10 Years after a breast lift

Introduction
There are so many factors that can affect the aesthetic appearance of the breasts that there is no wonder why so many women are unhappy and resort to plastic surgery to correct the imperfections of their breasts. Sagginess is a common condition that affects most women sooner or later in their lives and it can be caused by a multitude of factors, including the large size of the breasts, aging, weight fluctuations, and multiple pregnancies.
The breast lift is often recommended for women over 40 years old and even younger to improve the appearance of the breasts and to correct their position on the chest wall. However, before undergoing the procedure, a responsible plastic surgeon will tell you that the results are not permanent and that the breasts will be again affected by the factors that caused the breasts ptosis, but in time.
In this article, we will discuss the details of the breast lift and also what to expect ten years after having a breast lift.

About the breast lift
The purpose of this procedure is to elevate the breast without reducing the volume and to give the breasts an aesthetic curve and position on the chest wall. The procedure targets women of different ages suffering because of saggy breasts. The optimal breast volume and position are important elements that will determine the final result of the breast lift. Generally speaking, breast implant should be 1 or 2 cm under the line that unites the middle of the arms, and a normal volume is around 300 cc. Less than 200 cc and the breasts are too small, and over 350 cc we consider the breasts to be overly developed. However, keep in mind that the optimal volume of the breasts should be considered alongside other factors such as the height and weight of the patient. What we are aiming to achieve with plastic surgery in general is a harmony of proportions, a balance.
The breast lift should give the breasts an aesthetic appearance due to the elimination of the excess skin, a better position on the chest wall, and a nipple and areola complex that is of a good size and position. After the procedure, the patient will be left with scars. The incisions needed for the procedure are dependent on the level of breast ptosis. If the sagginess of the breasts is minor, the plastic surgeon might decide that a simple periareolar incision will be enough to correct the imperfection. However, in a vast majority of cases, there is a minimum of two incisions required. The periareolar incision is always performed, and we can also have a vertical incision from the edge of the areolas towards the inframammary fold, and a horizontal incision in the inframammary fold. The more severe the level of ptosis is, the more significant will be the scarring. This is the reason why it is recommended to address this breast imperfection early and not let it get too severe.
It is important for patients interested in this procedure to understand that during the breast lift, the plastic surgeon won’t intervene with the mammary gland. This means that no part of the mammary gland won’t be excised, so the breast won’t be considerably smaller. The plastic surgeon will use the incisions to detach the skin envelope from the glandular tissue. The glandular tissue is re-centered and elevated, the skin is re-draped on the breasts, and the excess of skin tissue is removed. The surgeon will also reposition the nipple and areola complex according to the new aesthetic of the breasts and reduce the size of enlarged areolas if necessary.
Before the procedure, the patient will have a pre-operative consultation with the plastic surgeon and also another one with the anesthetist. The patient is advised to discuss medical history, allergies, current medication, and also goals and expectations from the procedure to ensure the plastic surgeon understands what is considered desirable results. The plastic surgeon will also recommend tests to be taken before the procedure to rule out potential contraindications to the breast lift.
The plastic surgeon will also give the patient a list of pre- and post-operative instructions. Following the pre-operative instructions to the letter will ensure you have a smooth operation with minimal risks of developing a complication. However, the post-operative recommendations are given with the aim to help you both have a short and uneventful recovery period and also to sustain the results for as long as possible.
The complications after breast lift occur in rare cases. The patient should know that the risks are similar to undergoing any other type of surgical procedure and the complications that can occur are seroma and hematoma, infection, skin or fat tissue necrosis, and excessive bleeding, among others. It is important to avoid physical activities during the first two to four weeks post-op and only to resume physically demanding activities when the plastic surgeon gives you the green light.
Wearing the special post-op bra or sports bra is mandatory after the breast lift. The breasts need support and compression after the procedure, and the bra will also help in reducing the swelling that can naturally occur on the breasts after surgery. The patient is advised to wear the bra non-stop for the first week post-op and after this for another month or two only during the day.

10 Years after a breast lift
The results of the breast lift are visible immediately after the procedure, but it can take up to one year for the final outcomes to be evaluated. It is important to be patient and not to try to speed up the healing process. Generally speaking, the results of the breast lift are long-term and even permanent, depending on the age of the patient when the procedure was performed. A certain level of breast ptosis can occur again in time as the factors that have caused the sagginess in the first place will continue to work on the breasts.
Ten years after the procedure, the breasts should still be perky and the patient should have a more youthful appearance compared to women who didn’t have the procedure. Again, the volume of the breasts is important when thinking about sustaining the results for longer. If the breasts are on the bigger side, there is a chance for them to start sagging again to a certain degree in ten years. However, in most cases, the beautiful appearance of the breasts can be easily sustained by avoiding the factors associated with the onset of breast ptosis such as pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and sun exposure.
Since we have mentioned pregnancy, it is worth discussing the effects of the procedure in case an ulterior pregnancy occurs. For a vast majority of patients, the breast lift will have no long-term consequences in terms of breastfeeding after the procedure. The plastic surgeon will advise you to wait at least a year or two after the procedure before getting pregnant to allow the breasts to recover from the surgical trauma. However, keep in mind that the aesthetic appearance of the breasts can be ruined if an ulterior pregnancy occurs.
The scars left behind after the breast lift will fade gradually during the first year post-op and become less and less visible. By the end of the first 18 months after the procedure, the scars should look like fine white lines, very similar to the surrounding tissues. Over time the scars will blend in even better with the tissues, but they will never completely disappear.

Conclusion
The breast lift is very sought after nowadays as it can deliver spectacular results for patients confronted with breast ptosis. The sagginess of the breasts can only be corrected using this plastic surgery procedure that entails the removal of the excess skin and the re-centering of the glandular tissue. The results can be assessed a year after the procedure and delivers long-term results. Ten years after the procedure, the patient should still be able to enjoy the beautiful appearance of the breasts with maybe just a minor level of breast ptosis. Avoiding the factors that caused sagginess in the first place is important when trying to sustain the results for as long as possible. Make sure to follow the recommendation of the plastic surgeon to the letter to have perky, youthful looking breasts even ten years after the procedure was performed.