Has time, the effect of gravity, pregnancy or breastfeeding taken a toll on the look of your breasts? Do you miss the breasts of your youth, which were perky and lifted high on the chest wall? If you said “yes” to these questions, you might benefit from undergoing cosmetic breast lift surgery (mastopexy) with female plastic surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat. With breast lift surgery, Dr. Mussat lifts breasts to a more youthful-looking and aesthetically pleasing position on the chest wall.
Why Breast Lift Is Needed
Due to the natural aging process, the body produces less and less elastin and collagen over time. Without a sufficient supply of these proteins, the skin loses its elasticity and starts to sag. This development can cause the breasts to look saggy. Major weight loss, hereditary traits, pregnancy and nursing can also compound this aesthetic concern, often giving way to drooping, deflated-looking breasts with overly enlarged areolas and nipples that have migrated down the front of the breast and now point toward the floor instead of straight ahead.
Suitable Breast Lift Candidates
Appropriate candidates for breast lift surgery generally include women who:
- Suffer from sagging breasts, excessively large areolas and / or downward-pointing nipples
- Have breast skin that has lost its elasticity
- Are perhaps bothered by deflated-looking breasts or sagging breasts that are actually smaller than they were prior to having children (In this case, Dr. Mussat might recommend including breast implants in the breast lift procedure.)
- Are in good general health, both physically and mentally
- Have realistic expectations for the outcome of surgery
- Desire aesthetic improvement, not necessarily perfection
- Recognize both the advantages and potential risks associated with the procedure
- Are choosing to have breast lift surgery of their own accord
- Are not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
Breast Lift Incision Options
Dr. Mussat offers the three principal incision patterns used for breast lift surgery: the periareolar incision, the “lollipop” incision and the “anchor” incision. During consultation, she
will listen to your aesthetic concerns and evaluate your breasts and overall anatomy, including your degree of breast ptosis (sagginess) and skin health, before recommending the treatment plan that will best address your unique needs; this includes which incision pattern to use during surgery.
- The periareolar incision. This incision pattern extends around the outer edge of the areola (the darker-colored skin surrounding the nipple). The resulting scar is generally well concealed within the darkly pigmented areola skin. However, this incision pattern is best for women who only require a small degree of lift throughout the breasts and do not have a lot of excess breast skin that needs to be excised.
- The “lollipop” incision. With this incision option, Dr. Mussat makes the periareolar incision pattern as well as a vertical incision that extends down the front surface of the breast. This option allows for a greater degree of lifting and skin excision than the periareolar incision does.
- The “anchor” incision. This incision pattern includes the periareolar incision, the vertical incision down the front of the breast and a horizontal incision that is placed underneath the natural breast crease. Dr. Mussat uses this incision pattern for women who require a great deal of breast lift and skin excision. With this approach, Dr. Mussat may even excise some breast tissue, for a perkier look.
With any of these incision techniques, Dr. Mussat can also reduce the size of overly enlarged areolas and can reposition southward-pointing nipples back in the center of the breasts, so they again point straight ahead.
What to Expect During Breast Lift Surgery
Dr. Mussat 
performs breast lift surgery on an outpatient basis, typically with the use of general anesthesia. The duration of breast lift surgery is usually