If you’ve looked into the procedure at all, you know that a breast lift can create a higher, firmer breast shape.
This is true, and results for breast lifts are often said to be long-lasting; many patients report satisfaction for years after they have their procedure.
However, a breast lift cannot stop aging. Over time, your skin will naturally change — and as a result, your breasts may look a little different than how they did immediately after surgery.
In his career, Dr. Mark Bosbous has helped many women in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area get the body of their dreams with a breast lift. He’s also coached women through the evolution of their breast lift and how its appearance changes as your body changes over time.
For this piece, we’ll go through what a breast lift is, how it can change over time, and what you can do if your breast lift changes in a way you don’t like.
What is a Breast Lift?
A breast lift of mastopexy removes excess skin and reshapes breast tissue. In the process, the nipple and areola tend to be moved higher, and the breasts are elevated. This restores symmetry, corrects drooping, and creates a more youthful contour.
Naturally, a little sagging and settling in the months after your surgery is normal. The breasts need time to settle, and early swelling, tightness, and a temporarily high position are totally normal.
Over time, however, skin and connective tissue will continue to age. At the same time, gravity will pull on the tissue. This will cause your breasts to sag.
Age isn’t the only factor that can cause one’s breasts to sag. Breasts descend for a host of reasons. For example, fat contributes to breast volume, so your breast size will likely change with your body weight. If you lose weight, your breasts may lose volume without allowing the skin to contract fully. This can give your breasts a looser or flatter shape. This is more common for people who have substantial drops and increases or repeated weight fluctuations.
Pregnancy can also cause one’s breasts to sag. Getting pregnant can enlarge your breasts, which in turn stretches the skin and the breasts’ supporting structures. After pregnancy, glandular tissue may decrease, and the breasts themselves may lose volume. This can cause sagging.
Finally, your breasts’ tendency to sag over time can come as a result of your genetics and skin quality. People naturally differ in skin elasticity, connective tissue strength, and breast shape. These inherited traits explain why patients with similar procedures may have very different results in the years following their surgeries.
Does a Breast Lift Have a Lifespan?
Some people say that a breast lift only lasts for a certain number of years. This is not necessarily true. As everyone ages differently, there’s no set number of years after which a breast lift becomes ineffective. Some may find they wish to pursue a revision years after their breast lift; others remain satisfied and never undergo another lift.
There are a few things you can do to try to extend the lifespan of your breast lift. By maintaining a stable weight and avoiding smoking, you can reduce preventable stress on the tissues. Additionally, following all of your surgeon’s postoperative restrictions will allow all of the incisions and internal tissues time to heal, which should produce a better result in the long-term. Other protective skin measures, such as applying a daily broad spectrum sunscreen, can also improve your results.
If you know that your skin is particularly prone to sagging, you should bring this up with your surgeon before surgery. From there, your surgeon can work with you to create a plan with this fact in mind.
Is Revision Surgery Necessary?
Some change does not mean that another operation is required. Whether you want a revision is totally up to you and how you feel about your body.
If you’re interested in pursuing a revision, a surgeon like Dr. Mark Bosbous would be more than happy to discuss the available options. You may want to consider another breast lift, or other procedures may be appropriate to meet your needs.
Curious about a revision? Or just have questions? Reach out today and schedule a consultation.