Breast Lift in Mesa, AZ
What Is a Breast Lift?
A breast lift (mastopexy) is a plastic surgery procedure that reshapes and raises the breasts to be more youthful and attractive.
Factors such as aging, gravity, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight fluctuations can lead to pendulous, drooping breasts. Breast lift surgery tightens sagging breast tissue and restores lifted and perky breasts.
Schedule a Consultation with Dr. HiattWhat Does a Breast Lift Do?
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Lifts and Reshapes the Breasts
Over time, the breasts can become droopy and hang down below the breast crease. Breast lift surgery can lift pendulous breasts and create a more youthful, round breast shape.
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Restores Breast Firmness
Aging and fluctuations in breast size can stretch the breasts, leaving loose tissue and skin. The mastopexy procedure lifts and tightens the breast tissue and removes excess skin to restore firmer, more defined breasts.
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Improves Nipple and Areola Projection
As the breast tissues become loose, the nipple-areola complex often points downward. A breast lift can reposition and reduce the nipples and areolas to have a more upward, perky projection.
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Lifts and Reshapes the Breasts
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Restores Breast Firmness
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Improves Nipple and Areola Projection
Over time, the breasts can become droopy and hang down below the breast crease. Breast lift surgery can lift pendulous breasts and create a more youthful, round breast shape.
Aging and fluctuations in breast size can stretch the breasts, leaving loose tissue and skin. The mastopexy procedure lifts and tightens the breast tissue and removes excess skin to restore firmer, more defined breasts.
As the breast tissues become loose, the nipple-areola complex often points downward. A breast lift can reposition and reduce the nipples and areolas to have a more upward, perky projection.
How Is Mastopexy Performed?
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What Anesthesia Is Used for Breast Lift Surgery?
Mastopexy is most often performed with the patient under general anesthesia, but special conditions may allow for sedation with local anesthesia.
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Where Are the Incisions for a Breast Lift?
Depending on the degree of breast sagging, the incision may be placed in one of the following locations:
- Around the areola (periareolar incision)
- Around the areola and down to the breast crease (lollipop incision)
- Around the areola, down to the breast crease, and horizontally along the breast crease (anchor incision)
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Restructuring the Breasts
Dr. Hiatt repositions the breast tissue to lift and reshape it, and internal sutures are used to secure it in place. He then drapes the skin over the new breast contour and removes the excess skin.
During the procedure, the nipple-areola complex is repositioned to a more youthful location, and the size of the areolas may also be reduced. Contrary to what most people think, the nipple is not removed but, rather, remains attached to the breast tissue. This generally preserves nipple sensation and the ability to breastfeed.
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What Anesthesia Is Used for Breast Lift Surgery?
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Where Are the Incisions for a Breast Lift?
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Restructuring the Breasts
Mastopexy is most often performed with the patient under general anesthesia, but special conditions may allow for sedation with local anesthesia.
Depending on the degree of breast sagging, the incision may be placed in one of the following locations:
- Around the areola (periareolar incision)
- Around the areola and down to the breast crease (lollipop incision)
- Around the areola, down to the breast crease, and horizontally along the breast crease (anchor incision)
Dr. Hiatt repositions the breast tissue to lift and reshape it, and internal sutures are used to secure it in place. He then drapes the skin over the new breast contour and removes the excess skin.
During the procedure, the nipple-areola complex is repositioned to a more youthful location, and the size of the areolas may also be reduced. Contrary to what most people think, the nipple is not removed but, rather, remains attached to the breast tissue. This generally preserves nipple sensation and the ability to breastfeed.
What Are Your Concerns About Breast Lift Surgery?
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Recovery
What Can I Expect After a Breast Lift?
Patients will likely experience swelling, bruising, minor discomfort, and a temporary change in nipple sensation after surgery. Initially, creams and dressings are applied followed later with special scar prevention therapy. Special support wear may also be recommended.
How Long Is Recovery From Breast Lift Surgery??
Bruising and swelling generally resolve in three to six weeks. Most patients can return to work within one or two weeks after their mastopexy, but strenuous activities should be avoided for at least six weeks.
Dr. Hiatt will provide specific post-operative instructions for you to follow.
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Results
When Will I See My Breast Lift Results?
It may take three to four months for the breast tissues to relax and settle into their new shape, at which point patients can look forward to having more youthful and firm breasts. Any scarring will fade over time.
