How do I prepare for a breast lift?
Your surgeon will provide thorough preoperative instructions, answer any questions you may have before your surgery, take a detailed medical history, and perform a physical exam to determine your fitness for surgery.
In advance of your procedure, your surgeon may ask you to:
- Lose weight or make a lifestyle change to ensure the best results and minimize the chance of complications.
- Stop smoking before undergoing surgery to promote better healing.
- Avoid taking aspirin, certain anti-inflammatory drugs, and some herbal medications that can cause increased bleeding.
- Hydrate before and after surgery for safe recovery.
- Keep alcohol consumption to less than two to three drinks per week.
- Decide what to wear for the first few days, including what you’ll wear the day of your procedure. Pick items that open in front. Wear slip-on shoes so you don't have to bend.
- Stock your refrigerator before your surgery with high-protein, low-sodium foods, including pre-made meals, fresh fruits and vegetables, and lots of caffeine-free beverages and water. Avoid food and drinks containing salt during your recovery.
- Store all the supplies you'll need during recovery where they're easily accessible (counter level, not in overhead or very low cabinets). Your arms will have a limited range of motion after your surgery.
- Stockpile movies, DVRs, books, magazines, and podcasts. If possible, keep your phone, chargers, TV remote, and anything else you may need by your bed.
- Establish a no-fail support system for the full recovery period indicated by your surgeon. If you have children less than five years of age, you must have someone to take care of them for at least a week.
A breast lift is usually an outpatient procedure. You’ll need to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and stay with you at least the first night following surgery.
What can I expect the day of my breast lift?
Be sure to consult with your surgeon before your surgery so you have the most accurate expectations.
- You may have your breast lift in an accredited hospital, free-standing ambulatory facility, or office-based surgical suite.
- Your surgeon will give you an estimate for how long your mastopexy surgery will last based on the details of your surgical plan.
- The surgeon will administer medications for your comfort during the procedure.
- General anesthesia is common for breast lift procedures. In some instances, the surgeon will use local anesthesia or intravenous sedation too.
- For your safety during the surgery, various monitors will be used to check your heart, blood pressure, pulse, and the amount of oxygen circulating in your blood.
- Your surgeon will follow the surgical plan discussed with you before surgery. Once surgery has begun, the surgeon may decide to combine various techniques or change a technique to ensure the best result. It is important that you feel comfortable and trust your surgeon to make these decisions.
- After your surgery, you will go to a recovery area for continued monitoring.
- Your surgeon will wrap a bulky gauze dressing (bandage) around your breasts and chest and he or she may have you wear a surgical bra. You also may have drainage tubes attached to your breasts.
- Before leaving for home, you (or someone looking after you) should feel capable of emptying and resetting the drains.
You likely can go home after a short observation period unless you and your aesthetic plastic surgeon agree on an overnight stay or have made other plans for your immediate postoperative recovery.