What to Expect During Your Breast Lift Consultation: The Full Rundown
So, you’ve been looking in the mirror, maybe thinking about how gravity’s been doing its thing, and now you’re ready to explore breast lift surgery. Whether it’s because of genetics, aging, weight loss, pregnancy, or sagging breasts, it can make you feel less confident about your look. If you’re thinking about a breast lift surgery, AKA mastopexy, you’re in the right place. But before you jump onto the operating table, the first step is the breast lift consultation with an experienced as well as expert plastic surgeon. Let’s break it down and talk about what you can expect when you head to a breast lift consultation.
Setting the Stage: The Breast Lift Consultation
A breast lift consultation is where it all begins. This is your time to meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon and chat in detail about your concerns, goals, or maybe fears and how they can help you get the results you’re after. If you’ve got sagging breasts or feel like your breasts aren’t where they used to be, this is the appointment where you can talk about it all—no holds barred.
Expect the vibe to be professional but comfortable. Cosmetic or plastic surgeons are there to make you feel at ease and answer any questions you have. You’re not just another appointment on the schedule; they want to know what’s got you considering a breast lift procedure or any other breast surgery and your expectations.
Discussion On Your Medical History
One of the first things the plastic surgeon will ask about is your medical history. And no, this isn’t a time to skip details. Be ready to talk about your general health, any surgeries you’ve had in the past, and specifics about your breast health. They’ll want to know about things like:
- If you’ve had mammograms or breast exams recently
- Family history of breast cancer
- Any breast surgeries (like breast augmentation or breast reduction)
- If you’ve ever had bumps, lumps, or other issues with your breast tissue
Don’t worry if some of these questions catch you off guard—they’re completely normal, and your plastic surgeon is just making sure you’re a good candidate for surgery.
What Happens During the Physical Exam
Yeah, there’s going to be a physical exam during your breast lift consultation, but it’s not nearly as nerve-wracking as it sounds. Your surgeon will check out your breast crease, breast tissue, and any excess skin you might have. They’ll also assess how much sagging is going on and whether a breast lift procedure can give you the look that you are looking for.
During this exam, a plastic surgeon takes a few measurements, looking at things like:
- Your nipple placement and if it needs to be repositioned
- Breast sagging and how much lift might be necessary
- The shape and size of your breasts
- Any excess skin that needs to be removed
- Skin quality—your skin’s elasticity is a huge factor in how well your breasts will hold their new shape after surgery
- your surgeon might take some “before” photos (don’t worry, they’re strictly for your medical file), and by the end of the exam, they’ll have a better idea of the best plan for your breast lift surgery.
Okay, let’s now move to the next phase, which is talking about your goals, whether it’s breast reduction, augmentation, or breast lift.
Talking Goals: Lift, Augmentation, or Reduction?
Are you just looking to lift the girls a bit, or are you thinking about combining a breast lift with other procedures like implants, breast reduction, or breast augmentation? Many women choose breast augmentation surgery (AKA getting implants) along with their lifts to boost volume. Or maybe you want breast reduction surgery if you’re dealing with heavy breasts that are pulling everything south.
Your surgeon will give you the lowdown on each option:
Breast Reduction With Breast Lift
If your sagging breasts are paired with discomfort or back pain due to size, a breast reduction procedure might be the right move.
Breast Lift Only
The breast lift procedure will focus on removing excess skin and reshaping your breast tissue to lift things up.
Breast Lift Plus Breast Augmentation
If you’ve lost volume over the years or want a fuller look, adding implants to your breast lift could be the way to go. This combo is super popular with women who’ve had kids or lost significant weight.
Whatever your goal, it’s super important to be clear about what you’re hoping to achieve. This way, your board-certified plastic surgeon will recommend the best plan that fits your body.
The Nitty-Gritty: Surgery, Scars, Recovery & More
Once you’ve discussed your goals, your plastic surgeon will explain how the breast lift is performed. They’ll go over everything from the incision patterns to the entire process of healing. You can expect the whole procedure to last a few hours, depending on whether you’re adding breast reduction or breast augmentation to the mix.
