Breast Lift

What are the Benefits of Breast Lift?

At Advanced Plastic Surgery, we have seen our Grand Rapids Breast Lift patients enjoy the following benefits from their procedure:

• Better mobility for a more active lifestyle
• Firmer breast appearance
• Improved nipple projection
• Increased confidence
• Long-lasting results
• More attractive breast shape
• Youthful breast appearance
• Reduced discomfort
• Reduced irritation under the breasts

Who are the Best Candidates for Breast Lift?

A breast lift can be performed at any age, but plastic surgeons usually recommend waiting until breast development has stopped. Pregnancy and breastfeeding may have significant and unpredictable effects on the size and shape of your breasts. Nevertheless, many women decide to undergo breast lift surgery before having children and feel that they can address any subsequent changes later. Since the milk ducts and nipples are left intact, breast lift surgery usually will not affect your ability to breastfeed; however, you should discuss this with Dr. Timek. During your consultation with Dr. Timek, you will be asked about your desired breast shape and size. Dr. Timek will discuss with you how your nipples and areolas will be repositioned. You should mention anything else about your breasts that you would like to see improved. This will help Dr. Timek to understand your expectations and determine whether they realistically can be achieved.

What to Expect on the Day of Breast Lift

On the day of your Breast Lift, the first thing that will happen is that you will be administered anesthesia to make your surgical experience more comfortable. Depending on what is discussed during your consultation, this could be through intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. 

After you are under sedation, Dr. Timek will use one or more incision patterns to achieve your breast lift. The 3 most common patterns involve making the incision around your areola but can include a vertical incision down to the breast crease or downward to the breast crease as well as a horizontal incision. After the incisions are made, Dr. Timek will reshape your breasts. She achieves this by lifting and reshaping the underlying breast tissue to improve your breast contour and firmness and repositioning the nipple and areola into a natural and more youthful height. If necessary, your areola can be reduced in size by excising the skin around the perimeter. Any excess breast skin is removed to compensate for the loss of elasticity.

When she is finished reshaping your breasts, the remaining skin is tightened by closing the incisions.  Dr. Timek will use layered sutures deep within your breast tissue to create and support your newly shaped breasts, and use sutures, skin adhesives, and/or surgical tape to close the exterior skin. While some of the incision lines will be concealed in the natural breast contours, there will be some visible lines on the breast surface. These lines are unfortunately permanent but should fade and improve over time.

Breast Lift Recovery

After surgery, you will be able to return home, but you should have a friend or family member available to drive you. Dr. Timek will wrap your breasts with dressings or bandages for added protection, and you should wear either an elastic bandage or support bra to help minimize swelling and give your breasts added support while they heal. Dr. Timek will also probably leave a small, thin tube called a cannula temporarily in an incision to drain any excess fluid or blood that collects. 

You will be provided with directions on how to care for your breasts post-surgery, how to responsibly use your prescriptions, and when you should return for a follow-up appointment. You should plan on missing work between 3 and 7 days after surgery as you recover, and never feel like you should rush. It’s very important to use this time to comfortably heal. You will also need to avoid strenuous activities for a few weeks to heal and get optimal results from your surgery.