Breast Lift

Albany, Schenectady & Saratoga Springs Breast Surgery

Pregnancy, nursing, and the force of gravity can take their toll on a woman's body. As a result, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. A breast lift is a surgical procedure used to raise and recontour loose, sagging breasts. This procedure can be performed alone or in conjunction with breast augmentation to achieve enhanced results.

View our Breast Lift Patient Gallery.

Your Breast Lift Procedure

There are several different incision patterns and techniques which can be used to accomplish your breast lift.  Schenectady cosmetic surgeon Dr. Bruce Barach will recommend the appropriate one based on the following factors:

• Breast size and shape
• Size and position of your areolas
• Degree of breast sagging
• Skin elasticity and the amount of excess skin in your breast region

Your procedure will be performed under general anesthesia in our surgical suite at Ellis Hospital. Dr. Barach will use one of the following incision patterns:

• “Crescent” incision (along the upper half of the areola)
• Peri-areolar incision (around the areola)
• “Lollipop” incision (around the areola and vertically down from the areola to the breast crease)
• “Anchor” incision (around the areola, vertically down from the areola to the breast crease, and horizontally along the breast crease)

The crescent incision is by far the smallest and provides the least amount of lifting. Each subsequent incision type on the list increases in length and provides you with a greater lift, with the anchor lift being the most extensive.

After making the incision, Dr. Barach will elevate your breast tissue, remove excess skin, and reshape the remaining breast tissue. Your nipple and areola will be repositioned to achieve a more youthful placement on the breast. Some of the incisions allow you to decrease the size of large areolas.

Recovery and Follow-Up Care

After your procedure has been completed, Dr. Barach will wrap your breasts in a surgical dressing. This dressing will be removed at your follow-up visit, and you will then need to wear a supportive bra for several weeks. Sutures are removed between five and ten days after surgery.

You may experience some mild swelling and discoloration which should gradually subside as you heal. Decreased nipple sensation occurs with some patients; however, this is generally temporary.

You will need to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for several weeks to ensure proper healing. Dr. Barach will provide you detailed instructions regarding the resumption of full activity. In most cases, you should be able to return to work within one  week.

Please contact our Albany plastic surgeon today to schedule your initial breast surgery consultation. Upstate Plastic Surgery serves patients in Albany, Schenectady, and Saratoga Springs, New York.