There is no single “perfect breast lift in NYC” at the offices of Dr. Edmund Kwan, MD. The surgical technique depends on many factors unique to each patient, including:
- Breast size and shape
- Level of desired improvement
- Body frame and proportions
Some of these characteristics may make you a good candidate for a breast lift or mastopexy, alone or combined with breast augmentation or implants. When making this investment of time and money, it’s natural to wonder, “Are Breast Lifts Permanent?” Here Dr. Kwan discusses important considerations when weighing options to improve the appearance of your breasts, and factors that influence how long you’re able to enjoy the beautiful results from mastopexy procedures.
Reset the clock.
It’s not uncommon to hear the phrase, “Stop the clock” when referring to cosmetic procedures. More accurately, we “reset the clock.” You can’t stop many of the elements that ultimately lead to your considering cosmetic improvement. Gravity is a constant and time continues to march on, resulting in changes to the structural support of the skin. As it relates to the breast lift, many women who seek out our expertise like the size of their breasts. What they don’t like is the saggy and droopy appearance that developed over time. Many of the reasons your eyes may appear baggier or your jawline less defined are the same reasons your breasts may have fallen farther southward; for example, collagen gives skin its strength and flexibility. Over time, this protein dries up. Even if your weight fluctuates very little and you don’t have children, your breasts can still sag as your body produces less of the collagen that provides support and bounce to the breasts’ connective tissue.
While the fountain of youth may be elusive, rest assured that your appearance following mastopexy at our offices will always be better than if you didn’t have the procedure. In this sense, the improvement achieved with a breast lift could be considered permanent. In the sense that your breasts and the rest of your body still age, a lift is best at a specific moment in time after the full results from the procedure have been realized and before the effects of gravity and aging recur.
Delay the aging process – for longer-lasting results.
During your consultation, we’ll discuss many factors that can affect the initial outcome of the procedure as well as your long-term satisfaction with it. We welcome any questions or concerns that you may have, and value an open and honest dialogue. Be prepared to discuss:
- Surgical goals
- Habits such as smoking
- Longer-term plans – for example, are more children in your future?
- Previous surgeries
- Family history of conditions like breast cancer
- Medical conditions and current medications
- Results from mammograms or biopsies
Things like post-surgery pregnancy can minimize or even reverse mastopexy results! Smoking and tobacco use also accelerates aging and interferes with healthy healing during your recovery. There is also the issue of maintaining a stable weight. It’s important to be within or around a healthy weight range for a prolonged period of time before undergoing this procedure. To maintain gorgeous improvement, maintain that healthy weight!
Why post-op instructions are so important.
As with all procedures administered at our offices, it’s essential to follow any directions provided by the team. There is a valid reason for each and every step. Healthy recovery is a must to minimize your risk of developing complications, and to get the maximum and desired results from mastopexy. We’ll instruct on things like how to prevent incisions from getting bumped, or from sustaining excessive force. By following directions and wearing proper support garments as advised, those immediate results will only get better in the following few months as breast shape and positioning settles.
As with all procedures, not every woman is a good candidate for mastopexy. Women with very dense breasts may notice recurrent sagging earlier than those whose breast tissue is not as heavy. In some cases, augmentation with breast implants may be suggested and performed at the same time as the breast lift. And second lifts aren’t unheard of, as nipple position remains attractive but excess tissue may develop and need to be removed in the future.
Dr. Edmund Kwan, MD is there for you, no matter what the future holds. Contact (201) 992 6742 one of our three offices in Manhattan, Flushing, or Fort Lee to discuss your goals.