Expectations are critical when it comes to plastic surgery. Every prospective patient wants the very best experience and aesthetic results from their cosmetic procedure. However, establishing realistic expectations is an important part of the process. In my decades as a board-certified plastic surgeon, I have seen over and over that the most satisfied patients in the long run are the ones who understand before their procedure that a “perfect” result may not be attainable and adjust their expectations accordingly. With this in mind, I wanted to take some time to explain what prospective patients may be able to expect from one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures that I perform, breast lift surgery.
Question #1: Will undergoing a breast lift alter my cup size?
It’s possible, but this isn’t a result that I would count on. It’s true that in some cases, removing excess skin during a breast lift can slightly reduce the volume of the breasts. However, this change in size is rarely significant. If you want to change the size of your breasts, breast augmentation or breast reduction surgery will likely be required.
Questions #2: How much scarring will there be after a breast lift?
Like any other cosmetic surgery, there will be some degree of scarring after a breast lift. However, it is typically minor and very seldomly affects the final results of the surgery in my experience. Breast lift scars are easy to conceal and will fade with time and proper post-surgical care. During your consultation, we will review before and after photos from past breast lift patients to see how scarring has previously been concealed. The best way to minimize scarring after your breast lift is to make sure your procedure is performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience performing this procedure.
Questions #3: How should I prepare for a breast lift?
We will discuss pre-surgery preparation at length at your consultation appointment. However, a few general suggestions I would make to any prospective breast lift patient would be to avoid medications like aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements that can increase bleeding in the weeks leading up to your procedure. Smokers should quit as nicotine can affect the body’s ability to heal during and after surgery. In some cases, patients may be recommended to get a mammogram before a breast lift to help their doctors monitor potential changes to breast tissue following their surgery.
I hope you found these questions and answers informative. Knowing what you can reasonably expect from your respective procedure can go a long way towards long-term satisfaction. For more information on breast lift surgery, contact me, Dr. David Whiteman at Southern Plastic Surgery to schedule a complimentary plastic surgery consultation. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for additional plastic surgery questions, photos, news, and more.