Questions About Breast Lifts
Breast lifts are not fully understood by most patients. Most people understand the goal is to lift the breasts, hence the name of the procedure, but details can get a little sketchy. Do they make the breasts larger? Do they make the breasts smaller? Where are the scars? Will I lose sensation?
Since Dr. Frank performs breast lifts to address flattening and sagging breasts for many Calgary patients, he’s very experienced with these procedures. Let’s get you a little more expertise by answering some questions in this first blog of the New Year.
Breast lift or breast augmentation?
The goals of these two surgeries with Dr. Frank are different. Some women assume you can simply place breast implants to overcome sagging and loose skin. While implants can reverse mild sagging, and return volume to the upper breast area that is more prone to flattening, they cannot reverse extensive sagging. That’s the job of a breast lift.
There is also some misunderstanding about breast lifts. The goal of a breast lift is to return the breasts to their former, higher position on the chest. To do this, Dr. Frank removes excess sagging skin, reshapes the breast tissue, and usually moves the areolae to compensate for the removed sagging tissue. Breast lifts do not add volume to the breasts. Because the breasts are brought back up on the chest, there is less mass at the bottom of the breasts, which can even dictate a smaller cup size in the bra.
So, lift or augmentation, which is the way to go? If you have minimal sagging and would like to add volume and shape to your breasts, augmentation is the answer. If you have flattened breasts and a fair amount of sagging, a breast lift is the answer.
Is it possible to breastfeed after a breast lift?
Here’s the thing. Patients opting to have a breast lift should have made the decision that they are not interested in having additional children. That’s because the size gain and loss of pregnancy, along with the volume loss due to breastfeeding, will negate all of the benefits you received from the breast lift in the first place. Plus, there is a good chance your weight gain will distort your incision scars.
OK, but things happen, even if they weren’t planned for. In those cases, there will likely be some disruption of your milk glands with a breast lift. This is because the nipple/areola complex is usually moved.
Do you have more questions about breast lifts? Would you like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Frank? Call us at (403) 245-1228.
