Women experience age-related changes in the breasts to varying degrees, with pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause often exacerbating how youthful contours can diminish over time. A breast lift can be an exceptionally effective procedure to reshape and rejuvenate sagging breasts, thereby restoring a “perkier” and more projected look. Dr. Jared Garlick can tailor breast lift surgery to treat ptosis (drooping breasts) and make your ideal breast contours a reality. He utilizes special techniques to maximize your breast lift results, including using a scaffold in certain cases to reinforce support for the breasts and extend the longevity of your rejuvenation.
What are the Benefits of a Breast Lift?
A breast lift remains steadfast as one of the most effective and lasting ways to regain more youthful breast contours. The procedure not only lifts and reshapes the breasts, but also corrects a stretched or “deflated” look caused by aging. Mastopexy can offer a myriad of potential benefits depending on your goals, including:
- Reducing ptosis (sagging) in the breasts
- Reinforcing support for the breasts to achieve long-term rejuvenation
- Addressing aesthetic changes in the breasts caused by pregnancy, weight loss, and breastfeeding
- Treating the effects of aging on the breasts after menopause
- Restoring a natural breast shape after implant removal surgery
Although a breast lift can rejuvenate the positioning and projection of the breasts, the procedure does not generally add volume to the bust. If your goals include restoring volume and achieving a rounder, fuller breast shape, you may consider combining mastopexy with breast augmentation to address volume loss and breast sag simultaneously. Another option that many patients who are not interested in implant-based augmentation involves using the body’s own breast tissue and creating an “Auto-Augmentation Breast Lift.”
Is a Breast Lift Right for Me?
Also known as mastopexy, a breast lift is popular among patients who have had children, previously breastfed, or undergone significant weight loss. Breast lift surgery is typically most successful for healthy patients who are near their ideal weight and who are bothered by:
- Mild to severe breast sag
- A flat, stretched, or “deflated” look
- A loss of shape and projection in the breasts
- Nipples that point downward or droop below the breast fold
The best way to confirm whether a breast lift is the right procedure for you is through a consultation with an experienced plastic surgeon. During your consultation, Dr. Garlick will thoroughly discuss your concerns, previous medical history, and overall goals to develop a customized treatment plan to achieve your goals. If you have several aesthetic concerns in the breasts and body that you would like to improve, a breast lift can be performed as part of a comprehensive Mommy Makeover to address multiple areas at once.
Grades of Ptosis
Breast ptosis is the medical term used to describe the drooping or sagging of breast tissue. This commonly develops gradually over time as skin elasticity, breast volume, and supportive ligaments begin to weaken. Ptosis is generally categorized into different levels, which can help you determine whether a breast lift is necessary and what surgical approach may produce the most natural-looking results:
- Grade I (Mild): The nipple sits at or just slightly below the level of the inframammary fold (the breast crease).
- Grade II (Moderate): The nipple falls noticeably below the breast crease, although it still remains above the lowest point of the breast.
- Grade III (Severe): The nipple sits completely below the crease and points downward towards the ground. Most of the breast tissue now hangs below the inframammary fold, giving the breast a more pronounced and pendulous shape.
- Pseudoptosis: The nipple remains above the breast fold but the majority of breast volume rests below it, often due to significant loss of upper-pole fullness.
Gaining a sense of the distinctions between each grade of ptosis can help Dr. Garlick tailor a breast lift to your individual anatomy and goals, ensuring results look natural, balanced, and enduring.
Breast Lift Incisions
At his Salt Lake City-area practice, Dr. Garlick can perform breast lift surgery through one of three incisions. The best approach for you depends on the severity of breast sag to be corrected and the extent of your concerns:
- Periareolar Incision: This “donut-shaped” incision is placed discreetly along the natural change in pigmentation between the areolas and the breast skin. Since the incision is made along the borders of the areolas, scarring is usually very inconspicuous. This incision pattern is rarely done by itself due to the amount of lift that is needed. This technique is meant for when subtle changes need to be done within 1-2 cm of change.
- Keyhole-Shaped Incision: Also known as a “lollipop mastopexy,” the keyhole-shaped incision encircles the perimeter of the areolas and extends downward in a vertical incision toward the breast crease. This technique can be successful for patients with mild to moderate breast sag (ptosis).
- Anchor-Shaped Incision: Considered a full mastopexy, the anchor-shaped incision is typically ideal in correcting extensive breast drooping. The incision mirrors the same pattern as the keyhole technique, plus an additional horizontal incision along the natural breast (inframammary) crease.
