Breast Lift

Having children or losing a significant amount of weight can enhance your life in many ways. Unfortunately, your breasts can also be left looking saggy and flattened. For many women, gravity and time are enough to diminish the shapeliness of their larger breasts. Our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Steven J. Bates and Dr. Benjamin Maser, create a more youthful, renewed breast shape with a breast lift in San Jose.

Request a free consultation with Dr. Maser or Dr. Bates at Reveal Plastic Surgery or call (408) 356-4241 to schedule your appointment today.

Breast Lift
 Before & After Photos

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Understanding Breast Lift Surgery

Breast lift surgery, technically called mastopexy, can restore a firm, rounded shape to your breasts. This procedure is appropriate for women of all ages, although we encourage women who are considering future pregnancies to postpone their surgery until afterward. Women visit our practice for breast lift surgery from Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Campbell, and other nearby cities for their own personal reasons, which often include:

  • Creating firmer, shapelier breasts
  • Aligning breasts when one sits lower than the other
  • Reducing areola size
  • Enhancing other breast procedures, such as breast augmentation
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Dr. Bates and Dr. Maser strive to establish a comfortable, open relationship with their patients. They will allow plenty of time to thoroughly discuss your breast enhancement options and answer all of your questions at your consultation. Be sure to review before-and-after photos to see the improvements for some of our actual breast lift patients.

Combining Procedures

Women who have had one or more pregnancies can benefit from the combination of a breast lift with breast augmentation, liposuction, and a tummy tuck for a complete Mommy Makeover.

Breast Lift vs Breast Augmentation

Sagging breasts may also appear deflated. You can combine your lift with breast implants, to create breasts that are perkier, larger, and fuller after surgery. For women who have lost breast volume due to time or pregnancies, combining a lift and augmentation can help restore their sense of femininity and confidence.

Breast augmentation alone doesn’t lift the breasts. The implants add volume and may actually make breasts sag even more without the benefit of a breast lift. For women with minimal sagging, breast augmentation without a lift may be appropriate. Read more about how to know if you need a breast lift or breast augmentation.

Our Plastic Surgeons

Our board-certified plastic surgeons have decades of combined experience performing cosmetic procedures for the face, breasts, and body. Their expertise, superior care, and impressive outcomes draw patients from across the San Francisco Bay Area. Their caring, down-to-earth personalities cultivate lasting doctor-patient relationships.

Credentials you can trust

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Your Breast Lift Surgery

Breast lift surgery is performed as an outpatient surgery that takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete, with additional time required when combined with other procedures. You will need to have someone drive you home and help you out for the first few days after your procedure.

Incision Options

Dr. Maser and Dr. Bates perform breast lift surgery usually using either an anchor-shaped incision or a concentric (donut) incision around the areolas with or without a vertical incision. They reposition the nipples and areolas higher on the breasts, removes excess skin and tissue, and closes the incisions with fine sutures. Although scars cannot be completely avoided, they should lighten considerably over the first year.

Breast Lift Recovery

You will be required to wear a special support bra for the first 3 to 4 weeks while your body heals. You should be able to return to light activity, including work, within in 7 to 10 days. Strenuous arm movements and heavy lifting of any kind should be avoided for several weeks.

Recovery Timeline

Here is a general timeline of what to expect during recovery:

  • Discomfort begins to subside: 3 to 4 days
  • Return to school or work: 7 to 10 days
  • Sleep with the chest elevated: 5 to 7 days
  • Resume low-impact exercise: 2 weeks
  • Bruising and swelling fade: 3 to 4 weeks
  • Resume strenuous exercise: 6 to 8 weeks

Dr. Bates, Dr. Maser, and the entire staff at Reveal Plastic Surgery are available every step of the way and will ensure that your recovery is as smooth and worry-free as possible

Envision a New You Before Surgery

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Breast Lift FAQ

Will I need to wear a special bra after surgery?

Yes. You’ll wear a surgical support bra immediately after your procedure and continue wearing that for a few days before switching to a special, softer support bra that should be worn for the first 3 to 4 weeks of your recovery.  

How long will my results last?

Breast lift surgery makes permanent changes by removing excess skin and reshaping breast tissue. The results will last for years (unless your weight fluctuates significantly). The normal aging process and gravity will ultimately cause your skin to lose its elasticity and result in some sagging.

What’s the best age to get a breast lift?

There isn’t an ideal age to get a breast lift. The reasons for getting breast lift surgery vary from person to person. Some young women whose breasts are naturally saggy decide to get a breast lift. Many patients are women whose breasts sagged after having children and who want to restore the pre-pregnancy perkiness to their breasts.

Is the surgery painful?

Breast lift surgery is performed with the patient under a general anesthetic, so the procedure itself is not painful. You can expect some discomfort during the first few days of your recovery, which can be managed with either prescription pain medication or over-the-counter pain relievers.

Will my breasts get smaller with a lift?

Women typically wear bras about 1 cup size smaller after a breast lift. This isn’t necessarily because the breasts have lost volume but because cup sizes naturally go down after a surgeon removes excess skin and repositions sagging breast tissue. You can combine a breast lift with breast implants to increase the size of your breasts if desired.

Can I get a lift with fat transfer instead of implants if I want more volume?

Combining a breast lift with fat transfer to the breasts to increase size is a good option for some patients. Fat transfer breast augmentation uses liposuction to harvest fat from an area of the body where it’s unwanted, such as the abdomen or thighs, and injects it into the breasts after it’s purified.

Your New Look

Most women are very satisfied with their firm, more shapely breasts from breast lift surgery. Our breast lift patients often feel more attractive and self-confident, both in and out of clothing.

Dr. Maser and Dr. Bates regard their roles as plastic surgeons as more of a calling than a career, making patient care a priority. To learn more about breast enhancement, including breast lift surgery, request your complimentary cosmetic consultation online or call our office at  (408) 356-4241.

Financing Made Easy

You have options when it comes to paying for your procedure. Patient financing makes it affordable and stress free.

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