Picture Your Results in 3D
At Crantford Costa Plastic Surgery, we offer the state-of-the-art VECTRA® XT 3D imaging system to capture face, breast, and body images to help simulate your surgical outcomes during your consultation.
Crantford Costa Plastic Surgery
247 Calhoun St.
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 722-5904
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Skin Clinic hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Factors like age, pregnancy, and weight loss affect the breasts over time. Even in the most attentive and healthy women, breast tissue eventually begins to sag and lose volume, and the nipples can descend into a downward-pointing position. Severely sagging breasts lose their firmness and take on an “empty” or “deflated” appearance.
At Crantford Costa Plastic Surgery, our experienced surgeons have the skill and expertise to rejuvenate your breasts with a breast lift. At our Charleston, SC, practice, breast lift patients enjoy more youthful breasts and enhanced body confidence.
Why Consider a Breast Lift?
Breast lift surgery (mastopexy) is named for its unique ability to elevate and reshape the breasts by reversing the natural loss of volume and skin elasticity. A breast lift can correct the following conditions:
- Sagging (ptosis) after aging, pregnancy or weight loss
- Deficient volume after weight loss or breastfeeding
- Downward pointing or drooping areolas/nipples
- Asymmetry or unusually shaped breasts
- Disproportionate breast sizes
- Overly large nipple-areola complexes
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your breasts and would like to regain pride in your contours, a breast lift may be an ideal solution.
Crantford, Costa, & UlmOur Expert Surgeons
Trust your beauty to the very best Charleston has to offer. Our board-certified plastic surgeons have the skill and experience to elevate your look from head to toe.
Dr. Crantford Dr. Costa Dr. UlmWho Is a Good Breast Lift Candidate?
No two women are identical when it comes to their concerns and goals, so our surgeons work with each patient to develop a unique treatment plan. You may benefit from a breast lift procedure if you are bothered by any aforementioned conditions and are in good mental and physical health. It’s important to understand what a breast lift can and cannot achieve and set your expectations accordingly.
It is also essential to consider any preexisting medical conditions—such as obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes—that could increase your risk of complications during the surgery. Smoking can also increase this risk, so you will be asked well ahead of time to stop nicotine use altogether. You should carefully consider whether you are able to take off enough time from work to rest and heal. Otherwise, you may develop poor wound healing and more intrusive scarring. If you plan to have children, it may be wise to postpone surgery because pregnancy and nursing can reverse a breast lift’s effects by stretching the skin.
Mastopexy does not increase breast size or improve upper pole fullness. Women who desire larger, more rounded breasts or enhanced cleavage may want to consider a breast augmentation together with a breast lift instead of a breast lift alone.
Your Breast Lift Procedure
The procedure always begins with the administration of anesthesia to ensure patient comfort. General anesthesia is usually recommended, but IV sedation is also available in certain cases. Once you have been “put under,” your surgeon will begin the breast lift, which will take between 1 to 3 hours.
Four types of breast lifts can be performed depending on your level of breast sagging and volume loss:
Crescent Lift
Includes an incision around the top side of the areola and is only appropriate for women with a very small degree of sagging. Usually, this technique is performed alongside a breast augmentation.
Donut Lift
Involves a circular incision completely around the areola and is used to correct a mild degree of breast ptosis.
Lollipop Lift
Used for patients with a moderate amount of sagging breast tissue. It involves an incision around the areola and from the areola to the bottom fold of the breast, providing more opportunity for tissue excision.
Anchor lift
The most extensive technique. This procedure includes the two incisions from the lollipop technique with an additional incision that goes along the bottom fold of the breasts. This is the best option for patients with severe breast ptosis and who need dramatic correction to the size and shape of their breast anatomy.
Breast Lift Recovery Timeline
Full breast lift recovery can take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks, but most of our Charleston patients can resume most of their daily activities after 2 to 3 weeks. Refrain from strenuous exercise and activities until cleared by your surgeon.
You will be given a list of instructions to follow when you are sent home from surgery. In order to ensure the safest and most comfortable recovery possible, you should follow these directions exactly. Your surgeon will observe your progress in follow-up appointments and make additional recommendations as necessary.
What Results Can a Breast Lift Achieve?
Patients who undergo breast lift surgery can expect to achieve more shapely breasts that sit higher on the chest. Their breasts will also feel firmer, and their nipple-areola complexes may have been repositioned and resized. This new, perky appearance will create better contours throughout the body, especially if the breast lift is combined with other procedures.
These improvements will last for years to come, and while breast sagging will continue to progress over time, the results will always be better than if the surgery was never performed in the first place. You may elect to undergo a revision procedure at a later date to restore youthful contours once again.
What Happens During A Consultation
Because we want to create your ideal surgical results, the consultation is a critical part of the process. Your surgeon will walk you through your options and help you make choices that align with your anatomy and goals. This time will also be used to conduct a thorough medical history and address all your concerns and questions.
You will have another preoperative appointment closer to the date of your surgery. At this time, you will sign the consent forms, have photos and measurements taken, and receive detailed instructions for before and after surgery. Please adhere to these instructions closely as they are instrumental in ensuring your safety and comfort.
Can a Breast Lift Be Combined With Other Procedures?
Breast lifts are often combined with procedures like breast augmentation, breast reduction, and liposuction. Each of these procedures increases the impact of a breast lift and supplements the final results to create a more comprehensive and youthful appearance.
In addition to providing more dramatic results, combining multiple procedures is more practical than having them done individually. When procedures are done together, you save money on surgical and facility fees, limit the amount of time you are under anesthesia, and reduce your downtime for recovery. The results of multiple surgeries often become much more than the sum of their parts.
Ready To Learn More?
Breast lift surgery was designed to correct sagging breasts and restore a perky, youthful look. If you are excited to hear more about how a breast lift in Charleston, SC, can help you, contact our expert surgeons at (843) 722-5904 or through our online contact form. We are ready to provide you with the care and artistry you deserve.
