically report that any postoperative discomfort can be well-managed with pain medication and adequate rest.
Dr. Hinojosa will provide detailed aftercare instructions during the consultation process and after surgery. Careful adherence to these guidelines can help promote a more efficient healing process. During routine follow-up appointments, Dr. Hinojosa can assess recovery progress and provide guidance as to when more strenuous activities, such as exercise or heavy lifting, can be resumed.
Will I Have Breast Lift Scars?
As is the case with any surgical procedure, some degree of scarring is inevitable. The precise nature of breast lift scars is dependent on the technique used during the procedure. Crescent and peri-areolar lifts typically leave minimal scarring that blends inconspicuously into the pigmented edges of the areolas, whereas the vertical and anchor techniques result in somewhat more visible scarring. That said, Dr. Hinojosa is a highly experienced plastic surgeon, and she takes the necessary time and care to place your incisions as discreetly as possible, blending them into the natural contours of the breasts and around the areolas.
There are also a number of postoperative skin treatment options that can be employed to help further minimize the appearance of scars. Ultimately, most patients report that the myriad aesthetic benefits of a breast lift tend to outweigh any concerns over scarring.
How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost?
At Coastal Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Center, the cost of a breast lift generally starts at $6,460. That said, the total price of the procedure can vary based on the specific details of your customized treatment plan, including the technique used to perform your mastopexy.
After your consultation with Dr. Hinojosa, our team can provide you with a personalized price quote. In the meantime, we invite you to explore our payment and financing options. We also work with trusted third-party healthcare lenders, which offer programs that can help qualifying patients pay for their procedure in low- or no-interest installments.
For more information about mastopexy or the other cosmetic breast surgery options Dr. Hinojosa offers, please contact us today!
Complementary Procedures to Breast Lift
Many patients choose to pair their breast lift with additional procedures to achieve a more comprehensive result in a single surgery and recovery period. Common complementary procedures include:
- Breast Augmentation: Since a mastopexy addresses sagging and positioning but doesn’t change breast volume, patients who also want more fullness often combine their lift with implants, allowing Dr. Hinojosa to correct ptosis and add volume at the same time.
- Breast Reduction: Patients with overly large or heavy breasts sometimes pair a lift with breast reduction to achieve a lighter, better-proportioned shape alongside a more youthful contour.
- Tummy Tuck: A breast lift is often incorporated into a mommy makeover alongside a tummy tuck, which tightens abdominal muscles and removes excess skin to help restore a pre-pregnancy figure.
- Liposuction: Liposuction can also be combined with a breast lift as part of a mommy makeover to refine areas like the abdomen, waist, or back for more balanced overall contouring.
- Post-Bariatric Body Contouring: For patients who have lost significant weight, incorporating a lift into a post-bariatric treatment plan can help address sagging skin in the breasts along with other areas, such as the arms, thighs, or abdomen.
Dr. Hinojosa will discuss your goals during your consultation and help determine which combination of procedures, if any, is best suited to your anatomy and desired outcome.
Medical References for Breast Lift Surgery*
Schedule a Breast Lift Consultation in Corpus Christi
If you would like to learn more about breast augmentation, please contact Coastal Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Center today. A member of our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to answer your questions or help you schedule a consultation.
