Breast Lift

Breast Lift

Breast Lift Fort Worth

Mastopexy Surgery – Fort Worth

A breast lift, or mastopexy, elevates breast tissue on the chest wall, revealing a more firm, rounded, youthful breast. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, aging, and changes in weight contribute to drooping of the breast tissue over time. Stretched areolas (the pigmented area surrounding the nipple) can be resized during a breast lift as well. Depending on your breast exam and your goals, breast augmentation may be recommended in addition to your breast lift. You can read more about Fort Worth breast augmentation to learn more about how these two procedures can work together.

Do I need a breast lift, breast augmentation, or both?

Where will my incisions (and scars) be?

Dr. Kirby can perform a variety of different techniques depending on the degree of drooping and your goals for a breast lift. The different incisions include:

  • “Lollipop” or Vertical: One incision is made around the areola and another is placed vertically from the bottom of the areola to the inframammary fold in a “lollipop” shape. This method is best for most breast changes associated with pregnancy.
  • Inverted T or “Anchor”: Incisions are placed around the areola, vertically from the areola to the natural breast fold, and along the inframammary fold in an “anchor” shape. This method is ideal for correcting significant sagging and for breast changes occurring after massive weight loss.
  • Peri-areolar or “Donut” or “Benelli”: A full circle incision is made around the outer edge of the areola. This technique is most often used for mild sagging or areola resizing.
  • Crescent: One incision is placed around part of the areola in a crescent moon shape. This technique is best for correcting minor sagging or for nipple positioning.

You and Dr. Kirby will work together to choose which technique will work best for your breast size, shape, and position.

Embrace® Scar Therapy for thinner, lighter scars

tummy tuck scar treatments

While breast lift scars are easily concealed by a bra or swimsuit, Dr. Kirby understands that the best-case scenario is to have scars that are hard to detect without clothing on!

To ensure that scars heal as faintly as possible, Dr. Kirby recommends Embrace scar therapy following breast lift surgery. The only topical scar treatment FDA cleared and clinically proven to improve scar formation, Embrace involves flexible, comfortable, and breathable clear silicone strips that are placed over your healing incisions. The special tape gently contracts around your incision to reduce tension, protect and hydrate skin, and provide an optimal healing environment.

We have had great success with Embrace; patients who have used the strips as instructed have much thinner, lighter, and flatter scars in the months following breast lift surgery than they expected.

How long will the breast lift procedure last?

A breast lift, if performed alone, typically takes 2-3 hours. Breast augmentation may be performed in combination with a breast lift for optimal results. Combination surgery will take longer.

What kind of anesthesia will I have?

Breast lift surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia for optimal comfort. It can also be done using intravenous sedation that gives you medicine through an IV in your arm that makes you drowsy. Dr. Kirby will discuss these options with you so that the best choice can be made.

How do I prepare for surgery?

Prior to any procedure, it is necessary to review medications you are taking that may affect your surgery. You may be asked to stop or adjust some medications you are on. As always, it is important to include supplements on your list of medications. Aspirin and aspirin products (Alka-Seltzer, Carisoprodol, Excedrin, Goody’s, Midol), anti-inflammatory medications (except acetaminophen, or Tylenol), and herbal supplements must be avoided for two weeks prior to your surgery. Learn more about which medications and supplements to avoid. Dr. Kirby will discuss your medications with you.

Depending on your medical condition, you may be asked to get lab testing or a medical checkup prior to your surgery. You may also be asked to have an updated mammogram prior to your surgery if you have not had one recently.

Tobacco products impair your body’s ability to heal. You will be asked to stop smoking for 6 weeks prior to any surgery. Tobacco step-down products such as chewing gum and Nicoderm continue to provide your body with nicotine and must be stopped as well. Please ask Dr. Kirby if you will need assistance with quitting.

Be sure to arrange for a responsible adult to drive you to and from your surgery. You will need someone to stay with you the night following your surgery as well.

You will receive specific instructions for your surgery day from Dr. Kirby’s office.

What are the risks?

Your decision to undergo breast lift (mastopexy) surgery is a personal decision and should be made with a full understanding of the benefits and potential complications. Most breast lift incisions are made in areas that are visible on the bare breast, resulting in scars that are not visible under clothing. A few breast lift techniques disguise the scars in hidden areas. Ask Dr. Kirby if you are a candidate for this type of procedure. Other risks are bleeding, infection, contour irregularities, skin discoloration, asymmetry and permanently altered sensation in the nipple and/or other areas of the breast. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

What will recovery be like?

Immediately after surgery, you will be able to notice a change in your breasts. You will also notice that you have quite a bit of swelling that will decrease over the next few weeks. You should expect to have some soreness and possibly some temporary changes in sensation as well. You will be asked to wear a supportive or surgical bra following surgery as your breasts heal from the procedure. Dr. Kirby will discuss with you when your dressings will be removed and when to return for a post-operative visit.

Depending on your job, you can expect to return to work in 7 to 10 days. More strenuous activity, however, cannot be resumed until 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. You will be directed on scar massage techniques or Embrace scar therapy by Dr. Kirby and her team when the timing is appropriate.

Call today to book your consultation with Dr. Emily J. Kirby

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Emily J. Kirby, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Fort Worth, Texas   Award-Winning
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