Mastopexy, sometimes referred to as a breast lift, is among the world’s most popular cosmetic procedures. At Boulder Plastic Surgery in Boulder, CO, we are excited to offer this procedure because we are passionate about helping women feel more confident in their skin. If you are experiencing ptosis, regardless of the reason, you may be a good fit for this procedure. Keep reading to learn more about mastopexy results to help you decide if it’s right for you.
How Long Does a Breast Lift Last?
The average woman can expect her breast lift results to last for 10 to 15 years. However, due to the number of factors that affect the longevity of the results, individual results can vary significantly. For example, you may find that your perky breasts and tight skin remain for a couple of decades if you get this procedure when you are in your early 20s. On the other hand, you may need a follow-up procedure in under 10 years if you get pregnant after your procedure.
For results that last as long as possible, it is important that you keep your skin as healthy as possible. Make sure you eat nutritiously: you should get your RDA of protein and vitamin C every day. Furthermore, you should stay hydrated. If your urine is dark, drink more water or eat a serving of fruits or vegetables with high water content.
How Weight Fluctuations Affect the Longevity of a Breast Lift
If you are on a weight loss journey, you should know that your journey may affect the longevity of your breast lift results. If you lose a significant amount of breast fat quickly, your skin may start to sag again prematurely. Whether you lose fat from your breasts when you lose weight is up to your genetics. However, to be safe, you should not lose more than 1% of your body weight per week.
What Should I Expect After My Procedure?
You should not expect to feel any pain or discomfort immediately after your procedure due to the effects of the anesthesia administered. However, you should be aware that you will not be allowed to drive yourself home even though mastopexy is an outpatient procedure. Make sure you have someone drive you to your procedure and back home so you don’t have to worry about the logistics of getting your car home.
You should also be aware that you will have to wear a compression garment for a couple of weeks post-op. You may remove this garment while bathing, but you must wear it both during the day and while you sleep. Once a majority of your skin’s healing process is complete, you will be able to stop wearing a compression garment almost all the time. However, you will not be able to wear most bras. Only wire-free sports bras will be acceptable.
What Other Post-Op Restrictions Should I Be Aware of?
We will go over everything you need to avoid after your breast lift during your initial consultation. If you don’t think you can adhere to all of the required restrictions, let us know; this procedure may not be right for you. One of the most important restrictions to adhere to is avoiding strenuous activity.
Gentle exercise that does not surpass moderate intensity will facilitate a rapid recovery. However, you may slow your recovery down significantly if you lift heavy weights or engage in other vigorous activities.
Am I a Good Mastopexy Candidate?
We can’t advise you on whether you are a good mastopexy candidate until you come in for an initial evaluation. Generally, if you are concerned about the position of your breasts, you will qualify. However, we need to discuss your health history and current health to verify that the operation will be safe for you. Certain medical conditions, including heart and lung problems, may disqualify you from this procedure.
Furthermore, if you suffer from blood clotting or bleeding problems, you may be considered a poor fit. We will advise you on all of these instructions during your initial consultation. To help you decide if this procedure will be a good fit for you, take a look at some of what you will be expected to do to ensure a smooth operation.
Stop Smoking
Generally, non-smokers are considered a good fit for this procedure. However, you may still qualify if you are a smoker and your heart and lungs are in relatively good health. Just be aware that you will have to give up cigarettes and other products containing nicotine for two weeks prior to your operation. If this sounds like a challenge, you should keep in mind that you should not consume nicotine for at least two weeks post-op, too.
The reason it is so important to not smoke prior to your operation is that nicotine elevates your blood pressure. It is vital that your blood pressure falls somewhere within the healthy range at the time of your surgery. It is extremely important to not smoke after your operation because nicotine constricts your blood vessels. If your blood vessels are constricted, your recovery will take longer than it should.
Don’t Drink Alcohol
It is important to not drink alcohol before or after your procedure for a similar reason. While a small amount of alcohol may lower your blood pressure, if you drink too much, your blood vessels will constrict significantly. This will cause your blood pressure to rise. Furthermore, because alcohol is a toxin, your body prioritizes eliminating it. Rather than processing nutrients from any nutritious food you’ve eaten recently, your body will flush out everything.
In the process of eliminating the alcohol you consume from your body, you also eliminate vital hydration and micronutrients. If you drink alcohol in moderation, drink plenty of water, and have a nutritious diet, you don’t need to worry about nutritional deficiencies. However, in the weeks preceding and proceeding your operation, it is extremely important that your blood pressure remains normal and you don’t flush out any water or nutrients.
Stop Taking Certain Drugs
You also must be able to stop taking certain drugs temporarily to qualify for mastopexy. For example, you may not take NSAIDs or any other drugs or supplements that cause blood thinning or prevent blood clotting. We will advise you on all of the drugs and supplements you will not be allowed to take for several days prior to your operation during your initial consultation. Talk to your doctor before you stop taking any drugs or supplements to make sure it’s safe.
Fast
During your initial evaluation, we will discuss all of your cosmetic goals and evaluate all of your concerns. You may need other cosmetic procedures in addition to mastopexy to achieve your desired aesthetic. Depending on the scope of your goals, you may need general anesthesia rather than local anesthesia. If you need general anesthesia, you will need to fast for one-third of a day prior to your operation.
Specifically, you will need to go eight hours without consuming any solid foods or beverages with pulp. Clear, pulp-free liquids, like pulp-free apple juice, coconut water, or water are okay to drink. Two hours prior to your operation, you will not be able to drink anything at all. If you usually take medicine with breakfast, you should schedule your operation for late in the afternoon so you can take your medicine on a full stomach.
Wear Sunscreen
It is important that your skin is free from irritation prior to your operation. Therefore, you should protect your skin from sun damage in the two weeks leading up to your procedure. Wear sunscreen diligently, and do your best to stay out of direct sunlight between the hours of 10 and 4 when the sun’s UV rays are the most powerful and damaging. Your shirt should offer you some protection, but it will not block all of the UV rays.
Schedule Your Initial Evaluation Today
You can feel fairly confident that your mastopexy results will last at least a decade. If you’re relatively young when you get your breasts lifted, your results may even last for 15 to 20 years. However, certain factors can affect the longevity of your results negatively. You may need a maintenance procedure in under a year if you get pregnant. To learn more about this procedure, schedule an appointment today at Boulder Plastic Surgery in Boulder, CO.