Common Questions to Ask About Breast Lift Procedure

Everything that is included in a breast lift surgery may vary depending on the specific needs and desired results of each individual patient but will typically involve removing any excess skin and reshaping the breast tissue to physically lift the breasts. The surgery can be used to reduce sagging of the breasts, effectively raising the position of the nipples, and will often include lifting the areolas and/or changing the size of the areolas to maintain a proportionate size in relation to the new breast shape and size. The breasts themselves will likely not change in size much, just shape, unless the breast lift procedure is also combined with a breast augmentation or reduction.

The average cost to have a breast lift without including any extra fees or the addition of an implant is around $5,800 and is closer to $6,500 to $8,000 including the fees but still excluding implants. It is common for patients to include a breast reduction, breast augmentation, or an implant revision that is combined with the breast lift procedure, further increasing the cost of the procedure by a couple of thousand dollars depending on which type of procedure is included. The extra fees account for the costs of anesthesia, facility fees including the use of the operating room and all of the required supplies, as well as post-operative care including follow-up appointments. These extra fees will vary quite a bit more from office to office as it is up to the plastic surgeon and their team of staff to determine how much the procedure will cost for them to perform. The cost of the fees depends on the geographic location of the plastic surgeon’s office as well as the level of experience of the plastic surgeon.

Patients should also keep in mind that it is unlikely they will receive financial coverage from their health insurance for a breast lift surgery, but it is common for plastic surgeons to offer their patients financing plans, so it is always strongly encouraged that patients look into their personal health insurance policies as well as discuss financing options with their plastic surgeon during the consultation.

The longevity of a breast lift will vary from patient to patient, with some patients wanting revisions to the results after a few years, and many others experiencing long-lasting results. On average, the results provided by the breast lift procedure will be sustained for anywhere from 10 to 15 years. Several factors including the age of the patient, their diet and overall health, genetics, as well as the surgical techniques that were used will have an effect on how long the results will last. The elasticity of the skin plays a role in how long the results will last as well, with genetics being an influencing factor for skin elasticity, but there are some things that patients can do to improve their natural skin elasticity, including:

• Avoid unprotected sun exposure
• Avoid rapid weight fluctuations
• Closely follow all recommended after-care instructions provided by the surgeon

Recovery following a breast lift will likely take a couple of weeks before patients can comfortably resume normal daily activities, including showering, and a few days of taking pain medication, avoiding bending over, straining, or lifting heavy objects, and sleeping on their back or sides. Immediately following a breast lift procedure, the breasts will likely be supported with gauze and a surgical support bra, with small tubes being placed at the incision sites to effectively drain any excess fluids or blood from the breasts. The breasts will be bruised and swollen for a couple of weeks, with pain or soreness around the incision sites as well as some redness likely lasting for a few months. Some patients will experience numbness in their nipples, areola, and surrounding skin on the breasts for around 6 weeks following the procedure.

Visit Aegean Medical to get comprehensive and specialized care. We serve patients from New Bern NC, Hymans NC, River Bend NC, Brices Creek NC, Fairfield Harbour NC, and Neuse Forest.