Dr. Garlick can help you determine the most effective breast lift incision for your needs and desired results once he’s able to gain a sense of your concerns in a consultation. In general, the keyhole-shaped and anchor-shaped incisions are more effective in alleviating moderate to severe breast sagging.
How is the Breast Lift Procedure Performed?
Mastopexy is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. Depending on your goals and the anatomical indicators unique to you, incisions may be placed either around the perimeter of the areolas, within the natural crease of the breast fold, or using a combination of both methods. In any case, Dr. Garlick places incisions discreetly whenever possible and any scarring should be easily concealed underneath a bra or bikini top.
After incisions are made in a pre-determined location, Dr. Garlick will then remove loose, excess skin and lift the breasts to a higher position on the chest wall. Underlying tissue is then reshaped to tighten and firm the breasts. If necessary, the nipples can also be reduced and repositioned according to your goals. In these cases, the nipples typically remain attached to the breasts. For certain patients, the bioresorbable GalaFLEX® Scaffold and internal sutures may be placed along the lower fold of the breasts to help support the soft tissue. This additional support can remain in place after sutures and/or GalaFLEX® dissolve, often lessening the risk of your newly lifted breasts “bottoming out” in the future. This off-label use of scaffolds has become a gamechanger for adding support to the breast tissue and maintaining long-term results.
“I had an amazing experience with DR. Garlick. I loved my experience from consultation to post op appointments. My recovery was smooth. He was very attentive, has great bed side manners and makes you feel very comfortable.”
What Can I Expect During the Recovery Period After a Breast Lift?
After breast lift surgery, feelings of tenderness, bruising, and swelling should be expected and will subside as your healing process progresses. Patients should receive plenty of rest during their recovery, but Dr. Garlick also encourages light ambulation (walking around the house, etc.) to promote blood flow as soon as you feel well enough. Over-the-counter and prescribed pain medications, as well as ice packs, are generally enough to manage any discomfort. Patients can usually return to non-strenuous work within one week; however, more physically demanding jobs may require 10 to 14 days of recovery. Heavy lifting and exercise are prohibited for six weeks or until Dr. Garlick instructs otherwise. He will monitor your recovery through periodic follow-up appointments, and provide you with detailed aftercare instructions regarding activity restrictions, incision care, and what you can expect during the healing process.
How Long Do Results From a Breast Lift Last?
Results from a breast lift can generally last at least 10 to 15 years or longer, depending on each patient’s genetics and lifestyle. While nothing can stop the natural aging process, those who received a breast lift will always have more youthful breast contours than individuals of the same age who did not undergo surgery. There are certain preventive measures that can help maximize the longevity of breast lift results as much as possible, including:
- Opting to undergo a breast lift only after there are no future plans for pregnancy and nursing, as these factors can increase skin inelasticity and exacerbate breast sag
- Pursuing mastopexy only after you’ve reached your goal weight
- Living an active, healthy lifestyle to minimize weight fluctuations
- Avoiding smoking, artificial tanning, and unprotected sun exposure
At your consultation, Dr. Garlick will also show you before-and-after photos of previous breast lift patients to help you gain a better idea of what to expect from the outcome of mastopexy.
What Can I Expect From My Breast Lift Scars?
While all breast lift scars can be well-hidden underneath a bra or a bikini top, some incision techniques are more visible than others. The periareolar incision is typically the most undetectable, as the scar can blend in seamlessly along the natural borders of the areolas. After assessing your unique needs, Dr. Garlick will show you where your scars are likely to appear so you have a good idea of the potential results. We also encourage you to view our patient gallery to gain a better understanding of how visible your breast lift scars may be after surgery. With proper incision care after your procedure and use of doctor-recommended skin health products, scars can often lighten over time.
How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost?
In Utah, breast lift costs are generally much more manageable and affordable when compared to other regions, such as New York City and Los Angeles. That said, the cost of each procedure is personalized according to the individual details of a patient’s treatment plan. Factors that may influence the price include the size and type of implants chosen, the surgical technique used, and the overall complexity of your procedure. Your cost estimate will also include the expenses typically associated with cosmetic surgery, such as the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia fee, and hospital facility fee, among other variables. Surgery costs also vary based on your geographic location and the experience of your plastic surgeon.
Ultimately, Dr. Garlick and our team will be able to provide you with a personalized quote after evaluating your needs in a consultation. Plastic surgery financing through PatientFi® or Mountain America Credit Union is available for qualified patients, if desired. Please call our office for more information about the cost of breast lift surgery.