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Pain
How Painful Is a Breast Lift?
As with any surgical procedure, some pain and discomfort can be expected during breast lift recovery. In the first week, the incision locations will remain tender and there will be swelling.
Dr. Hiatt may prescribe pain medication or recommend over-the-counter painkillers as needed for pain management.
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Cost
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Breast Lift?
The cost of a breast lift will vary depending on the technique used, facility fees, anesthesia fees, and other factors. After your consultation with Dr. Hiatt, you will be provided with a specific price for your breast lift at his Mesa, AZ, practice.
While insurance does not normally cover breast lift costs, special cases may make a woman eligible for coverage. Patients should contact their insurance company to learn more.
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Recovery
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Results
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Pain
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Cost
What Can I Expect After a Breast Lift?
Patients will likely experience swelling, bruising, minor discomfort, and a temporary change in nipple sensation after surgery. Initially, creams and dressings are applied followed later with special scar prevention therapy. Special support wear may also be recommended.
How Long Is Recovery From Breast Lift Surgery??
Bruising and swelling generally resolve in three to six weeks. Most patients can return to work within one or two weeks after their mastopexy, but strenuous activities should be avoided for at least six weeks.
Dr. Hiatt will provide specific post-operative instructions for you to follow.
When Will I See My Breast Lift Results?
It may take three to four months for the breast tissues to relax and settle into their new shape, at which point patients can look forward to having more youthful and firm breasts. Any scarring will fade over time.
How Painful Is a Breast Lift?
As with any surgical procedure, some pain and discomfort can be expected during breast lift recovery. In the first week, the incision locations will remain tender and there will be swelling.
Dr. Hiatt may prescribe pain medication or recommend over-the-counter painkillers as needed for pain management.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Breast Lift?
The cost of a breast lift will vary depending on the technique used, facility fees, anesthesia fees, and other factors. After your consultation with Dr. Hiatt, you will be provided with a specific price for your breast lift at his Mesa, AZ, practice.
While insurance does not normally cover breast lift costs, special cases may make a woman eligible for coverage. Patients should contact their insurance company to learn more.
"The whole experience has been positive. You have a friendly staff, comfortable office, and a very competant surgeon. Thank you."
Nancy
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Lift Surgery
- Am I a good candidate for breast lift surgery?
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A good candidate for mastopexy has realistic expectations and is physically and mentally healthy. Many mastopexy patients have achieved weight loss or experienced pregnancy and breastfeeding that have left them with extra skin on their breasts. Candidates should have fully developed breast tissue and not be pregnant or breastfeeding.
- How do I know which breast lift incision type I need?
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Patients with minor to moderate sagging breasts generally need the periareolar or lollipop incision. Patients with significant breast sagging will likely need the anchor incision to achieve optimal results. Dr. Hiatt will help you determine which incision type will be best for correcting your degree of breast droop.
- Does mastopexy reduce breast size?
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Breast lift surgery often requires less than a tablespoon of volume decrease due to the removal of stretched, sagging breast skin. However, while the breasts will look more shapely and youthful, they may seem smaller since they are more compact. Patients often wear a smaller bra by one cup size after mastopexy.
Patients with overly large breasts may want to combine breast reduction techniques with their breast lift if they want their breasts reduced more than one cup size.
If volume loss is a concern, breast implants can be inserted during the procedure to enhance breast volume.
- How long do breast lift results last?
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The results of breast lift surgery will be long lasting, but the breasts will continue to age naturally after the procedure.
Patients should recognize that another mastopexy may be necessary if they have a subsequent pregnancy. Therefore, it is recommended that patients be finished having children before undergoing breast lift surgery unless they won't be having children until several years later.
- Where can I see breast lift before and after photos?
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During your consultation, Dr. Hiatt can show you photos of his patients so you can understand what results to expect. You can also visit our online gallery of breast lift before and after photos.
- Can I combine another cosmetic surgery procedure with my breast lift?
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Patients can combine their mastopexy with breast augmentation surgery to further enhance the volume and shape of their breasts. In this case, breast implants are inserted beneath the pectoral muscles during the procedure.
Breast lift surgery can also be part of the Mommy Makeover, which often combines a breast enhancement surgery, abdominoplasty, and liposuction techniques to enhance a woman’s body after pregnancy and nursing.
Combining procedures will save you money compared to the total cost of having separate surgeries over time, and it allows you to recover from all procedures at once.