Breast Lifts in Dalton & Chattanooga
Also serving Calhoun & Cartersville in North Georgia
Many women are bothered when their belly button and breasts seem to be getting closer to each other. It's almost inevitable that at some point in a woman's life, her breasts will sag. Many women notice their breasts starting to droop after they've nursed their children or simply because of genetics. Breast lift does not address the volume of the breasts; rather, it improves their position by elevating them higher on the chest. Board-certified Chattanooga / Dalton plastic surgeon Dr. Joel Williams can surgically lift the breasts into a more youthful-looking position, forcing the belly button and breasts to go their separate ways and restoring the figure you will once again recognize.
Learn more about breast lift surgery in Dalton and contact Dr. Williams either by calling (706) 278-2700 or emailing the practice.
Breast Lift Candidates
Appropriate breast lift candidates have sagging or drooping breasts. They should be in strong physical and mental health with no serious health conditions that could jeopardize the surgery. Candidates should be non-smokers, or able to refrain from smoking for a period of time before and after surgery. Dr. Williams determines each patient's candidacy on a case-by-case basis during the initial consultation.
Breast Lift Surgery
Breast lift surgery is performed at Dr. Williams' accredited surgical facility. Dr. Williams makes a modified keyhole-shaped incision extending around the areola and vertically down the crease of the breast. Through the incision, he can resize the areola if needed, and remove excess skin from the lower portion of the breast. He reshapes the breast tissue to create a breast mound higher on the chest. The nipple and areola are moved to a higher position while remaining attached to the underlying breast tissue. The skin flaps from above and on either side of the nipple are lowered and secured below the nipple to reshape the breast. Dr. Williams closes the incisions with sutures, taking the extra time to place all sutures below the skin's surface where they support the healing scar and leave behind no unsightly stitch marks. The patient is then taken to the recovery center.
A woman who has decided to increase the volume of her breasts in addition to lifting them may opt to have a combination breast lift/breast augmentation surgery.
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Recovering from Breast Lift Surgery
When the anesthesia wears off from the surgery, the patient will be resting comfortably in our recovery center. We ask that patients make arrangements prior to their procedure to have a companion drive them home and get them situated with the necessary medications, plenty of liquids and other supplies. During the first few days after breast lift surgery, the patient will be sore, but pain is generally minimal with many patients choosing primarily non-narcotic pain medication only. The breasts will be sore, bruised and swollen, but these symptoms are temporary. It's very important that breast lift patients prevent trauma from lifting heavy objects (including children) for a designated period of time. The surgical incisions will be sealed and generally require little care. Dr. Williams will provide more specific aftercare instructions during the preoperative consultation. He will also have the breast lift patient return to his office several days after surgery for thorough follow-up care.
Breast Lift Recovery Period
Patients may experience discomfort, swelling, and bruising for the first few weeks after breast lift surgery. Pain medications may be prescribed to minimize discomfort during the first week of breast lift recovery. Patients are required to avoid sleeping on their stomachs for the first two weeks, and are advised to avoid being submerged in water until the sutures are removed. We also require patients to avoid any vigorous activities for the first couple of weeks of breast lift recovery.
Patients will not see final results for about a month or so. Some patients are able to return to their daily routines and continue exercising before this time. However, it can take up to two months for the swelling and bruising to be fully healed. Numbness in the breast area is likely to subside around this time period as well.
Will My Breast Lift Leave Scars?
Any kind of major surgery that involves making incisions across the skin can cause scarring. The question is, will it cause any noticeable scarring?
Breast lift scars will be noticeable for about a month during the end of the recovery period. The scars then will become less inflamed and will start fading into low profile lines.
Breast Lift Benefits and Risks
Breast lift rearranges the breasts into a more youthful and perky position. It can also reduce the size of the areola. A Chattanooga / Dalton breast lift patient may feel much better and more confident with her lifted breasts. As with any cosmetic procedure, there are benefits and drawbacks.
Breast lift risks should be carefully considered and weighed against the benefits during the decision-making process. Potential complications include unfavorable scarring, infection, excessive bleeding, loss of sensation in the nipple or breast, anesthesia-related complications and breast asymmetry.
If you are interested in speaking with Dr. Joel Williams about breast lift surgery, schedule an informal consultation at our facility in Dalton today and see if you are the perfect candidate.