Who Is a Good Breast Lift Candidate?

May 27, 2015

It is an unfortunate fact that time can take its toll on the human body. You may notice sagging in areas of the body that were previously firm and strong. As a result, patients may want to find a way to restore their bodies to their former youthful appearance.

Nowhere is this more evident than among women who wish to restore their sagging or drooping breasts to their previous appearance before age, weight change, or pregnancy and breast feeding took their toll. All that is needed is to consider that more than 92,000 women in the United States underwent a breast lift procedure (mastopexy) in 2014 at the hands of plastic surgeons who were members of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), which is the leading professional organization for plastic surgeons. This rose by 3 percent from the previous year.

Given these numbers, it should not be surprising that Drs. Marcus Crawford and Steven Bailey see a sizeable number of patients in their practice who are looking to undergo a breast lift procedure, either alone or in conjunction with a breast reduction or a breast augmentation procedure. It is also self-evident that all of these women want the best possible outcome from their breast lift procedure. In order to do this, there are several things women can do to be the best possible candidates for such a procedure.

General Health

As with any surgical procedure, patients should be in general good health. Patients must be of a stable weight, as large fluctuations in weight can lead to changes in breast shape and size. Such fluctuations in weight may cause the breasts to sag again. Those patients who have certain chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, must have their conditions properly managed in order to be good breast lift candidates. These patients should discuss their plans for surgery with their primary care physician.

Tobacco and Alcohol Use

Patients should also be non-smokers and only occasionally drink alcohol. Tobacco smoke can dry out the skin, and alcohol can lead to excessive bleeding during and after surgery. Both of these conditions can lead to a longer healing time for incisions and possible excessive scarring. Drs. Crawford and Bailey strongly encourage patients to stop smoking and drinking at least three to four weeks before the surgical procedure. While the best possible situation is for patients to quit altogether, they should wait a minimum of four to six weeks after surgery to resume.

Realistic Goals

Patients who have a realistic set of goals from a breast lift procedure will also be excellent candidates. Unrealistic expectations from a breast lift procedure will only result in disappointment. Surgical techniques will vary, depending on how much the breasts have sagged, as well as their size, shape, and position on the chest. Drs. Crawford and Bailey will discuss these options with patients at the initial consultation visit. They will work with the patient to determine the best way for patients to reach their goal.

This willingness to collaborate with Drs. Crawford and Bailey is perhaps the most important trait for a patient to be a successful breast lift candidate. The procedure should not only be effective, but also reflect the patients’ goals, within reason. Patients who understand that this requires cooperation between surgeon and patient are well on their way to being happy with the results from their breast lift procedure. 

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