Breast Lift Procedure

 What Is a Breast Lift?

A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue. This reshapes and supports the new breast contour.

Enhancing Your Appearance With a Breast Lift

A woman’s breasts often change over the course of time, losing their youthful shape and firmness. Breasts tend to sag and droop because of lost skin elasticity, and sometimes the areola becomes enlarged. These changes can result from:

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Weight fluctuations
• Aging
• Gravity
• Heredity

A mastopexy creates a youthful and uplifted breast profile, rejuvenating your overall figure. You’ll have natural-looking breasts that match your body’s proportions and a renewed self-confidence when you wear your clothing or bathing suit.

What a Breast Lift May Not Do

Traditionally, breast lift surgery does not round out the upper part of your breasts or significantly change their size. If you want your breasts to look fuller or smaller, you might want to consider either breast augmentation or breast reduction surgery. We do have a new and exciting option with standard mastopexy which is known as “suture shaping”. The skin incisions are exactly the same, but we take extra time to use permanent sutures to shape the breast tissue into more of a sphere, mimicking the shape of a breast implant. Our goal is to create a greater degree of tissue in the upper pole of the breast. The early results of adding this technique to mastopexy are encouraging. We do find that the type of breast tissue a patient has may affect the long-tem results with suture shaping. Dr. Van Natta will discuss this exciting new option with you in greater detail at the time of your consultation.

Is Breast Lift Right For Me?

Breast lift surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself – not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image. A breast lift may be a good option for you if:

• You are physically healthy and maintain a stable weight
• You do not smoke
• You have realistic expectations
• You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts sag or have lost shape and volume
• Your breasts have a flatter, elongated shape or are pendulous
• When unsupported, your nipples fall below the breast crease
• Your nipples and areolas point downward
• You have stretched skin and enlarged areolas
• One breast is lower than the other

What To expect During Your Consultation With Dr. Bruce Van Natta

A safe and successful breast lift procedure depends very much on your being completely candid during your consultation. Be sure to address any problems, concerns and questions with Dr. Van Natta. He will ask you a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.

Be Prepared to Discuss:

• Why you want breast lift surgery and your expectations and desired outcome
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
• Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs
• Previous surgeries
• Family history of breast cancer and results of any mammograms or previous biopsies 

Dr. Van Natta May Also:

• Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
• Examine your breasts, and may take detailed measurements of their size and shape, skin quality, placement of your nipples and areolas
• Take photographs for your medical record
• Discuss likely outcomes of breast lift surgery and any risks or potential complications
• Discuss the use of anesthesia during your breast lift

Preparing For Surgery

Prior To surgery, Dr. Van Natta May Ask You To:

• Get lab testing or a general medical evaluation
• Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
• Get a baseline mammogram before surgery and another one after surgery to help detect any future changes in your breast tissue
• Stop smoking well in advance of surgery
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

Special Instructions You Receive Will Cover:

• What to do the day of surgery
• Post-operative care and follow-up

Your breast lift surgery will be performed at Meridian Plastic Surgery Center, an AAAHC accredited facility utilizing seasoned anesthesiologists from St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.

You’ll Need Help

Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.

Procedural Steps

What Happens During Breast Lift Surgery?

Your breast lift surgery can be performed utilizing a variety of incision patterns and techniques. The appropriate technique for you will be determined based on:

• Breast size and shape
• The size and position of your areolas
• The degree of breast sagging
• Skin quality and elasticity as well as the amount of extra skin

Step 1 - Anesthesia

You will have a general anesthetic administered by a board certified Anesthesiologist.

Step 2 - The Incision

Dr. Van Natta typically uses an anchor shaped incision:

• Around the areola, vertically down from the breast crease and horizontally along the breast crease

(Illustrations courtesy of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons)

Step 3 - Reshaping Your Breasts

After Dr. Van Natta makes the incisions:

• The underlying breast tissue is lifted and reshaped to improve breast contour and firmness.
• The nipple and areola are repositioned to a natural, more youthful-looking height.
• If necessary, enlarged areolas are reduced by excising skin at the perimeter.
• Excess breast skin is removed to compensate for a loss of elasticity.
• This procedure typically lasts approximately 2-2 ½ hours.

Step 4 - Closing the Incisions

After your breasts are reshaped and excess skin is removed, the remaining skin is tightened as the incisions are closed. Some incision lines resulting from breast lift are concealed in the natural breast contours. Others, however, are visible on the breast surface. Incision lines are permanent, but in most cases will fade and significantly improve over time.

Sutures are layered deep within the breast tissue to create and support the newly shaped breasts. Sutures, skin adhesives and/or surgical tape may be used to close the skin.

Step 5 - See Your Results

The results of your breast lift surgery are immediately visible, and you’ll realize the fulfillment of your goal for breasts that are now youthful-looking and uplifted.

Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade. Satisfaction with your new shape will continue to grow as you recover.

Important Facts About the Breast Lift Surgery Risks and Complications

The decision to have breast lift surgery is extremely personal. You’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable to your personal situation.

Dr. Van Natta and/or his staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks or potential complications.

