Rancho Cucamonga Breast Lift Surgery

Reclaim your youthful breast shape with a little help from an experienced cosmetic surgeon

Pregnancy, weight loss, and the natural passing of time can all impact the way your breasts look—and these changes can make you feel self-conscious in certain clothes, uncomfortable being intimate with your partner, or even cause physical discomfort.

If you are bothered by breast sagging, an experienced cosmetic surgeon can help restore a more youthful breast appearance through breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy. Dr. Jacob Haiavy, Dr. Irene Tower, and Dr. Emma Ryan recommend breast lift surgery to patients who are unhappy with drooping breasts or have noticed a “deflated” appearance after pregnancy and breast feeding—and our patients are thrilled with their results.

From the first time I met Dr. Tower, I was very comfortable. I found the fact that she is also a mom very comforting, she knew exactly what I was looking for from a breast lift surgery. She listened to exactly everything I had to say and she gave me some input on what she thought I would be happy with.Real Inland Cosmetic Surgery breast lift patient

Depending on your unique needs, our surgeons may use one or a combination of surgical procedures to help you receive your desired aesthetic result.

Breast lift benefits

You may consider undergoing a breast lift procedure if you are experiencing several or all of the following breast concerns:

Your breasts sag or droop
Your breasts have lost shape & volume
You have irritated or chafed skin underneath the breasts
There is excessive skin laxity around the breasts
Your nipples and areolae point downward
Your breasts appear flat or elongated
One breast is lower than the other (asymmetry)

Keep in mind that the best candidates for breast lift surgery are women who are in good health, non-smokers, at a stable weight, and have finished breastfeeding.

Four main types of breast lift surgery

Depending on your personal goals, natural anatomy, and degree of sagging that needs to be corrected, our surgeons will recommend one of the following breast lift techniques:

Donut lift

A donut lift is a lift which involves removal of skin around the areola (more pigmented skin around the nipple) and therefore results in elevation of the nipple areola. The scarring is usually minimal, and it allows downsizing of the areola which is usually stretched with the rest of the breast skin. If a large amount of skin is removed around the areola a special purse string suture is placed around the incision to allow proper healing with minimal scarring. This special suture may result in some bunching of skin that usually resolves with time.

Lollipop lift

A lollipop lift, also called the vertical mastopexy, involves removal of skin around the areola and the lower portion of the breast. This results in a scar around the areola combined with a vertical scar at the lower portion of the breast. In women with large breasts a small portion of the breast tissue may be removed and internal sutures placed to achieve more fullness.

J lift

A J type lift involves removal of skin around the areola and at the lower portion of the breast. It is essentially like the lollipop lift with an additional ellipse of skin removed to one side of the fold under the breast. We use this lift very commonly since it gives the patients more fullness at the cleavage area with less scarring than the inverted T lift.

Inverted T lift

Inverted T lift also involves removal of skin around the areola and the lower portion of the breast. But unlike a J type lift, skin is removed from both sides of the fold underneath the breast. Another name for the inverted T lift is “anchor lift,” since incisions are placed along the base of the breast in the shape of an anchor.

What to expect on the day of surgery

All surgical procedures are performed in our state-of-the-art, private accredited surgery center located in Rancho Cucamonga, in the heart of the Inland Empire and convenient to Upland, Ontario, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont, and Riverside, California. We also see cosmetic surgery patients at our satellite office located in Victorville, convenient to Apple Valley and Hesperia.

The morning of surgery, you and your designated driver will arrive at our private, surgery center in Rancho Cucamonga for pre-op. After meeting briefly with your surgeon and operation room staff to review the procedure and discuss any concerns you may have, your surgery will begin. Breast lifts are performed under general anesthesia, so you won’t feel a thing as your cosmetic surgeon gets to work.

Your surgeon will begin by making the agreed upon incisions (depending on what technique you opt for), through which they will carefully and precisely remove the excess breast skin and tissue. After expertly lifting and reshaping your breasts, your incisions will be sutured and bandaged—and you’ll be wheeled the recovery area to begin your initial healing process.

Immediately after your surgery, it’s normal to feel groggy and uncomfortable as your body starts recovering both from your procedure and the anesthesia medication. After most of the effects of anesthesia wear off, you will be able to return home, though you will not be able to drive yourself and will need a little extra help around the house for the remainder of the day.

Recovery following your breast surgery

The first day or two after surgery, it’s important to take it easy and allow a friend or loved one to take care of you while you recover. Your chest and shoulders will feel sore, tight, and difficult to move, so you may need assistance getting dressed. While getting up occasionally to walk and keep circulation going is important, you won’t feel like being up and around for long. Most of our patients feel comfortable switching prescription medication to an OTC pain reliever within 3-5 days.

Healing times vary by patient, but it is important to be ready to take some time before returning to work. Typically, our patients can start driving and return to their non-physical jobs after about a week, once they’ve stopped taking prescription pain medication. This can vary based on your individual ability to heal and how involved your breast procedure was.

While you’ll start feeling more normal over the first two weeks or so, you’ll still need to avoid strenuous activity—no exercise for at least three to four weeks! Your surgeons will give you a specific timeline for when you can resume normal activities. Please follow all post-op instructions precisely to ensure your recovery period goes smoothly and your results are optimal.

Since the cause of saggy breasts is poor skin elasticity adding more weight to the breast may cause them to sag again at a faster rate. Therefore, postoperative support with a bra is essential to maintaining a breast lift result.

Frequently Asked Questions about Breast Surgery Options

Do I need a breast lift with augmentation?

Sometimes, the best option is a combination of procedures. We often combine breast lift with a breast augmentation to achieve more fullness in the upper portion of the breasts. Since the lift and the augmentation are two negating forces (the lift is pulling the breasts up and the implant is pushing the breasts back down) we encourage our patients to be very conservative with the implant size.

While you may have been hoping to avoid the additional scars associated with a breast lift and prefer to get away with breast augmentation alone, chances are you’ll be much happier with your results in the long-term if you correct breast sagging when adding fullness.

A combination breast augmentation with lift is a great way to address multiple concerns and truly reshape your breasts. On the other hand, if you have breast implants and are looking to have them removed, a breast lift may also be implemented during breast implant removal to address any remaining sagging skin that can occur as a result in the sudden loss of volume.

Do I need a breast reduction?

Women that are large-breasted will benefit more from a breast reduction rather than a lift. This will successfully remove excess breast tissue.

In some cases, both a breast reduction and a lift might be the best option. This is usually if you’re not only looking to reduce the size of your breasts for comfort and health reasons, but also wish to improve their overall shape and position.

The decision to undergo a breast lift, a reduction, or both should can be discussed with one of our cosmetic surgeons during your consultation. They can evaluate your unique anatomy and help you make the decision that best meets your personal goals and needs.

Can I combine my breast surgery with body contouring procedures?

Yes, it’s quite common for patients to combine breast surgery with body contouring procedures. This is often referred to as a “mommy makeover,” though it’s not exclusive to mothers. The most common body contouring procedures to combine with cosmetic breast surgery are liposuction and a tummy tuck. Liposuction is the gold-standard for fat removal, as it is incredibly versatile and effective for removing fat in many areas of the body. A tummy tuck is a popular procedure in which excess skin and fat in abdomen to create a beautiful hourglass shape.

Let us make your dream breasts a reality!

To learn more about breast lift surgery, contact our Inland Empire office to schedule a consultation. One of our experienced cosmetic surgeons can help you understand the ins and outs of the mastopexy procedure, answer any questions you may have, and recommend the best treatment plan for addressing your concerns.

Breast
Lift Surgery