The breasts are an integral part of a woman’s body. Their primary function is to nourish and provide food for a baby. Aside from that, however, the female breasts are a symbol of beauty and feminism. A real woman understands the importance of taking care of her breasts. Perhaps that is why breast surgeries such as breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, breast lift, and nipple and areola repositioning are among the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures today. Breast lift, for one, has become highly popular among those who wish to improve their body contour.
Breast lift or mastopexy is a relatively simple cosmetic procedure that removes extra fat, skin and tissue to lift the breasts back to their natural position on the chest wall. This procedure resolves breast lifting ptosis or the drooping or sagging of the breasts. Ptosis of the breasts is a natural occurrence in the aging process of the female body. There are many other factors, however, that can contribute to the rate in which breast ptosis occurs. Some of them include pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Many women from all over the world of different social status are interested in undergoing breast lift procedure to enhance the appearance of their breasts. In New York City, for instance, there are women who are uncomfortable with the thought of introducing foreign materials, such as breast implants, into their bodies. In such cases, a breast lift surgery is more favorable than a breast augmentation procedure. This could be the reason why there has been a surge in the number of patients looking to have a breast lift in New York (NYC).
If you are considering having mastopexy, here are some facts about the procedure that you need to know.
The Pre-Operative Preparations
Breast lift and other breast surgeries may not be as serious as bypass surgery, but it is still a procedure that needs a lot of preparation. Women who opt to have a breast lift procedure must not have any underlying medical conditions. Before the operation, the patient must be able to provide the breast surgeon with a full history of her health. The surgeon will also request various physical examinations and other laboratory tests such as a mammogram. The cosmetic surgeon may adjust the patient’s current medication regime and advice smokers to stop smoking at least eight weeks prior to the operation date. Once the patient and the surgeon have scheduled a date for the surgery, the surgeon will give the patient instructions to follow for the day of the surgery. Instructions for recovery and post operation will also be given by the surgeon. He or she would strongly advice that the patient has enough help during the recovery period.
The Procedure
Breast lift procedures range from minimally traumatic to highly invasive. This ultimately depends on the type of breast lift procedure that is right for the patient, which will be determined by the breast surgeon during consultations. Breast lift is performed in a sterile operating room with the patient placed under general anesthesia. In general, an inverted T or an anchor-shaped incision is made for a full breast lift – a circular cut around the areola and going down from the areola to the crease area. This incision allows the breast surgeon to remove excess fat, tissue and skin, elevate the breasts, and reduce the size of the areola. Once the procedure is completed, the incisions are sutured and the patient’s breasts will be wrapped in a tight surgical bandage. In breast surgical terms, a breast lift is a relatively quick operation to perform.
The Post-Operative Precautions
The patient is advised to wear a special bra or a tight bandage immediately after the operation for a couple of days, depending on the instructions of the breast surgeon. After the bandage is removed, the patient will be fitted to a soft support bra, which she will have to wear at all times during recovery. Pain medication is prescribed by the cosmetic surgeon to aid any pain or discomfort that the patient may experience after the operation. The patient needs to go back to her breast surgeon’s clinic two weeks after the procedure for the removal of the sutures and for evaluation of the healing process.
The Rights of The Patient
While breast lift is a simple surgery, it is still a major operation and women who wish to go through it should consider only a highly skilled, certified surgeon to perform the operation. Many women in big cities like New York City assume that it is safe to just walk in at any random New York breast clinic for their procedures. They fail to do their research on both the clinic and the surgeons. The best thing to do is to contact the American Board of Plastic Surgery or your local hospital or clinic for referrals. A Board Certified cosmetic surgeon is both skilled and experienced. While there are still risks of unfavorable results, a certification from the ABPS ensures that the cosmetic surgeon can provide the best surgical outcome possible.