At The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, a breast lift is frequently asked about. A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to lift the breasts by removing excess skin and tighten the surrounding tissue. The goal of a breast lift is to raise, reshape, and improve the contours of the breasts.
The breast lift is an extremely popular procedure; according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast lifts have outpaced breast augmentation nearly two-to-one in recent years. However, a breast lift alone does not augment the size of the breast. Its purpose is a rejuvenated, youthful, and more natural appearance. A breast lift is often coupled with breast implants (known as mastopexy augmentation) to enhance size while also lifting the breasts, though this depends on each individual patient’s aesthetic goals. You’ll be in great hands with Dr. Patel, as he is considered by his patients to be the best breast surgeon in Chicago.
Self-verified patient of Dr. Parit A Patel
“Amazing place. Amazing doctor. I love my new flat belly and perky breasts. I recommend Dr. Patel highly!”
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR A BREAST LIFT?
As we age, skin and soft tissue loosen, descend, and deflate. This can cause a loss of shape and firmness in the breasts, which can be further exacerbated by pregnancy, fluctuations in weight, breastfeeding, and genetics. A breast lift can also help to correct:
- Enlarged areolas or nipples that point downwards
- Flattened, elongated, or pendulous breasts
- Nipples that fall below the lower crease of the breast (or inframammary fold)
- One breast lower than the other
If any of these factors apply to you, you may be a good candidate for a breast lift. Ideal candidates should be in generally favorable health, non-smokers, and not currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR CONSULTATION
At the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, we understand that poor self-image and confidence can affect more than just self-image, but quality of life as well. The motivations for a breast lift can be varied, but our goal is to help each patient both look and feel like the best version of themselves.
During a consultation at our clinic, a board-certified plastic surgeon will discuss your aesthetic goals and review your medical history to ensure that you are a good candidate for a breast lift. Be prepared to discuss any past surgeries, the results of mammograms or biopsies, and if you have a family history that includes breast cancer.
The surgeon will examine your upper body and take measurements of your breasts for size, shape, skin quality, and nipple position. Photographs are usually taken at this stage so that your plastic surgeon can perform a full evaluation and work with you to determine the best course of treatment to reach your ideal aesthetic goals.
If you have any questions about results, recovery, potential risks, or any other factors, the consultation is the best time to discuss these with your plastic surgeon.
HOW IS A BREAST LIFT PERFORMED?
All surgical procedures by the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago are performed at top hospitals in Chicago and CMS or AAAASF-certified surgical centers for safety.
The particular technique required to perform a breast lift depends on your desired results, as well as your body shape and skin quality. To begin, a general anesthetic is administered to ensure comfort during the procedure.
The placement of the incisions depends on the necessary corrections. The incision sites are concealed whenever possible to avoid visible scarring. The most common incision sites for a breast lift are around the areola, vertically from the areola to the breast crease, or horizontally along the breast crease.
After the incisions are made, your plastic surgeon will reposition and lift the underlying tissue to improve the shape and contour of your breasts. If the breast lift is being performed in conjunction with breast augmentation, the implants would be inserted at this stage to increase volume. The nipple and areola will usually be repositioned to compensate for the new height of the breast, and any excess skin will be removed.
Once the corrections are made, the incisions are closed with sutures. In some cases, incision sites may result in visible faint scars, but these will fade over time. The results of a breast lift are noticeable immediately after surgery.
RECOVERY AFTER A BREAST LIFT
Swelling and bruising of the breasts and incision sites are normal in the weeks following the procedure. Usually, an elastic bandage or support bra is necessary to maintain support while the breasts heal. A drain may be placed at the incision sites after surgery to remove any excess fluid.
Your plastic surgeon will prescribe pain medication and issue post-surgical care instructions to ensure a safe recovery. You should avoid any rigorous exercise or exertion until your doctor clears you to return to your normal level of activity.
POTENTIAL RISKS OF BREAST LIFT SURGERY
There are relatively few risks associated with breast lift surgery; however, any surgical procedure has potential complications. Risks commonly associated with a breast lift may include:
- Infection
- Hematoma (blood clot)
- Temporary or permanent changes in skin sensation
- Fluid accumulation
- Scarring
- Breast asymmetry
The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago takes every measure to minimize risk by using only the safest, most innovative techniques in aesthetic breast surgery.
