Statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show that breast lift procedures are growing at twice the rate of breast implant surgeries. Since 2000, breast lifts have grown by 75 percent. Breast implants are still by far the most-performed cosmetic surgery in women, but lifts are steadily gaining. In 2014, more than 90,000 breast lift procedures were performed by ASPS member surgeons.
Dr. Robert Wilke, a board certified plastic surgeon at Edina Plastic Surgery says, “Many women develop droop in their breasts over time, often due to the effects of pregnancies and breastfeeding. Some really like the idea of achieving a more optimal breast shape by using the tissue they already have, while some choose to restore breast volume with an implant in addition to a lift. Breast lifts can help them look and feel younger, which is why this procedure has such a high satisfaction rate.”
According to the statistics, women between the ages of 30-54 made up nearly 70 percent of the breast lift procedures performed. More women who have had children and whose breast volume has decreased are consulting plastic surgeons.
Over the years, pregnancy, nursing and the force of gravity take their toll on a woman’s breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. Patients want a solution for the excess skin and want to see their breasts “back up where they are supposed to be”.
Women often ask if they are good candidates for a breast lift. The ideal candidates for a breast lift are healthy women who are realistic about what the surgery can accomplish. The best results are usually achieved in women with small, sagging breasts. Breasts of any size can be lifted, but the results may not last as long in heavy breasts.
A simple home test can help determine whether a breast lift may be appropriate. To perform the pencil test, a woman simply places a pencil under her breast. If the breast tissue holds the pencil in place against the chest, this can imply that there’s a hanging nature to the breast that can be fixed with a lift.
Patients who had had breast lifts often say that they feel more confident after having the procedure. Many say that they are delighted to be able to wear clothing that would either have not fit correctly, or not looked appropriate before their surgery.
Breast augmentation remains the most popular plastic surgery procedure for women. In 2014, there were 286,254 breast augmentation surgeries performed by ASPS member surgeons. That represents a growth of 35% since 2000, less than half the rate of the statistical growth of breast lifts (75%).
