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Breast Reduction/Lift

What is a Breast Reduction/Lift?

Also Known As a Reduction Mammaplasty or Mastopexy

Women who seek breast reduction often have had children, are overweight, have a predisposition for large, disproportionate breasts, or are sensitive to estrogen. Big breasts often run in a family, inherited from mothers and grandmothers. A breast lift addresses sagging and uneven breasts, decreased breast volume and drooping nipples and stretched areolas (the darker area surrounding the nipples), recreating a youthful shape and lift to your breasts. If there is too little or too much breast volume, a breast augmentation or breast reduction might be recommended in addition to a lift.

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Breast reduction or breast lift start at $9,000+

WHAT IS THE DOWNTIME?

You can expect 7-10 days of downtime

WILL I HAVE RESTRICTIONS?

Patients can expect 2 weeks of lifting restrictions

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE?

Non-smokers, female, 18-65+ years old and generally in good health

Am I a good candidate for a Breast Reduction or Breast Lift?

A good candidate for a breast reduction and/or breast lift is someone who is in good health without certain underlying medical conditions that may make surgery unsafe. In most cases, you want to also be finished having children and breastfeeding because these can have significant and unpredictable effects on the size and shape of your breasts.

You must also be able to discuss what you want with your cosmetic surgeon so that you can reach an understanding of what can realistically be achieved. It is essential that you have realistic expectations for the outcome of your surgery to be a good candidate.

When to Consider a Breast Reduction

If you are seeking a reduction in your breasts’ size, and any of the following describe you, then a breast reduction may be an option to consider:

  • You have backaches or neck aches due to your breasts’ size
  • You have difficulty breathing
  • You notice grooves in your shoulders from your bra straps
  • You have poor posture or numbness in parts of your breasts and upper chest from excessive breast weight
  • You find it difficult or nearly impossible to buy dresses and blouses that fit
  • You are unhappy with your appearance because of your breast size
  • Your skin has adequate elasticity, so it can resume its former tightness following reduction surgery
  • You are mentally and emotionally stable, as breast reduction requires patience and stability to deal with the healing period

When to Consider a Breast Lift

If pregnancy, nursing, gravity, weight gain or loss, normal aging, and heredity have taken a toll on the shape of your breasts, resulting in sagging, then a lift might be a great option for you. A breast lift may be ideal if any of the following describe you:

  • You have sagging breasts
  • Your nipple-areola complex falls below the inframammary fold, or the fold at the base of the breast
  • You have skin irritation under your breasts
  • You are unhappy with your appearance because of excess breast sagging
  • You are unhappy with the appearance of your areolas (the pigmented area around your nipples)

If your surgeon thinks that breast implants alone are unlikely to achieve the contour you desire, then a lift might be able to provide the youthful, rejuvenated appearance you are hoping for (alone or in combination with implants). If the tissue surrounding your nipples (the areola) has become stretched, we can address this concern with a breast lift, as well.

Types of Breast Reductions and Lifts

Cosmetic surgeons use a variety of incision techniques for breast reduction or breast lift surgery; the exact technique Dr. Maningas uses will vary based on your breast size and shape, the degree of sagging, skin quality and elasticity, the amount of excess skin and/or tissue to be removed, as well as your personal goals.

Crescent Lift

This breast lift technique involves a small incision running halfway around the top half of the edge of the areola. It is the least invasive lift, suitable for women who have a very small amount of sagging. It can be performed in conjunction with breast augmentation.

Peri-Areolar or “Donut” Lift

This breast lift method involves a circular incision running around the edge of the areola, and is more suited for women who have mild to moderate sagging. It is often performed alongside breast augmentation. This technique can help reduce areola size and achieve a modest lift.

Vertical or “Lollipop” Lift

This lift is for women with moderate sagging who need more extensive reshaping to achieve a fuller appearance. The incisions look like a lollipop, as they are made around the areola and down to the breast crease. This allows the surgeon to remove excess skin and reshape the entire breast with more significant lifting.

Inverted T or “Anchor” Lift

This is the most extensive breast lift technique, suitable for women with a significant amount of sagging and drooping. The incisions are made around the areola, vertically down to the breast crease, and horizontally along the breast crease, resembling an anchor shape. This method allows for maximum reshaping and lifting of the breast tissue.

Auto-Augmentation Lift

This technique involves repositioning the patient’s own breast tissue to increase fullness at the top of the breasts. It can be combined with other lift techniques for women who want a lift and fuller appearance without implants.

Each technique has its own set of indications, benefits, and potential drawbacks, including varying degrees of scarring. During your consultation with Dr. Maningas, he will learn about your goals and recommend the type of breast reduction or breast lift that will achieve optimal results with the least conspicuous scarring possible.

Had a great experience. Dr. Maningas and his staff are very kind. All of my questions were clearly answered and I felt completely comfortable.

Patient Testimonial

I cannot not say enough wonderful things about Dr. Maningas and his practice. Everyone is so pleasant. I could not be more happy with the care I received!

Patient Testimonial

Dr. Maningas is a fine person, skilled surgeon, and enjoys helping his patients. He will be a true asset to the community and I look forward to his return to Joplin.

Frank Shagets, MD

I have had the best experience hands down. Dr. Maningas and my nurses the day of my surgery were absolutely incredible. They made me feel comfortable and at ease.

Patient Testimonial

I worked alongside Dr. Maningas during his fellowship training year and was impressed by his surgical skills and compassion for his patients.

Carey J. Nease, MD

DO I NEED BREAST IMPLANTS WITH MY REDUCTION/LIFT?

The need for an implant depends on the aesthetic goals of the patient, or what they want from the breast enhancement surgery. Sometimes a breast augmentation is suggested in addition to a breast reduction or breast lift to restore volume for enhanced cleavage and upper pole fullness if that is the desired outcome.

WILL MY INCISIONS BE VISIBLE?

Depending on the type of breast reduction/lift technique that Dr. Maningas uses, a portion of the incision may be visible. During your cosmetic surgery consult, Dr. Maningas will recommend the type of breast lift that will achieve optimal results with the least conspicuous scarring possible. After surgery, we will guide you on techniques to help your scar heal as inconspicuously, and as close to your natural skin tone, as possible.

SHOULD I WAIT UNTIL I'M DONE HAVING KIDS?

We encourage patients to be finished having children and breast-feeding before having a breast reduction or breast lift done because this can have significant and unpredictable effects on the size and shape of your breasts. Nevertheless, many women decide to undergo a breast reduction or lift before having children—you simply must be prepared to address any subsequent changes later. If you plan to breast-feed in the future, you should discuss this with your cosmetic surgeon.

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