Breast Lift in Philadelphia
Introduction to Breast Lift
One of the most experienced breast surgeons in Philadelphia!
As women age, the breasts often begin to lose firmness and shape, as the skin’s elasticity weakens. The aesthetic results of lax tissue can be seen all over the body, but it is especially apparent when occurring in the breasts. As the skin slowly stretches and loses its shape, the breasts may begin to slide downward, take on a pendulous look, nipple position is altered, and upper pole fullness is depleted (the round contour at the top of the breasts).
As a top breast lift surgeon in Philadelphia, Dr. Ronald Lohner practices patient saftey while also priding himself on patient satisfaction. Below, we’ve included more information about the surgery and frequently asked questions.
What is a Breast Lift?
Let’s start with the basics
The technical name of the procedure is a Mastopexy. While women with larger chests are increasingly more prone to sagging breast tissue, various women of different ages, different chest sizes, with or without implants, can experience this problem.
Other factors that can play a role in migrating and deflated breasts include a dramatic weight loss, illness, pregnancy, or breastfeeding, just to name a few. Once these changes appear in the breasts, there is no resolution without surgical intervention.
Breast Lift at First Glance
Surgery Time: 2 – 4 hours
Price: ~$9,500 – $12,000 (For an accurate cost, please ask during your consultation).
Recovery: Most patients can expect to be able to return to work after 1 – 2 weeks. The majority of swelling should resolve itself within 3 – 6 weeks.
Results: Immediately noticeable results, however it can take some time for your breasts to settle into their final shape, size, and position, with patients seeing final results anywhere between 2 months up to a full year.
Dr. Lohner’s Breast Lift Expertise in Philadelphia
- Dr. Ronald Lohner has successfully performed over 1 thousand aesthetic Breast surgeries throughout his career.
- Dr. Lohner has been a Board-certified plastic surgeon with the American Board of Surgery since 1995.
- A double major graduate of Dartmouth College, followed by a Doctorate of Medicine from UMDNJ-Rutgers.
- While at UMDNJ-Rutgers, he was named Alpha Mega Alpha, an honorary society for the top ten percent of medical students.
- Dr. Lohner is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of numerous surgical societies including The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, The Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the Robert H. Ivy Society of Plastic Surgeons.
- Dr. Lohner has been Voted Philadelphia’s “Top Doc” 13 years in a row.
Top Reasons for Breast Lift Surgery
Our Philadelphia breast lift patients come to us for multiple reasons. Below, we’ve included the top reasons that patients get a breast lift:
- Following Pregnancy
- After Breast-feeding
- Extreme weight gain and loss
- Aging
- Genetics
Gallery
Results speak for
themselves.
Who are the Best Candidates for Breast Lift?
Ideal candidates for this procedure are women dealing with the burden of sagging breasts. The average age of women seeking this procedure is usually around 40 years old, healthy women of any age, dealing with the loss of breast shape and altered nipple position, may benefit from this procedure. As with all cosmetic surgery, the most successful results occur for women in generally good health, a positive outlook, and realistic surgical expectations.
What’s the First Step?
Those women thinking this procedure may be the right for them should begin by learning all they can about the procedure. Read and research the benefits of the surgery, surgical techniques, the recovery period, as well as the background of the surgeon. Dr. Lohner has over twenty years of experience in Cosmetic Surgery and is Board Certified in Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery.
Next, the patient should schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Lohner. At this time, Dr. Lohner will review medical history, surgical background, and the patient’s aesthetic needs and wants. At this time he will also answer any remaining questions the patient may have. He will also go into great detail about the procedure, using computer imaging to assist patients to have a clear idea about his personalized plan for their surgery designed with the patient’s goals in mind.
How to Prepare for Breast Lift Surgery?
Mastopexy is a safe and effective procedure for restoring a youthful-looking chest. At the consultation appointment, Dr. Lohner will provide specific pre-operative and post-operative instructions. To ensure a stress-free surgery and a smooth recovery, carefully read through these directions, plan ahead, and follow these tips:
1. Ask questions
Pay attention during your consultation appointment with Dr. Lohner. Ask questions about any research you conducted on your own time. Carefully read through your surgical instructions. If you have any other outstanding questions, do not hesitate to call the office at any time.
3. Fill and pick up your prescriptions prior to your surgery
Dr. Lohner will prescribe pain medication to keep you comfortable during the recovery period. Do not wait until after your procedure, when you need these medications, to deal with the long line at the pharmacy.
5. Schedule your follow-up appointments
Dr. Lohner will let you know when you should return to the office for a checkup. These visits are vital to appropriate healing, so be available. Get them on your calendar, arrange for a ride Breast Lift in Philadelphia if needed, and take the time off work.
2. Arrange transportation
After surgery, you will not be able to drive yourself home. Arrange a ride home from the surgical center and to your future follow-up appointments as needed.
4. Take time off from work or school
Dr. Lohner will review what to expect from the surgery. Take the time for yourself to properly rest and heal.
6. Set up assistance
The first day or two after your surgery, you may be sore, tired, and slow-moving. You will be happy to have a family member or close friend stop by briefly to help with chores, etc
7. Put emergency numbers in a central location
While the chances of an emergency are low, be prepared to have all of your important phone numbers and insurance cards in one place. Let a family or friend know where these are located so they can better assist you in case of an emergency.
Breast Lift Recovery
Patients can expect the postoperative recovery from surgery to last between seven and ten days. In the first couple of days post-surgery, it is common for patients to experience some degree of swelling and bruising.