Are There Any Breast Lift Alternatives?
While a mastopexy is considered the gold standard procedure for addressing sag and improving droopy, pendulous breasts, a breast lift may not be the most ideal solution for every patient who wants to enhance their breast contours. Dr. Garlick offers a range of advanced procedures to refine symmetry, volume, upper-pole fullness, and more, including:
- Breast Lift (Mastopexy) with Auto-Augmentation: This technique utilizes a portion of your own breast tissue (usually the more ptotic saggy breast tissue). The blood supply to that breast tissue is maintained and tissue is mobilized so it can advance upwards. The upper portion of the breast tissue is raised up and a pocket is created as if an implant were to be placed there, but instead the mobilized portion of your breast tissue is advanced and secured within this created pocket, allowing your breast tissue to “double-stack” on itself and creating more fullness in the upper pole of your breasts — much like you would expect to see with implant placement.
- Breast Augmentation: Breast augmentation uses implants to restore volume lost to pregnancy, weight loss, or aging. If enhancing shape and fullness is your primary motivation behind breast surgery, breast augmentation may be enough to achieve your goals. In cases of very mild ptosis, the added volume from an implant may create the illusion of a slightly lifted breast.
- Breast Reduction: For women whose breasts feel heavy, cumbersome, or disproportionate, breast reduction can be an effective breast lift alternative. A reduction removes excess breast tissue and skin, naturally lifting the breasts as part of the reshaping process. Patients often experience relief from back, neck, and shoulder pain alongside the aesthetic improvements.
- Mommy Makeover: If you’d like to address the breasts and body in one treatment plan, you may consider a customized combination of procedures known as a Mommy Makeover. A Mommy Makeover can reverse post-pregnancy changes in the body and often includes a breast lift with complementary procedures like liposuction, a tummy tuck, and more.
- Body Lift: For patients who have lost a significant amount of weight and are now left with loose, hanging skin, a breast lift can also be part of a larger body lift. This combination of procedures can remove excess skin after weight loss and create a sleeker, more defined look in treated areas.
Is a Non-Surgical Breast Lift Possible?
While many patients wonder whether they can lift their breasts naturally without surgical means, a breast lift remains the only effective method of truly reshaping and rejuvenating the breasts. Bras and other supportive garments typically only offer minimal or temporary improvements, and true breast lifting requires repositioning of the breast tissue and removal of excess skin — which can only be achieved through mastopexy.
Chest-targeted workouts, such as push-ups or bench presses, can strengthen the underlying pectoral muscles, but they do not lift the breasts themselves. Breasts are composed primarily of glandular tissue and fat (not muscle) so exercise cannot correct sagging (ptosis). While improved muscle tone may slightly enhance the appearance of the chest, it will not address stretched skin or reposition the nipple.
Choosing a Top Breast Lift Surgeon in Utah
When it comes to reclaiming more youthful, projected breast contours, selecting the best plastic surgeon in Salt Lake City for your needs is one of the most important determinations throughout the entire process. Essential tips to help guide your search for the right provider include:
- Selecting a board-certified plastic surgeon: First and foremost, look for an aesthetic plastic surgeon accredited by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Board certification ensures that a prospective surgeon has undergone rigorous training, meets high standards of safety and ethics, and specializes specifically in aesthetic procedures.
- Paying attention to training and experience: Experience and specialization are equally critical. Choose a surgeon who has extensive experience performing breast lift procedures and can provide a portfolio of before-and-after photos demonstrating consistent, natural-looking results.
- Check a plastic surgeon’s reputation: Reviewing patient testimonials and online reviews can also offer valuable insight into the surgeon’s reputation, bedside manner, and patient satisfaction.
- Research education and memberships: It’s also important to familiarize yourself with a surgeon’s educational background, professional affiliations, and any advanced techniques they may offer. Those who pursue ongoing education and specialize in modern approaches are often better equipped to deliver optimal outcomes.
Finally, schedule a consultation. This is your opportunity to ask questions, discuss your goals, and evaluate how comfortable you feel with a plastic surgeon. A top breast lift surgeon like Dr. Garlick will prioritize your safety, listen carefully to your concerns, and provide honest, personalized recommendations to help you achieve the best possible results.
Questions? If you are interested in breast lift surgery, please don’t hesitate to contact our practice to speak to a friendly member of our team or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jared Garlick.
