Breast lifts are a common cosmetic surgery to lift and tighten breast tissue. This procedure is most ideal for women who are pleased with the current size of their breasts but would like to augment the shape, tissue tightness, or nipple position. At Murphy Plastic Surgery in Englewood, CO, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about cosmetic procedures. Learn more about this procedure before scheduling your consultation.

How Long Does a Breast Lift Last?

In general, you can expect the results of a breast lift to last for about 10 to 15 years. 10 years is the average lifespan for this procedure for most healthy women who can maintain their body weight. However, some women can enjoy the results of this procedure for up to 15 years.

Ultimately, the longevity of your lift procedure will depend on factors such as your health, lifestyle, and age. Women who become pregnant or breastfeed after a lift procedure may not have long-lasting results because pregnancy changes the shape of the breasts. Likewise, younger women who use this procedure may have longer-lasting results because of natural collagen production and other factors.

Will You Need Another Procedure?

Whether or not you want another lift procedure after the results of your first lift start to fade is up to you. While maintaining the results of your procedure may be associated with maintaining a healthy weight, the other part of maintaining your desired results is keeping up with any additional cosmetic treatments or procedures that will retain the firmness of breast tissue.

Some women will have repeat or touch-up procedures after 10 years in order to maintain their results. If your results are fading more quickly than you would like, you can always have another treatment sooner. Or, if you would like to alter the size or shape of your breasts, you can consider a different breast augmentation procedure instead.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Can You Expect From the Procedure?

Completing a breast lift procedure generally takes about three to five hours based on the amount of work that needs to be done to achieve your ideal results. During your procedure, general anesthesia will be used to keep you comfortable. For this procedure, an incision will be made around the nipple and the middle of the breast to make the necessary alterations.

2. Can You Combine This Procedure?

Some women seek a breast lift procedure by itself, while others like to combine this procedure with other breast augmentation. The most common combination is adding breast implants; by adding implants, you can both lift the breasts and augment the size or shape of the breasts. This is an ideal combination for women who have lost volume or who want to correct other aspects of their breast appearance.

3. What Is Recovery Like?

Your recovery period will start when you are discharged and sent home. Most patients will take three to seven days off work and adhere to basic post-operative recovery instructions during the first three weeks after the procedure. The most important part of your recovery will be taking care of the incisions and following care instructions, including how to wash and how to sleep.

You will have restrictions on physical activities for at least three weeks, including strenuous exercise and heavy lifting. Light exercise like walking is encouraged. After three weeks, most people are usually recovered enough to resume most normal activities. You may have a follow-up appointment at this time to check on how well you are healing.

4. How Soon Will You See Results?

Most people will see the results of this procedure after about six to 12 weeks, depending on the degree of work done during the procedure and how quickly they heal. After this period, the shape of the breasts should have reached a final healing stage. You may see your initial results sooner, such as during a follow-up appointment with your surgeon.

5. How Many Follow-Up Appointments Will You Need?

In general, follow-up appointments are meant to check the progress of your healing and monitor your incisions. Although there are no drain tubes necessary after a lift procedure, it’s still important to keep an eye on the recovery process. Most patients will attend at least one to three follow-up appointments after their procedure.

6. Will You Need Compression Garments?

Just like most other breast augmentation procedures, you will need to wear a compression garment for most hours of the day for at least six weeks after your surgery. The compression garment aids in healing and ensures that your breasts heal in the desired shape. You may take compression garments off for showering when you are cleared to take showers.

7. Is This Procedure Right for You?

There are three main types of breast augmentation procedures: breast lift, breast reduction, and breast implants. The type of procedure right for you will depend on your aesthetic goals. Women who want to increase the size or shape of their breasts are ideally suited for breast implants, while women who want to reduce the size of their breasts will need a breast reduction.

Women who are satisfied with breast size but would like to reposition or tighten breast tissue should have a lift procedure. Naturally, a consultation and a breast exam will determine the procedure or combination of procedures that will help you achieve your ideal aesthetic goals. Your surgeon will advise you on the best procedures to achieve your optimal appearance.

8. Does This Procedure Affect Breastfeeding?

Many women seek a lifting procedure after pregnancy. Pregnancy tends to cause drastic changes in the size and shape of the breasts, particularly when milk production is still high. That said, if you are currently breastfeeding, you may want to postpone your procedure until you are no longer producing milk, as this will ensure your results are the most accurate.

For women who would like to breastfeed in the future, some worry that a breast augmentation procedure may interfere with this ability. However, there is generally no cause for concern. Women who use this procedure can generally breastfeed in the future provided the nipple is still attached to the underlying breast tissue. If you would like to breastfeed in the future, please be sure to mention this to your surgeon.

9. Should You Wait for Your Procedure?

Your family planning may play a bigger role in the timing of your procedure than you might think. Because pregnancy can so drastically change the size and shape of the breasts, it’s generally a good idea to delay any breast procedures until after you no longer plan to become pregnant. Even women who want to have a breast reduction or breast implants will benefit from delaying this procedure.

By delaying breast procedures until you no longer plan to become pregnant, you are making a better time and financial investment. This is because pregnancy will likely undo the results of your breath augmentation procedure. That said, a revision procedure is always possible if you do become pregnant after your procedure.

10. Will This Procedure Make Your Breasts Look Smaller?

No, this procedure will not change the volume of your breasts. Actually, on a purely visual basis, this procedure may produce the opposite results. When your breasts are no longer surrounded by loose or excess tissue, the true volume and shape of your breasts may look fuller. The goal of a lift procedure is to change the shape and position of the breasts; the overall size of your breasts will not change unless you would like to include implants or a reduction in your procedure.

11. Will This Procedure Correct Asymmetry?

Yes, this procedure can be used to correct mild to moderate asymmetry, both in the breasts and in the position of the nipples. Asymmetry of the breasts can make some women feel self-conscious, but asymmetrical breasts are perfectly natural. This procedure can correct natural asymmetry.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

If you want to subtly improve the appearance of your breasts without greatly altering the size of your breasts, then a lift procedure is an ideal choice for you. A breast lift can tighten, lift, and reposition the breasts for a more youthful appearance. This procedure can also be combined with other breast augmentation surgeries to achieve your desired appearance goals. If you’re in the Denver, CO area, contact us at Murphy Plastic Surgery in Englewood, CO to schedule your consultation with one of our expert surgeons today.