The risks include:

• Unfavorable scarring
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Infection
• Poor healing of incisions
• Changes in nipple or breast sensation, which may be temporary or permanent
• Anesthesia risks
• Breast contour and shape irregularities
• Skin discoloration, permanent pigmentation changes, swelling and bruising Allergies to tape, suture materials and glues, topical preparations or injected agents
• Breast asymmetry
• Fatty tissue deep in the skin could die (fat necrosis)
• Fluid accumulation
• Excessive firmness of the breast
• Potential partial or total loss of nipple and areola
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications (Extremely rare)
• Blood clots (Rare)
• Pain, which may persist
• Possibility of revision surgery

These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with Dr. Van Natta. It is natural to feel some anxiety, whether excitement for the anticipated outcomes or preoperative stress. Be sure to discuss these feelings with Dr. Van Natta during your consultation.

Other Important Considerations:

• Breast lift surgery can interfere with diagnostic procedures (rarely).
• Breast and nipple piercing can cause an infection.
• Breast lift surgery does not normally interfere with pregnancy, but if you are planning to have a baby, your breast skin may stretch and offset the results of the procedure. You may have more difficulty breastfeeding after this operation.

Where Will My Surgery Be Performed?

Your arm lift surgery will be performed at Meridian Plastic Surgery Center, an AAAHC accredited facility utilizing seasoned anesthesiologists from St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Van Natta and the assisting staff will fully attend to your comfort and safety.

When You Go Home

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. If any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment. The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. 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.

Your Recovery

Down time for Dr. Van Natta’s breast lift is minimal – usually a long weekend is sufficient for recovery. Following Dr. Van Natta’s postoperative instructions is key to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion or motion while you are healing. Following your surgery, dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and your arms may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling. Dr. Van Natta will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself after surgery.

After your breast lift procedure is completed, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions. You’ll need to wear an elastic bandage or support bra to minimize swelling and support your breasts as they heal. There will be restrictions of arm motion, especially reaching out and stretching the arms, for the first month.

Specific Instructions May Include:

• How to care for your breasts following surgery
• Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection
• Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
• When to follow up with Dr. Van Natta.

Long-Lasting Breast Lift Results

The final results of your breast lift will continue to improve over the next few months as breast shape and position settle. Incision lines are permanent, but will continue to fade over time. The results of your breast lift surgery will be long-lasting. Over time, your breasts can continue to change due to aging and gravity. But, you’ll be able to retain your new look longer if you:

• Maintain your weight
• Eat a healthy diet
• Enjoy a healthy lifestyle

While a breast lift does not usually affect breast function, if you are planning to become pregnant, discuss this with Dr. Van Natta during your consultation. Changes that occur in the breasts during pregnancy can minimize or reverse the improvement a breast lift provides. Plans for significant weight loss should also be discussed.

Breast Lift Surgery Costs

Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. Prices for breast lift procedures can vary widely. A surgeon’s cost for breast lift may vary based on his or her experience as well as geographic location. Typically, health insurance does not cover the cost of a breast lift. Our practice offers patient financing plans, so be sure to ask us about this option.

Cost May Include:

• Surgeon’s fee
• Surgical facility costs
• Anesthesia fees
• Prescriptions for medication
• Post-surgery garments, and
• Medical tests

If you experience a rare complication requiring reoperation, Dr. Van Natta often won’t charge for his services, but you may well have additional expenses for the operating room as well as anesthesia.

Your Satisfaction Involves More than a Fee

When choosing a plastic surgeon for a breast lift, remember that the surgeon’s experience and your comfort with him or her are equally as important as the final cost of the surgery. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for.

Breast Lift Glossary

• Areola: Pigmented skin surrounding the nipple.
• Breast augmentation: Also known as augmentation mammaplasty, breast enlargement by surgery.
• Breast lift: Also known as mastopexy; surgery to lift the breasts.
• Breast reduction: Also known as reduction mammaplasty, reduction of breast size by surgery.
• Excision: To remove the skin.
• General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
• Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.  
• Mammogram: An x-ray image of the breast.
• Mastopexy: Surgery to lift the breasts.
• Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.

Questions To Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

• Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
• Were you specifically trained in the field of plastic surgery?
• How many years of plastic surgery training have you had?
• Is the office-based surgical facility where you perform surgery accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified?
• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• What will be expected of me in order to get the best results?
• Where and how will you perform my procedure?
• Is there a specific surgical technique recommended for me?
• How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
• How are complications handled?
• How can I expect my breasts to look over time?
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my breast lift?
• Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure, and what results are reasonable for me?

Things You Should Know About Dr. Van Natta

• Dr. Bruce Van Natta is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
• He was trained specifically in the field of plastic surgery and had 5 years of general surgery training as well as 2 ½  years of plastic surgery training.
• He has been in practice more than 20 years.
• His surgical facility, Meridian Plastic Surgery Center, is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, and it is state-licensed and Medicare-certified.
• He also has hospital privileges to perform this procedure at St. Vincent Hospital.
• He is known both locally and nationally as an expert in breast surgery.

If you are in Indiana, plaease visit our breast lift in Indianapolis page.