Also, there are different types of incision techniques depending on how much sagging and excess skin you have:
- Vertical lift
- Anchor lift
- Crescent lift
- Periareolar lift
The plastic surgeon will also tell you what to expect in terms of scarring. Scars will fade with the passage of time, don’t worry, but they’ll never fully disappear. Luckily, most are hidden under clothing and bras, and surgeons today are pros at minimizing scarring as much as possible.
Your surgeon will discuss the healing process after breast surgery. Plan for a few weeks of downtime, some soreness, and no heavy lifting. It’s a small price to pay for breast lift surgery results, but ensure you’re fully aware of the commitment. The final goal is to set you up for success and smooth sailing through your postoperative period.
Important Questions to Ask During the Consultation
Don’t forget this consultation is your chance to get the answers you need from your doctor. No question is off-limits, so speak up if you’re wondering about something! Some key questions to ask include:
- What can I do to prepare for surgery?
- What can I do to prepare for the healing process?
- How many breast lifts have you performed?
- Are you board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons?
- What’s recovery like after a breast lift procedure?
- How long will the results last?
- Will my ability to breastfeed be affected?
- Am I a good candidate for breast lift surgery or not?
These questions will help give you mental peace and help you feel informed about every step of the process.
Wrapping Up: Moving Forward with Confidence
The breast lift consultation is a critical step in making sure your plastic surgery journey is successful. You’ll learn a ton about your options, your body, and the surgical process. Remember, this decision is about you—your goals, comfort, and confidence. So be open, ask all the questions, and make sure you feel 100% ready before heading into breast surgery. Before you know it, you’ll be on the road to loving the look of your perky, lifted, and more youthful breasts!
Get the Body You Deserve with Dr. Jim Brantner, M.D.!
If you’re thinking about getting a breast lift, breast reduction, or even breast augmentation, call Jim Brantner M.D., a top plastic surgeon in and near Johnson City, Tennessee. We also offer non-surgical treatments like Morpheus, Lumecca, Botox®, SculpSure®, Juvederm®, and chemical peels to help you look and feel your best.
And if you’re interested in microdermabrasion, dermal fillers, or fat injections, Dr. Brantner has you covered there, too. Our body contouring services, including ThemisSmooth Body and SculpSure, will make you feel confident in no time! If you are in Tennessee and need any of the above-mentioned services, just call us at (423) 328-9000 to schedule an appointment.
What Our Paients Are Saying About Us..
I had BR surgery 2months ago, I had the anchor procedure. I had absolutely no problems at all, no pain, very little swelling and the results are amazing, with the added bonus that my back , neck, and shoulders no longer hurt. Even at just 2months my scars are hardly noticeable. I would recommend Dr Brantner to anyone , he and his staff are wonderful . I could not have had a better experience.
I highly recommend Dr. Brantner to any woman that wants a breast augmentation. I'm very pleased with my results. they look amazing and feel wonderful. If I ever need anything done in the future, I will sure be back to see Dr. Brantner. Thank you so much for taking good care of me!
Dr. Brantner and his associates are all amazing! They are very kind, smart, and honest people I highly recommend Dr. Brantner. They took great care of me and my needs from start to finish.
friendly and he takes time to answer any questions I may have and was even so kind as to take a phone call from me and he alleviated all concerns in a kind, gentle manner. Dr. Brantner and his staff were absolutely fantastic!!!!!! They made me feel soooooo comfortable before and after surgery. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to have a breast reduction.
Dr. Brantner is a highly skilled surgeon. I am so happy that I decided to go to him. After being in a car accident my nasal bones and surrounding bones had to be reconstructed. The first surgeon who worked on me did a terrible job and had zero bedside manner. That is when I sought out Dr. Branner, he not only did an amazing job fixing everything the first Doctor messed up, he also made it look better than it did originally. I would highly recommend him to anyone.
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I went to Dr Brantner for reconstruction revision. I'm very, very pleased with the results. The staff were wonderful. I can't thank them enough for taking care of my surgery and making me feel and look so much better!!! I would highly recommend Dr Brantner.
Great surgeon! Every employee in the office is wonderful and helpful. I have nothing but great things to say about Dr Brantner, Win, and all of the staff.
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