Question 1

What's the difference between a breast lift and a breast reduction, and which procedure is right for me?

Accepted Answer

A breast lift (mastopexy) raises sagging breasts by removing excess skin and tightening tissue, while a breast reduction removes excess breast tissue to reduce size and address physical discomfort. If you're concerned primarily with sagging but happy with your current breast size, a lift is typically the right choice. If you experience back, neck, or shoulder pain from breast weight, or want smaller breasts, reduction may be better. During your consultation with our board-certified surgeons, we'll evaluate your goals, anatomy, and lifestyle to recommend the procedure that best suits your needs.

Question 2

What is the best approach for a breast lift?

Accepted Answer

There are various approaches that are considered successful with a breast lift and there isn't any clearly defined way of self diagnosing what the best approach is for your breast size and shape.  Dr. Capuano is well versed with breast lift surgery and can answer any questions or concerns that you may have regarding breast lift surgery.

Question 3

How do I determine at-home, if I need a breast lift or if I am a candidate for a breast augmentation?

Accepted Answer

To determine at home if you need a breast lift, here is a quick reference to give you an idea of whether or not you may need a breast lift with your augmentation. Grab a measuring tape. Then find the fold underneath your breast (along your chest wall). Place the beginning of the measuring tape at your breast fold and release your breast to drape over the fold. Face the mirror and mark on the tape where your breast hangs to. If your tape measures 8.5 cm or more you are a good candidate for a breast lift.A breast augmentation by itself may likely not give you the natural result you desire. If you are interested in having a breast augmentation you may want to consider a breast lift with your augmentation for the best possible outcome. A  thorough consultation with Dr. Capuano will offer you the benefit of understanding whether or not you require a lift or if an augmentation is appropriate. Additional information specific to each patient is also necessary to find out whether a breast lift is right for you.

Question 4

How much scarring will I have after a breast lift, and will it fade over time?

Accepted Answer

Breast lift surgery does result in scars, but our board-certified surgeons at the Northern Center for Plastic Surgery use advanced techniques to minimize their visibility. The pattern and extent depend on the lift technique used—some require scars only around the areola, while others may extend vertically or horizontally along the breast fold. Most scars fade significantly within 12–18 months as they mature, and they become increasingly less noticeable over time. We provide detailed post-operative scar care instructions and can discuss scar revision options if needed during your consultation.

Question 5

Can I have a breast lift if I'm planning to get pregnant, or should I wait?

Accepted Answer

While you can have a breast lift before pregnancy, many patients choose to wait until they've completed their family planning because pregnancy and breastfeeding can change breast shape and size again. However, some patients successfully have lifts before pregnancy with excellent long-term results. During your consultation, our experienced surgeons will discuss your family planning timeline and help you decide the optimal timing for your procedure. We'll also explain how pregnancy may affect your results so you can make an informed decision.

Question 6

Length of Surgery

Accepted Answer

The procedure takes between 3 to 4 hours or more depending on the patient’s anatomy, and surgical needs.   The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, on an outpatient basis, in the hospital or surgery center.

Question 7

Expected Recovery

Accepted Answer

Most patients are able to return to work within about 1 to 2 weeks.  You may begin light exercise at 2-3 weeks, while 6 weeks is required, before returning to strenuous activity or lifting.  Bruising may be present for up to 3 weeks.  Patients are instructed to wear a light compressive bra for 6 weeks as well as a receive a series of post operative lymphatic drainage.  Although some results are immediately evident, the final result of your breast lift may not be apparent for 6 months to a year post operatively.  Scars begin to fade from 7 months up to about a year and a half.

Question 8

Common Side Effects

Accepted Answer

Bruising, swelling, soreness, temporary numbness, surgical scars

Question 9

Surgical Risks

Accepted Answer

Risks include bleeding, infection, hematoma, permanent changes in skin or nipple sensation, scarring, nipple or breast asymmetry, prolonged swelling, thick scars.Dr. Capuano consistently achieves excellent results with breast lifts.  He is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a fellow with the American College of Surgeons, the immediate past President for the New Jersey Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Co-chair for the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Valley Hospital, he would be happy to discuss your options if you are thinking about a breast lift.