You can also reduce potential complications by carefully following all instructions from your plastic surgeon, both before and after the procedure.
WHAT DOES A BREAST LIFT COST?
The national average cost for a breast lift in the United States is approximately $4,600, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, this figure will be affected by your location, your plastic surgeon, the center at which the procedure is performed, and the extent of your aesthetic goals.
Most health insurance providers will not cover the expense of a breast lift, since it is considered a cosmetic procedure. Be sure to speak with your plastic surgeon about all associated costs and payment options during your consultation.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
If you are unhappy with the firmness, contours, or shape of your breasts and you believe that a breast lift might be the solution for you, call the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago to schedule a consultation with Dr. Parit Patel. Dr. Patel is a board-certified plastic surgeon who will talk with you about your aesthetic goals and discuss all treatment options available. We will not perform any procedure unless we are certain that it is the best course of treatment for you.
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What you Need to Know About Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery has soared in popularity in recent years, so it is important you are aware of the facts and myths associated with any procedure before you decide to delve in. Let’s begin with a definition: …
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#Primaryrhinoplasty to fix the dorsal hump, droopy tip, and crooked nose. In the post-operative photos, the patient has a nice dorsal profile on side view, the tip has been lifted, and the nose is straight. To evaluate how straight the nose is, look at the dorsal aesthetic lines on bird’s eye view and follow the two light reflexes along the dorsum. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #rhinoplastyrevision #nosejob #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Challenging #tertiaryrhinoplasty on this patient who had nasal deviation, a dorsal hump, and an under-rotated/under-projected tip. In the post-operative photos, you can see a straighter nose with more symmetric dorsal aesthetic lines and tip defining points. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #revisionrhinoplasty #tertiaryrhinoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery #chicagoplasticsurgeon
Honored to be inducted into the Rhinoplasty Society. The Rhinoplasty Society was founded in 1996 by plastic surgeons who have pioneered modern rhinoplasty. The society is dedicated to the education and advancement of nasal surgery.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #therhinoplastysociety #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Relatively small surgeries can yield big changes. This patient wanted to improve the contour of her chin and the overall profile of her face. The patient’s lower 1/3 of the face and chin were short and set back. Additionally, the patient had asymmetries of the chin and jawline that she wanted improved. The patient underwent a #slidinggenioplasty to achieve these goals where the chin was cut and mobilized forward and downward. In the post-operative photos, you can see a more aesthetic and balanced facial profile. The advantages of a #genioplasty over a #chinimplant are that the chin can be moved in numerous planes, the advancement can be more significant, and asymmetries can be addressed. Posted with permission.
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This patient had a bilateral constricted ear deformity where the top portion of the ear folds over the rest of the ear. In this deformity, the ear appears shorter in height and there are abnormalities of the outer and inner folds of the ear. In the postoperative photos you can visualize the ear is longer in height, the helical rim or outer portion of the ear is lifted up and the antihelical fold or inner portion of the ear is more defined. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgey #otoplasty #cupear #constrictedeardeformity #earreconstruction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Challenging #breastaugmentation case where the patient had asymmetries of the breasts in terms of size, shape, and position on the chest. The patient underwent a breast augmentation with #gelimplants with a larger size in the left breast to balance the size difference. The left breast fold was also lowered to match the fold level of the right. Posted with permission.
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Plastic surgery can sometimes be subtle or dramatic. In this case, this patient’s outcome was life altering after a lipoabdominoplasty or tummy tuck. The patient can now do all of the things in life that she was limited in doing due to her body habitus. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #abdominoplasty #liposuction #tummytuck #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Plastic surgeons pioneered microsurgery and free flaps nearly 50 years ago. The surgery involves harvesting tissue with its arteries and veins and transplanting it to another part of the body. The arteries and veins are re-attached at the new site using a microscope and sutures smaller than human hair. In this case, this patient was in a bad car accident where he had an open wound of the leg with exposed and fractured bone. Before microsurgery was invented, many of these patients would have their limb amputated. To salvage his leg, I took a muscle from his thigh and transplanted it to the lower leg to cover the exposed bone after Ortho fixed the broken bone. As you can see in the video, he is on his way to a full recovery and can walk now. After more physical therapy, he will be able to walk without a walker. Posted with permission.
