Pull Back the Years Without Implants: Discover the Benefits of a Breast Lift

Sagging and drooping breasts don’t have to be part of getting older. If age, pregnancies, and weight fluctuations have taken a toll on your bosom, the breast lift, a procedure offered by Mark P. Solomon in Beverly Hills, CA, could be just what you’re looking for. This procedure is a great option for women who don’t need or want breast augmentation but are still interested in regaining a firmer, perkier, and more shapely bust.

What Is a Breast Lift?

Unlike breast implants, which are one of the most popular and well-known body-shaping cosmetic procedures in the United States, lifts don’t increase the size of the bosom. Rather, a lift reshapes and repositions the breasts, leaving them firmer and more defined. For patients who don’t necessarily want bigger breasts, but instead want a sagging bosom re-sculpted for a more aesthetically pleasing look, a lift procedure can be the ideal solution.

In fact, growing numbers of women are seeking out lift procedures for that very reason. Many of these patients are simply looking to recapture the youthful breasts they once had. During a breast lift — known in medical terms as mastopexy — the excess skin that is causing the breasts to droop is removed. Breast tissue is reshaped to raise the profile of the breast while also lifting the nipples if they sit low on the bosom. After the procedure, the breasts will sit higher and bras and other clothing will fit better.

Although a lift doesn’t add volume, your breasts may appear larger after the procedure simply because they are higher and firmer. Some women opt to combine a lift with implants or another breast augmentation procedures, giving them firmer and more defined breasts that are also larger.

Why Are Lifts Necessary?

Over time, breasts lose their elasticity and firmness and develop a deflated look, a condition that is medically known as ptosis. This often happens after pregnancy and in patients who have experienced notable weight fluctuations. Age, genetics, a history of cigarette smoking, and having a larger bra cup size are also factors that are commonly associated with ptosis. Many patients think drooping breasts are a natural part of the aging process, but they don’t have to be thanks to the breast lift.

Women chose lifts for a variety of reasons. Some want to restore their breast shape after years of child-bearing and breast-feeding. Others want to improve the contour of their breasts if a significant weight loss has left them with a sagging bosom. Still others have battled droopy breasts for years, some since their teens, and they want the bosom they’ve always dreamed of. Lift procedures have even been sought out by women who have had their breast implants removed and are in need of sculpting and by women who want to even out breasts that have different shapes.

How Can I Tell If a Lift Procedure Will Help Me?

There are several signals that indicate your breasts are drooping enough to consider a lift procedure. Nipples that point downward or fall below the fold of skin beneath the breast, areolae that have stretched and are no longer in proportion to your breasts, and having one breast droop lower than the other are all signs that you could possibly benefit from a lift procedure.

A simple test that can be done to determine your candidacy for a lift procedure involves a pencil. If a pencil placed beneath the breast remains in place, your breasts may be drooping enough to make you a good candidate for the procedure.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Any woman who is concerned about sagging breasts and nipples can be considered for a lift procedure. Non-smokers who are physically healthy, able to maintain a stable weight, and who are realistic about what the surgery can achieve are ideal candidates. If you’re considering pregnancy, you probably should delay the lift procedure since your breasts could stretch again during gestation and undo your results.

It may also be wise to delay a lift if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed in the near future. For these reasons, many women don’t seek out a lift procedure until they are past their child-bearing years.

Most surgeons will not perform lifts on patients who are under the age of 18 or who are suffering from breast cancer, uncontrolled diabetes, or cellulitis, an infection in the soft tissue of the breast. Ultimately, your decision to pursue a lift procedure, and any assessment about whether or not you’re a good candidate, should be done in consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

What Other Types of Breast Procedures Do You Perform?

Our practice performs breast augmentation procedures, including those that involve silicone and saline implants, as well as breast reductions that make the breasts smaller, lighter, and more comfortable. We also offer a host of other body contouring and facial and skin rejuvenation treatments for men and women, including tummy tucks, face lifts, liposuction, and male breast reduction. We even offer Botox and chemical peels.

What Are the Benefits of a Breast Lift?

There’s a reason why women are increasingly seeking out lift procedures. Lifts offer a number of different benefits, including heightened self-confidence, a more youthful figure, less irritation under the breasts, and long-lasting results.

