Before You Take The Plunge - Breast Lift Complications

from plastic surgery

When a qualified plastic surgeon performs your operation, both your procedure and recovery are likely to be uneventful. Even in ideal circumstances, however, complications may occur. In addition to the specific complications mentioned here, refer to Understand the Risks of Plastic Surgery for an explanation of general complications that mav occur with any procedure.

Skin Death

Skin death is a potential complication of a breast lift. It is a great risk for smokers, which is why most plastic surgeons mandate that smokers cease smoking and all nicotine aids several weeks before and after surgery. Yet even in nonsmokers, skin death may occur as a result of a hematoma, from excessive tension on the skin, or for no apparent reason. If skin death occurs, you will develop an open wound, usually in a small area below the nipple. The wound will heal within weeks, depending on its size. Final appearance cannot be predicted; some open wounds actually heal more discreetly than do scars.

Nipple Problems

Loss of nipple sensation, change of nipple color, and partial nipple death may occur. This is uncommon, but it is more likely among those with severely droopy breasts. If numbness occurs, nipple sensation usually returns within six months. Color changes and irregularities may never improve.

Telltale Signs

The main telltale signs of breast lift are scars, which have been fully discussed throughout this article. The other telltale sign is an unnaturally high nipple.

High Nipple

If your nipple is too high after surgery, it will look unnatural. It might even worsen over time because your breast mound will descend in response to gravity, but your nipple will not. Attempts to correct this problem can result in new scars above the nipple.

Satisfaction

A breast lift exchanges the aesthetic problem of droop for the aesthetic-problem of scars. Those who have a clear understanding of this drawback and choose to proceed with surgery are usually satisfied with their results. Disappointment is generally due to complications, misconceptions about scars, or recurrence of droop.

Concluding Thoughts

A breast lift offers the opportunity to turn back time to an extent, providing youthful breast position without affecting size. If you desire larger breasts, a breast lift can be performed together with augmentation. The main drawback of a breast lift is scarring. Because scars represent a different cosmetic problem than droop does, each woman must decide if this trade-off is worthwhile.