Insider tips on breast lifting:

1. The easiest way to see if you need an implant with your breast lift is too see if you like the volume you have in a good push up bra.  If so, a breast lift may be sufficient to reshape your breasts.

2. Ask about vertical breast lifting techniques.  This type of lift does not use the incision in the breast fold which often can be a visible one.

3. Dual plane breast augmentation can often lift your breasts a few centimeters avoiding breast lift scars.  

4. Ask about liposuction of the tail of breast that falls back into the armpit area. Depending on the technique this "tail" of breast tissue can remain after lifting.

5. Talk about nipple size.  Newer techniques involve using a goretex suture to set nipple size.

A breast lift, also termed mastopexy, involves elevating and reshaping your existing breast tissue.    The goal of the procedure is to give the breasts a younger perkier appearance.

Reasons for Considering a Breast Lift in Ann Arbor:

• Elevate sagging breasts caused by the effects of aging and gravity.
• Raise and reduced the size of your nipples/areolas

General Procedure

The first decision many patients face if whether they need a breast implant, breast lift alone or a breast lift with implant placement.  A breast lift in michigan will reshape the breast on the chest wall, but it will not fill out the top portion of the breast. Typically, patients that choose a breast lift alone are happy with the size of their breasts and are happy with a moderate lift to their breasts.

For many of our patients we use a silicone implant placed over the muscle which lifts the breasts considerably.  We then can add a breast lift procedure that involves an incision around the nipple, and sometimes from the nipple to the breast fold as well. This is often called a "lollilop" incision. We typically eliminate the incision under the breast fold using our vertical breast lift technique.  This is very important since any reduction in incisions makes scarring less visible.

Recovery Process

Time off work varies by occupation, this can vary from 4 to 9 days depending on extent of the procedure. Once the bandages are removed, the patient will need to wear a specialized surgical bra for several weeks. 

Selecting a Surgeon

1. Your surgeon should offer vertical breast lifting techniques.  Some patients might not be candidates, but typically greater than 90% of our patients can eliminate the older anchor type incisions which places a scar in the breast fold.

2. The majority of patients can have an implant and breast lift together; however, if your surgeon is considered about blood supply he/she may suggest a two stage procedure.  A large portion of our patients are told different things by different surgeons in this regard and are often frustrated. This is where rapport and how comfortable you are with your surgeon will be very important.

 3. An implant alone can lift the breasts significantly, or minimize how large or how many other breast incisions you would need.

4. We fill the breast tissue with long acting anesthetic before surgery is performed.  This take extra time, but in our experience dramatically reduces the need for pain medication after the surgery. 

5. Talk about nipple sensation changes.  We use a double pedicle technique so the breast tissue has better blood and nerve supply likely preserving more nipple sensation.