Improved Confidence and Self Esteem

Most women who have had a lift procedure report a boost in self-confidence, body image, and sexual satisfaction. They also say they feel sexier, more feminine, and more youthful in appearance. Whether you want to look good in a bathing suit or simply want your blouses, tops, and bras to fit better, a lift can help you achieve a better physique.

Firmer, More Attractively Shaped Breasts

Sagging breasts often look and feel elongated and deflated. Once the breasts have been reshaped and lifted, they look firmer. The lift also restores a more attractive and supple shape to the breasts. You’ll be amazed at how good you feel about your breasts after undergoing a lift procedure.

Better Nipple Placement and Direction

As breasts sag, the nipples sometimes stretch and end up pointing down toward the floor; a development that bothers many patients. In addition to reshaping the overall breast, a lift can reposition the nipples, giving them a more natural and forward-facing position. In fact, most lift procedures involve moving the nipple area higher on the reshaped breast.

More Youthful Breast Appearance

By raising up the breasts and making them perkier and firmer, a lift can restore a youthful silhouette to your bosom.

Reduced Irritation Under the Breasts

The excess skin that contributes to sagging or low-sitting breasts can also lead to irritation under the breasts. A lift procedure removes some of that extra skin, which can help cut down on painful chafing and help you feel more comfortable.

Convenience

Lift surgeries are often done on an out-patient basis, meaning you won’t have to worry about an overnight hospital stay, although it’s a good idea to make arrangements to have someone take you home after the procedure. Most of Dr. Solomon’s patients resume their normal routines within one week. You’ll be back on your feet and enjoying your new look in no time.

Long-Lasting Results

It may take some time after the procedure for your bosom to settle, but you’ll still see noticeable results almost immediately. And one of the great things about a lift is that the results are long-lasting. Over time, your breasts will gradually change due to gravity and the aging process, but you’ll be able to enjoy your new silhouette for years. Maintaining your weight, sticking with a healthy lifestyle, and of course, following your doctor’s instructions are the surest ways to ensure long-lasting results.

How Does a Lift Differ From Implants?

One of the most common questions breast surgeons hear from patients deals with whether or not they need breast implants or a breast lift. A lift procedure lifts the bosom, while a breast augmentation involving implants enlarges it. There are subtle but important differences in the two that you should consider when deciding on the procedure that’s best for you. Depending on a patient’s health, body type and goals, the answer is not always clear cut.

For example, even though breast reshaping is not the goal of an augmentation procedure, the insertion of an implant does subtly change the overall shape of the breast. Also, women with breasts that sag excessively may not be candidates for augmentation.

A lift procedure, or a procedure that combines a lift and an implant, may be the most effective option for these patients. We know it’s complicated, and that’s why our staff is here to help. Working with Dr. Solomon, we can review all of the options before you and help chart a treatment plan that achieves your dreams and goals.

What Is the Lift Procedure Like?

Before scheduling a lift, Dr. Solomon will meet with you to conduct a customized consultation to review your situation and discuss your goals. He’ll also review the details of the procedure you are considering.

On the day of the procedure, Dr. Solomon will mark and measure the breasts, essentially creating guidelines that he will follow. An incision will be made that will allow for the removal of some of the skin of the breast as well as the reshaping of the breast. In many patients, the areola (the dark skin around the nipple) will be moved higher on the reshaped breast. Patients who are having a breast augmentation at the same time will have implants inserted after the lift portion of the procedure has been completed.

Who Will Perform My Procedure?

Dr. Mark Solomon has been in practice for more than 25 years and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Solomon attended Franklin & Marshall College prior to earning a medical degree from New York University School of Medicine in New York City. He completed his general surgery residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed a plastic surgery fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Why Choose Our Practice?

Making the decision to pursue a breast lift is a very personal decision, and our staff can talk with you about the procedure and help you determine if it’s the best course of treatment to pursue. Take the first step by calling Mark P. Solomon of Beverly Hills, CA, today and scheduling a lift consultation. We work with patients across the country and offer a variety of finance options. We also offer specialized services and assistance to patients who may be traveling from out-of-town for plastic surgery services.