New Jersey Breast Lift Procedure and Recovery

Parker Center in Paramus, New Jersey

If you are considering a breast lift, you probably want your breasts to sit higher on your chest and look perkier in and out of clothing. A Breast Lift, or Mastopexy, is a procedure which surgically reshapes the breasts, tightens loose skin and lifts the breasts into a more youthful position. It will also re-position the nipple and surrounding areola higher as well as reduce the size of a large areola. Breast Lift procedures are commonly combined with Breast Reduction, Reduction Mammoplasty, or breast augmentation. A Breast Lift alone (click here to view before and after photos of Breast Lift alone), does not substantially change the size of the breast.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, mastopexy (breast lift) was the fifth most popular cosmetic surgery in 2011, with 127,054 breast lifts performed across the country.

See New Jersey Breast Lift Photos

Patients wishing to restore fullness to the upper aspect of their breasts or increase the size of their breasts in addition to lifting them will likely need a breast implant inserted at the same time the lift is performed. This procedure is called an Augmentation Mastopexy, or Breast Lift with Implants (click here to view before and after results of Breast Lift with Implants).

Those patients desiring to lift their breasts and make them smaller in size will need to undergo a Breast Reduction, or Reduction Mammoplasty (click here to view before and after photos of Breast Reduction).

“My body looks better than when I was in my 20′s and that says a lot. You are truly a great surgeon and artist. The Best. Also you’re a great person. I look forward to seeing you again.” —New Jersey Breast Lift Patient

Why Do Breasts Sag?

Breasts are composed of glandular tissue and fat (together these are called parenchyma) connected to the skin by suspensory ligaments. Hormonal changes, pregnancy, and weight gain all cause the parenchyma to increase in size stretching the surrounding skin and suspensory ligaments. Breasts sag (also known as ptosis) when the amount of parenchyma decreases and the skin and ligaments do not contract proportionally. This will vary from patient to patient based on their individual genetics.

Specifically, breasts can develop ptosis for the following reasons:

Congenital — Some girls will develop with breasts which are sagging and have downward pointing nipples. These patients are often self conscious about the appearance of their breasts. Surgical treatment such as an augmentation mastopexy will not only improve the appearance of the breasts but usually will also improve their body image, self esteem and social development (see Emotional Considerations).
Post pregnancy — Breasts become engorged during pregnancy and nursing, then decrease in size and often droop afterwards. The problem is usually worsened with each pregnancy. These patients are often bothered by the loss of their previously attractive breasts. Surgical treatment such as an augmentation mastopexy will create perkier, more youthful looking breasts and allow these patients to feel more comfortable with their bodies and provide a psychological lift (see Emotional Considerations).
Weight loss — With weight gain, the skin and support structures of the breast stretch. With weight loss, sagging occurs if the tissues do not have enough elasticity to regain their shape. A mastopexy or augmentation mastopexy will often help correct this, improving self confidence (see Emotional Considerations).
Aging — The skin and support structures of their breast lose their tone and elasticity over time. Gravity causes these tissues to stretch and the breasts sag. A mastopexy or augmentation mastopexy will allow the breasts to look more youthful, improving self confidence (see Emotional Considerations.)

Is A New Jersey Breast Lift For You?

If you had attractive breasts when you were younger, but following the birth of your children your breasts have sagged, breast lift surgery may be a good option for you. With the exception of cost, the biggest decision involves having some permanent scars on your breasts. Dr. Parker and the staff at the Parker Center will review options for treatment with you including Before and After pictures of patients like you who have undergone breast lift surgery to help you with your decision making. We are committed to patient education at the Parker Center, having found it to be a major contributor to the best surgical experience for our patients.

Our consultations with patients seeking breast lift at the Parker Center are comprehensive, lasting approximately one hour in length. During this time the patient will:

Discuss with Dr. Parker their desires and expectations for breast lift surgery
Learn about the various options for breast implants, if appropriate
Review the options for incisions used in breast lift surgery
Undergo a Sizing and Shaping Session to determine optimal implant size and shape
Hear the details of the surgical procedure and recovery
Review testimonials of Dr. Parker’s breast patients
Be given the opportunity to speak with Dr. Parker’s patients
Receive a specific written quote detailing all costs for breast lift suregry
Learn about a pre-op education session with Dr. Parker’s Nurse Coordinator prior to surgery

We believe the best plastic surgery consultations involve a two way conversation. You, as the patient, share with us exactly what you hope to achieve and we describe our approach to get you there. In addition to this, our goal is for you along with Dr. Parker and his staff to establish a rapport and comfort level with one another. This combination of effective conversation and bond between patient and surgeon is an important cornerstone to a successful outcome.

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Surgery & Recovery from New Jersey Breast Lift Surgery

We make every effort to limit scarring during breast lift surgery. Scars can range in extent from a scar halfway around the areola only (Crescent Mastopexy), a scar encircling the areola (Peri-Areolar Mastopexy), an areolar scar plus a vertical scar from the lower areola to the breast crease (Vertical Mastopexy), or a lollipop scar plus a short horizontal scar within the breast crease (Inverted T Mastopexy). The amount of scar necessary is determined by the amount of skin to be removed and how much the nipple must be raised.

Breast lift surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia, administered by one of our board certified anesthesiologists, in our fully certified onsite ambulatory surgical center (see Patient Safety). It usually takes two to four hours to perform depending on the complexity of the procedure.

Patients are discharged home within one hour after surgery wearing a soft, supportive bra. Pain is usually minimal. Showering and light activities are permitted the day after surgery. All sutures used dissolve and do not have to be removed. Sedentary work can be resumed in several days and most normal activities in ten days. Upper body exercises can be started within three to four weeks and fully resumed by four to six weeks.