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Amazing transformation for this patient who underwent a lipoabdominoplasty or tummy tuck. In this case I removed excess fat from the abdomen and flanks, removed excess abdominal skin, and rebuilt the abdominal muscles. The incision is kept low so that it is inconspicuous. Posted with permission.
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A former collegiate wrestler who developed moderate cauliflower ear of the left that resulted in a thick and more protruding ear. A cauliflower ear forms after blunt trauma to the ear where a blood clot develops. If left untreated, the ear cartilage becomes thick and hard, which makes these cases difficult to treat. After surgery, the patient now reports feeling more confident when he looks in the mirror and when he is communicating with people in social settings. Posted with permission.
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What a transformation for this patient who wanted a #snatched waist and augmentation of the buttock and hips or #BBL.
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Breast augmentation on a pro athlete who wanted a natural augmentation and to be able to still perform at a high level. We opted for a smaller implant to meet those goals. The patient is tall and lean and the implants fit her frame perfectly. Posted with permission.
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Maintaining masculinity and core features without major alterations were the plan for this patient who underwent a #revisionrhinoplasty. The patient reports that when people see him now after surgery, the comments he receives are along the lines of “you look well rested or more handsome” and not “did you have a rhinoplasty or you look completely different”. Exactly what we like to hear. Posted with permission.
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Check out this transformation on a mom of 2 who developed significant deflation of her breasts after pregnancy and breast feeding. Posted with permission.
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Midterm follow-up on this lovely #rhinoplasty patient who wanted nasal surgery to improve her nasal breathing but also to improve the aesthetics of the nose. Fixing the crooked nose is a challenge in rhinoplasty and on the bird’s eye view, you can visualize improvement in the dorsal aesthetic lines. Dorsal aesthetic lines are two curvilinear light reflex lines that travel from the inner eyebrow to the tip of the nose on frontal view. On profile view you can see a nice profile with the dorsal hump removed. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #hybridrhinoplasty #septoplasty #crookednose #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Honored to lead the Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons (MAPS) as president for 2021-2022 with this group of esteemed colleagues on the board with me. MAPS is a plastic surgery society that was founded in 1961 to foster the development of plastic surgery in the Midwest region and involves plastic surgeons and plastic surgery programs from the states of Kansas, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. We are currently planning our annual meeting which will take place in Chicago on May 20-21st. The meeting will have renowned plastic surgeons from all over the United States to share ideas and to advance our specialty forward.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #MAPS #cosmeticsurgery #craniofacialsurgery #microsurgery #aestheticsurgery #handsurgery #pediatricsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery #burnsurgeryspecialist
Happy for this mother of 2 who wanted to improve the contour and aesthetics of her abdomen and waist with an #abdominoplasty or #tummy tuck. After children, women can experience rectus diastasis or separation of the abdominal muscles as the uterus expands. During a tummy tuck, plastic surgeons will address this separation by stitching the muscles back together. In the post-operative photos you can visualize the muscles re-positioned more centrally. Additionally, we will perform liposuction, remove excess abdominal skin and re-set the belly button. Posted with permission.
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Asian upper blepharoplasty or “double eyelid surgery” is a variation of an upper eyelid lift or upper blepharoplasty procedure where the upper eyelid crease is raised and more defined. Additionally, the epicanthal fold or skin that covers the inner corner of the eye can be removed depending on the patient’s goals. The goal of this surgery is not to necessarily create an occidental appearing eye but to maintain the patient’s features and create the appearance that the eye is larger and more refreshed. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #blepharoplasty #eyelidlift #asianblepharoplasty #doubleeyelidsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
It’s amazing how a small surgery can have a large impact on a person’s facial proportions. This patient underwent a #genioplasty or chin augmentation and #neckliposuction to improve the aesthetics and balance of the lower 1/3 of the face. In the post-operative photos, the patient’s face appears less round, more angular, and the lower 1/3 more proportional with the middle and upper 1/3 of the face. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #genioplasty #chinaugmentation #neckliposuction #craniofacialsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Six month follow-up on a natural #otoplasty procedure or #earpinning procedure. Plastic surgeons board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery have pioneered the techniques used today for ear pinning surgery. The surgery entails improving the definition of the ears and setting the ears closer to the scalp. The patient reports feeling more confident in the size, shape, and symmetry of his ears in social and work settings. Posted with permission.
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