Breast Lift in New York City
Introduction to Breast Lift
At Constance M Chen, MD in NYC, breast lift surgery is one of our more common aesthetic procedures. After pregnancy, many women, discover that their breasts have changed shape. They may be happy with their breast size, but their breast skin has stretched irreversibly. The remaining breast tissue has fallen to the bottom of the breast while the top of the breast appears flat and empty. In these cases, the breasts can be lifted so that the breast tissue is located higher on the chest wall with a tighter skin envelope. When a woman does not want larger breasts but just wants her breasts to be lifted, she needs a “mastopexy.”
What is a Breast Lift?
A mastopexy involves resecting excess breast skin and moving the nipple-areola complex (NAC) higher on the breast mound. For breasts that only need a very minimal lift, the scar will be around the NAC alone. This type of lift is called a Benelli-style mastopexy, and it tends to flatten the breast. Most mastopexies require more skin resection. When the nipple is pointed straight down or the breast tissue itself needs to be repositioned higher on the chest wall, for example, there will need to be a scar around the NAC and a vertical scar from the NAC to the inframammary fold. This lollipop-shaped scar is necessary to create a conical breast that appears more youthful and perky.
Who are the Best Candidates for a Breast Lift?
As a practice that focuses on plastic and reconstructive breast surgery in New York, we have restored and reconstructed the breasts of many women. The best candidate for a breast lift meets the following criteria:
- Feels her breasts have lost their shape
- Has flattened or elongated breasts
- Is in good health
- Has stretched out breast
- Possesses uneven breasts
Some conditions may prevent you from getting a breast lift, such as:
- Obesity
- Smoking or other nicotine and tobacco use
What are the Benefits of a Breast Lift?
Dr. Chen’s NYC breast lift patients have reported the following benefits from the surgery:
- Firmer breast appearance
- Improved nipple projection
- More attractive breast shape
- Reduced skin irritation under the breasts
- Youthful breast appearance
Since it is accepted that a significant percentage of the fat will be reabsorbed by the body, however, it is usually necessary to overfill a defect to reach the desired outcome. For larger defects or for total breast reconstruction, it is usually necessary to undergo multiple rounds of fat transfer.
What’s the First Step?
The first step in receiving a Breast Lift in New York City is to contact our office and schedule a consultation with Dr. Chen. During this appointment, you will be able to discuss your cosmetic goals and ask any questions you may have. Dr. Chen will examine your breasts to help you understand your surgical options. Once a surgical plan has been developed, the office can provide you with a realistic price estimate and the timeline for surgery.
What to Expect on the Day of a Breast Lift?
When you come in for your Breast Lift surgery, you will be greeted by a nurse. A board-certified anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia to help you be more comfortable during your surgery. Under general anesthesia, Dr. Chen will make some incisions in strategic locations on your breast. There are 3 common scar patterns after a Breast Lift:
- Around the areola
- Around the areola and vertically down from the areola to the breast crease
- Around the areola, vertically down from the breast crease, and horizontally along the breast crease
Once the incisions have been made, the underlying breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to improve your breast contour as needed. The nipple-areola complex is repositioned into a natural and more youthful height. If required, enlarged areolas can be reduced by the skin around the perimeter. Any excess breast skin will be removed to compensate for the loss of elasticity.
Dr. Chen will finish your procedure by closing the incisions, which helps tighten the remaining skin. While some of the incision lines will be concealed by your breast’s natural contour, others may be visible on the surface. Although incision lines are permanent and unavoidable, they should fade and improve over time.
Breast Lift Recovery
When you are finished with the procedure, the donor sites will be covered with a compression garment to minimize the swelling and provide support during the healing process. The recipient sites should not be compressed because the fat cells need to be protected to minimize fat resorption. You will receive recovery instructions before you go home.
You will need to wear your supportive garment the entire time during recovery, as well as take any prescribed medications for your pain and to prevent infection. You should use this recovery time to take it easy and relax for the most optimal healing outcome. You will probably experience some soreness, bruising, and swelling for the first few weeks in the areas treated with liposuction.
Recovery time varies for different people, but most people should plan to take 2 weeks off work. In a normal healthy person, full wound healing is usually achieved at 6-8 weeks, but swelling can take up to a year to resolve completely. When you come in for your follow-up visits, Dr. Chen will be able to assess your healing and inform you of when you can resume more strenuous activities.
Why Choose Dr. Chen for a Breast Lift
Dr. Constance Chen is a board-certified plastic surgeon with special expertise in using innovative, natural techniques to optimize medical and cosmetic outcomes for women. She understands that every woman has her unique concerns and treatment preferences, and focuses on giving each of her patients the specialized attention they deserve. Dr. Chen is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and prioritizes patient safety and shared medical decision-making.
How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost in NYC?
The cost of a Breast Lift in NYC will vary from patient to patient. A consultation is necessary to formulate a customized plan for your body and needs. During the appointment, Dr. Chen will answer questions about your surgery. Once a surgical plan has been put together, Dr. Chen’s staff can give you a cost estimate and answer any financial questions you may have
Schedule Your Consultation
When ready to get your Breast Lift in NYC, contact our office and schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Chen. We look forward to discussing your aesthetic goals and helping you become comfortable and confident in your appearance
REACH OUT TO USBreast Lift FAQs
Is a Breast Lift painful?
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. After surgery, some patients may feel mild discomfort. You will be prescribed temporary pain medication to assist you with any discomfort or pain that you may have during your recovery.
How many appointments will I need?
After the initial consultation, Dr. Chen will typically see you 30 days prior to surgery, 2 weeks prior to surgery, and just before surgery for preoperatively marking. After surgery, Dr. Chen will see you the week after surgery, and if you have drains she will see you every week while your drains are in. After the first postoperative visit and once there are no drains, the postoperative visits are generally spaced out to 2 weeks, one month, 3 months, 6 months, and then yearly after surgery. In the rare event that you need a second touch-up surgery, it will be determined at least 3-6 months after the initial surgery.
How long until I see results?
While there may be some redness and bruising from the surgery, your Breast Lift results will be noticeable immediately. The final outcome will develop over the subsequent weeks and months.
Can I combine a Breast Lift with other procedures?
Yes, many NYC patients combine a Breast Lift with other procedures such as a Tummy Tuck, liposuction, or a mommy makeover. If there are any other areas of your body that you would like to enhance, please discuss them with Dr. Chen during your consultation.
What are the risks associated with a Breast Lift?
Dr. Chen has years of surgical experience that help minimize any potential risks. As with any surgery, however, some potential risks of breast lift include:
- Anesthesia risks
- Uncontrolled bleeding or hematoma formation
- Breast asymmetry
- Breast contour and shape irregularities
- Cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation (can be temporary or permanent)
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Fat necrosis
- Fluid accumulation or seroma
- Infection
- Poor healing of incisions
- Possibility of revisional surgery
- Partial or total loss of nipple and areola