These will take from one to three weeks to completely subside. There may be mild to moderate pain immediately after the surgery, but Dr. Lohner will prescribe appropriate medications to keep patients resting comfortably at home. Temporary numbness is not uncommon.
For the first several weeks after a mastopexy, patients will be required to wear a support bra or support garment. Normally, patients feel well enough to return to work or school in three to five days after surgery, although, strenuous activities need to be postponed for a full six to eight weeks.
Common Types of Incisions Used for a Breast Lift
- Periareolar: Sometimes referred to as a crescent lift, Dr. Lohner will make this incision on the upper edge of the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple), removing a small amount of the skin, and repositioning the nipple and areola in a slightly higher location. This approach is primarily used with patients who have minimal sagging.
- Circumareolar: Often called a “doughnut” lift, these incisions encircle the entire areola. Dr. Lohner will rely on this approach when a breast lift is combined with implants, and it allows him to reposition breast tissue before closing the incision.
- Vertical: This incision is known as the “Lollipop” lift as it makes a circular incision around the areola, much like the circumareolar, but combines it with a vertical incision down the middle of the breast to the crease, which looks very similar to its nickname. Sometimes also referred to as a “Keyhole” lift, this approach works great for patients with mild to moderate sagging.
Anchor: Regarded as the traditional breast lift, an anchor incision makes an inverted “T”, and provides women struggling with severe sagging with the most support. When performing this technique, Dr. Lohner will make incisions at the areolar, as well as vertical and horizontal incisions along the crease. It is more commonly used when a breast lift is combined with a breast reduction.
What Causes Your Breasts to Sag?
Sagging breasts will, unfortunately, affect every woman at some point in their life, with some being more apparent than others. A majority of these reasons are completely natural and unpreventable, but can still create a lack of confidence in a woman’s appearance. So what are these offenders?
- Age: This is an obvious one, but one of the heaviest hitters when it comes to our body changes. With the assistance of gravity, the older we get, the more our elastins stretch, which leads to sagging.
- Breast Asymmetry: Whether it be through genetics, injury, medical conditions, or a variety of other reasons, some women have uneven breasts. While this may not cause “sagging”, it definitely creates the illusion.
- Major Weight Loss: Another primary player in sagging breasts, extreme weight loss can create stretch marks and loss of elastin in the breasts, belly, and other parts of your body.
Pregnancy and Childbirth: As beautiful as bringing a newborn into this world is, the changes your body goes through are a lot, to say the least. While some women are able regain their pre-pregnancy bodies, it’s more difficult for others, especially after multiple pregnancies.
The good news is that no matter what the reason is creating your need for a Breast Lift, Dr. Lohner has the expertise and skill to get you back to your more youthful appearance and help you find your confidence in your beautiful body.
Potential Risks from Breast Lift Surgery
“Dr. Lohner is a Board Certified Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgeon, with over twenty years of plastic surgery experience.”
Dr. Lohner is a Board Certified Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgeon, with over twenty years of plastic surgery experience. By choosing a physician with his level of skill and training, patients minimize the chance for problems after their procedure. As with all invasive procedures, there is still a rare chance for complications to occur in which a breast reconstruction might be ideal instead of a lift procedure. These include excessive bleeding, infection, scarring, poor wound healing, nerve damage or nipple numbness, and asymmetry.
Is a Breast Lift permanent?
Although every patient will have a different experience with the lasting results of their Breast Lift, this procedure has an average of 10 – 15 years, although some women do see longer-lasting results than that.
The most important thing when having ANY cosmetic surgery performed is to maintain positive and realistic expectations from your procedure. Things like gravity, age, or other factors can affect the appearance of your breasts, and while they can not be prevented, there are some things that you can do to prolong your results, such as:
- Avoid excessive weight fluctuations
- Don’t smoke
- Hold off on surgery if you plan on having more children or are currently nursing
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise
- Wear bras that provided adequate support as often as possible
What are the risks associated with a Breast Lift?
Dr. Lohner has been performing all types of cosmetic surgery over the years and takes pride in providing safe surgeries with positive outcomes. That being said, there are certain risks and side effects associated with the procedure, which can include but are not limited to
- Anesthesia risks
- Asymmetrical breasts
- Breast contour and shape irregularities
- Cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Changes in breast or nipple sensation (can be temporary or permanent)
- Deep vein thrombosis (development of a blood clot)
- Difficulty or inability to breastfeed
- Excessive bleeding or hematoma formation
- Fat necrosis (death of fatty tissue located deep in the skin)
- Fluid accumulation
- Infection
- Large or uneven scars
- Numbness and nerve damage in the breasts
- Poor healing of incisions
- Possibility of revisional surgery
- Potential partial or total loss of nipple and areola
If you experience any of the aforementioned reactions to your Breast Lift surgery, or have any long-lasting or concerning experiences during your recovery, please contact Lohner Plastic Surgery immediately at (610) 519-0600.
How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost in Philadelphia?
The cost of a breast lift in Philadelphia will vary on a number of factors. At your initial consultation, Dr. Lohner will go over the procedures and the costs involved. The exact cost will be determined at the consultation appointment
Schedule Your Consultation
Our Philadelphia breast lift patients find that the surgery greatly benefits their lives by providing more self-confidence! If you still have questions about the procedure, contact us today! We are happy to further explain your options, and assist in scheduling a consultation appointment with Dr. Lohner. For those coming from out of town, travel arrangements to our Philadelphia area office can be provided. Lohner Plastic Surgery is conveniently located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, an easy commute from Newton Square, Havertown, and Villanova.