How Long Does a Breast Lift Last? Insights & Expectations
Looking to achieve a more youthful, confidence-boosting look? Then getting a breast lift could be just the solution you’ve been searching for.
This surgery helps to improve shape and appearance, allowing women to regain full confidence in their looks. While the surgery is relatively straightforward, the decision to get a breast lift is not one that people take lightly. And given what’s involved, it’s normal that you may be wondering how long you can expect the results of the surgery to last.
In this post, we’ll run through everything you need to know about the results of a breast lift, including the factors that affect longevity and what to expect after surgery. We’ll also answer a common question we receive here at Northland Plastic Surgery: how long does a breast lift last?
Understanding Breast Lift Surgery
Before we dive into how long you can expect the results to last, let’s first take a look at breast lift surgery and what the procedure is designed for.
As the name suggests, breast lift surgery is designed to ‘lift’ the breast, helping to improve appearance. It does this by removing excess skin and tightening the tissue of the breast, allowing for a new shape and enhanced contouring. It’s a popular plastic surgery because it helps to breathe life into the woman’s figure, and provides an effective antidote to the body’s natural aging process.
Breast lift surgery can quickly and effectively give your breasts an enhanced, confidence-boosting appearance. But it’s important to remember that while the results are usually long-lasting, they don’t last forever, and at some point, you may need a revision to maintain the benefits.
Factors Affecting Longevity
A good plastic surgeon will remove excess skin and improve the contouring of the breasts, resulting in a more youthful look. However, even the most skilled of surgeons — such as the ones you’ll find at Northland Plastic Surgery — can’t prevent breast skin from weakening and beginning to sag in the future.
In general, you should expect the results of your breast lift surgery to last around 10 – 15 years. However, how long exactly your results will last will depend on a variety of factors. Some of the key factors that influence how long the effects of a breast lift last include:
Weight
Gaining or losing weight can cause the skin to loosen or stretch, which may have a negative impact on the results of the surgery. The women who achieve the best, most long-lasting results are the ones who maintain a consistent weight.
Pregnancy
Going through a pregnancy results in a wide variety of changes to your body, many of which will impact the breasts and the longevity of your breast lift. Most women choose to wait until after they’ve gone through pregnancy and breastfeeding before deciding to get a breast lift.
Looking After Your Skin
Protecting your skin from damage is paramount for ensuring that the effects of your breast lift are long-lasting. For example, staying well hydrated and preventing sun damage.
Aging
Most women choose to get a breast lift because of the impact that aging and gravity have had on the appearance of their breasts. Both of those matters will continue into the future. As such, the longevity of the breast lift results depends, in part, on how well the individual takes steps to address those issues (for instance, slowing down the aging process by adopting a healthy lifestyle).
What to Expect After Surgery
While breast lift surgery is relatively straightforward, it’s still a major surgery — remember, this is a procedure that can have a dramatically positive impact on your appearance and confidence.
Your plastic surgeon will guide you through exactly what you should expect after surgery. In general, most people find that they’re back to their normal routine within around six weeks. Here’s a run-through of the typical post-surgery experience:
- First Three Days: A lot of rest at home.
- One Week: Gentle moving around the home.
- Two Weeks: Pain has subsided, and you can shower normally again. Strenuous activity/movement is to be avoided.
- One Month: Most of the physical side effects (swelling, etc.) will be gone and you can resume most of your usual activities.
- Six Weeks: You will be fully recovered and will be able to resume your usual activities.
Note that your specific circumstances may differ. You can always talk with your surgeon to get a more detailed understanding of your anticipated recovery timeline.
Tips to Prolong Results
As we mentioned above, the effects of breast lift surgery won’t last forever. At some point, you may need to consider a revision to maintain your look. However, how long the results of your breast lift last is within your control to an extent. By following the best practices, you can ensure that your results last for as long as possible. These include:
Wait Until After Pregnancy
Pregnancy and breastfeeding can change the shape of the breasts, impacting the results of the surgery. It’s typically best to wait until after you’ve finished pregnancy and breastfeeding. Planning to have a baby within the next couple of years? Raincheck the surgery until later.
Work With a Good Plastic Surgeon
The results and longevity of your breast lift will depend in large part on the skill of the plastic surgeon who performs the work. At Northland Plastic Surgery, we have an experienced, expert team of plastic surgeons who are considered leaders in their field.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you will help to keep your weight in check and slow down the aging process.
When to Consider a Revision
Have you noticed that the results of your breast lift surgery are beginning to fade? In that case, you may be suitable for a breast lift revision. This handy solution can help to fully restore the appearance of the breasts. You may also consider breast lift revision if you are unsatisfied with the initial results.
Schedule an Appointment With Northland Plastic Surgery Today
Ready to begin your journey to a more youthful, more confident appearance? Get in touch with the team at Northland Plastic Surgery today by calling 218-724-7363.