Question 10

How do I make an appointment for a consultation?

Accepted Answer

Contact the office of the Northern Center for Plastic Surgery at (201)820-5280 to schedule an appointment.

Question 11

If I have droopy breasts can’t I receive a larger implant so I don’t need a breast lift?

Accepted Answer

The short answer is mostly no unless you are planning on having a revision procedure sooner than later. Read on for further information or call to schedule an appointment with Dr. Capuano for a consultation. For women with ptosis (droopy breasts) or a little bit larger breasts, one of many things that determines whether that person will get an implant alone or whether they will also require a lift is the distance between the nipple and the fold.If that distance is more than 8.5cm they may need some kind of a lift. If it’s less than 8.5 cm or around 8.5 cm, then you want to start thinking about how tight the Cooper's ligaments are, does the patient have mostly glandular tissue or is the breast mostly fatty, and what does the skin envelope look like? If there is good quality skin, good elasticity, good Cooper's ligament integrity, and around 8.5cm, we will get a good result with an implant under the muscle in that patient who has a little bit of ptosis.  Likely a medium gummy implant will improve their upper pole fullness without being too firm.But if they have loose skin, with poorly attached cooper’s ligaments, and they are borderline with respect to measurements, they are either not going to get adequate lifting from an appropriately sized implant or they are going to get very early drooping of that breast and you never want to oversize to compensate for droop. When you oversize to compensate for droop, the breast looks very broad and over projected and people end up feeling very top heavy and uncomfortable. And you get recurrence of the ptosis or droop, much faster so they may only get 5 or 6 years out of the implant before they need a revision.You want to make sure the patient has as much longevity as possible so you’re using a smaller implant that fits their base width and not oversized implant if they have a little bit of ptosisAnd if that ptosis can’t be corrected with that smaller implant, then you want to make sure you perform a lift procedure along with their implant.So measurements determine which direction we are going to go with respect to surgical procedure. If they are borderline, we look at the other characteristics as well. A thorough in person consultation is important to reveal whether you are a good candidate for this procedure.

Question 12

Can I combine a breast lift with breast implants or breast reduction at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, many patients choose to combine procedures during a single surgery to achieve their desired shape and fullness while minimizing overall recovery time. A breast lift can be paired with implants to add volume, or with reduction to address overly large breasts while restoring a lifted contour. Our board-certified surgeons will discuss combination options during your consultation to create a customized surgical plan that addresses all your concerns. While combining procedures does extend surgery time slightly, it often results in better aesthetic harmony and a single recovery period rather than multiple surgeries.

Question 13

How long do breast lift results last, and will my breasts sag again over time?

Accepted Answer

A breast lift provides long-lasting results, with many patients enjoying their lifted contour for 10+ years. However, natural aging, gravity, weight fluctuations, and pregnancy can gradually affect your results over time. Our surgeons use advanced techniques to maximize longevity, and maintaining a stable weight and healthy lifestyle helps preserve your outcome longer. While touch-up procedures may be desired years later, the initial lift offers substantial, durable improvement that most patients find well worth the investment.

Question 14

Will a breast lift affect my ability to breastfeed or feel sensation in my breast and nipple?

Accepted Answer

Most breast lift techniques preserve milk ducts and nerve function, though individual results vary. Our board-certified surgeons use proven methods that maintain sensation and breastfeeding capability in the majority of patients, though temporary numbness or changes in sensation can occur as nerves heal. If breastfeeding is important to you, discuss this with your surgeon during your consultation so they can select the most appropriate technique. While we cannot guarantee sensation or breastfeeding ability in all cases, our 30+ years of combined experience helps us minimize these risks and optimize your outcome.

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

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