Should I Get a Breast Lift or THERMItight®?

Breast sagging is one of the most common signs of aging a woman may notice on herself in the mirror or when she puts on a favorite top that used to fit perfectly. Like the skin on many other areas of the face and body, the breasts are affected by age-related loss of collagen and other elements vital for a youthful look. The sagging may also be linked a variety of other causes, including the impact of gravity, lack of proper support, damage from sun exposure, smoking, and pregnancy, as well as weight fluctuations that cause the skin on the breasts to stretch out. Thankfully, there are methods to restore the breasts’ more elevated position—or even to create firm, perky breasts for the first time. Many women in the Michigan area go for cosmetic surgery to correct this condition, although there are also some non-surgical options that can help.

The Bengtson Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery team explains the details of some of the main methods for you to consider. Here’s how they stack up against each other:

Breast Lift

A traditional, full mastopexy (the medical term for a breast lift) may be the only way to counteract more advanced breast sagging. Unlike breast augmentation, which is intended to modify the size and shape of the breasts, breast lifts focus on the position of the natural breast tissue. A surgical breast lift offers much more significant improvements, because the surgeon physically removes excess loose skin while tightening and reshaping the remaining skin and tissue. The goal is to produce more proportional, youthful, and aesthetically pleasing contours that look as natural as possible. If necessary, the nipple and areola may be elevated to a better location, and the size of enlarged areolae can be decreased.

Pros

·      Provides the most dramatic results of any breast lifting procedure

·      Allows you to feel more confident in tops, bikinis, and bras

·      Results can last for years

·      Can be combined with a breast augmentation to improve volume

·      Creates more even, symmetrical breasts

·      Techniques can be customized for a patient’s unique anatomy and goals

·      Changes to the breasts are visible right away

Things to Consider

·      More costly than non-surgical alternatives

·      Recovery time is needed

·      Carries risks common to all surgeries

THERMItight^®

Unfortunately, there’s no way to quickly get the breasts you want without much effort. Upper body exercises are something you can do at home to tone the chest area, but the lift this strategy ultimately provides may be very minor. Since the breasts are mostly made up of fat, muscle strengthening exercises won’t usually do much to firm them up. Exercise also won’t help people who have a high degree of skin laxity. The best choice for tightening your breasts depends on what is causing the sagging.

The tissues that maintain the structure of the breasts are different from the tissues in the face, but the basic premise behind non-surgical skin tightening methods are the same: Introducing energy into sagging areas can shrink connective tissues and prompt new collagen production, resulting in a more youthful look. Since there are no incisions or sutures, patients won’t have to have general anesthesia. For patients whose drooping breasts are mainly related to skin quality, THERMItight^® might be a good option. While lasers use light energy, THERMItight^® heats up the deep layers of breast tissue by sending out controlled radiofrequency (RF) energy through a tiny, needle-like instrument. This kick-starts gradual collagen generation while also causing the skin contract and firm up.

Pros

·      No anesthesia, sutures, or incisions are involved

·      Only one treatment session is usually required to see an improvement

·      Can be used on multiple body areas

·      No significant downtime or side effects

·      Can also decrease resistant fat on other body areas

·      Tightens breast ligaments and tissues in addition to skin

·      Better results than similar non-surgical skin tightening options

Things to Consider

·      Meant for mild to moderate breast sagging

·      Works better on small to medium breasts

·      Not designed for patients with breast implants

·      Results are temporary, so most patients will need more treatments over time

·      Superficial treatment cannot reach deeper breast ligaments

To learn more about surgical and non-surgical breast lift options in Michigan, schedule a consultation with Dr. Brad Bengtson or Dr. David Alfonso at The Bengtson Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery. Call 616.588.8880 or write to tell them more about your goals.