Breast Lift Overview

Why Choose Higdon Plastic Surgery for Your Breast Lift in Nashville?

Dr. Kent "Kye" Higdon is an award-winning, fellowship-trained body sculpting expert in Nashville & Franklin who provides a seamless treatment experience and outstanding results. As a former faculty member and departmental leader at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. Higdon has an unparalleled reputation for safety and excellence. He is a distinguished member of The Aesthetic Society and the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as the American Association of Plastic Surgeons and the editorial board of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, and diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. If you are in the Nashville area and think you might be a candidate for a breast lift, don’t hesitate to book a private consultation at Higdon Plastic Surgery today!

Breast Lift Before & After Photos

View Gallery
Beautiful woman is in a lacey bra in a studio shoot with her eyes closed. Her lifted breast are to emulate the potential results with Dr. Higdon

What Is a Breast Lift?

Due to the natural aging process, weight fluctuations, or pregnancy and nursing, the breasts often lose their perkiness, altering the appearance of the chest. A breast lift can combat breast ptosis (sagging) and elevate downward-facing nipples, restoring a more youthful, sculpted silhouette. While your Nashville breast lift can yield transformative results when performed alone, it can also be paired with breast augmentation or a mommy makeover for more comprehensive results.

What Is an Internal Bra?

The internal bra technique decreases breast sagging by implanting a mesh support network that functions as a kind of inner brassiere. The internal bra is usually made from a knit material known as P4HB monofilament fiber, which is highly durable and can be easily absorbed by the body. During surgery, the mesh is attached to the chest wall and is absorbed by the breast tissue over the course of around 12-18 months. 

The internal bra is then gradually broken down over time and absorbed in the way that dissolvable sutures are. In the meantime, the body’s production of collagen is gradually enhanced, creating a long-lasting internal support and maximizing suppleness and structural integrity in the chest region. 

Types of Breast Lifts

Dr. Higdon performs several types of breast lifts, tailoring his approach to your unique goals, needs, and preferences. He will choose from among the following techniques:

Crescent lift

With a crescent lift, Dr. Higdon will create an incision encircling the upper curve of the areola. This approach is typically chosen when the patient is experiencing minimal breast ptosis. 

Periareolar lift

Here, an incision is created encircling the whole areola. The periareolar approach is suggested for women coping with moderate breast sagging.

Vertical lift

A vertical lift entails creating an incision around the areola that travels down vertically to the breast crease. Patients with moderate to severe breast drooping can benefit strongly from this option.

Anchor lift

With an anchor lift, suited for those with significant breast ptosis, Dr. Higdon will create an incision shaped like an upside-down “T.” It will encircle the areola, stretch down to the breast crease, and then run horizontally along the inframammary fold.  Dr. Higdon takes care to minimize the length of all of your scars in this and every procedure to give you your best result with as short a scar as is possible.

Background media
Woman looks seductively at the camera with her hair up. She is wearing a low cut bikini to show off her clevage to emulate the potential results of a Nashville Breast Lift

What Are the Benefits of a Breast Lift?

When a breast lift is performed by a trusted, experienced aesthetic specialist such as Dr. Higdon in Nashville, results can be transformative. Benefits of the procedure include:

  • Elevates drooping breasts
  • Creates a more youthful-looking chest profile
  • Improves symmetry, balance, and proportion
  • Raises the position of downward-facing nipples
  • Combats irritation and chafing caused by low-hanging breasts
  • Boosts self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Improves the fit of clothing, swimwear, and lingerie
  • Lasting, natural-looking changes

Who Is an Ideal Candidate for a Breast Lift?

Dr. Higdon will conduct an in-depth consultation to make sure you can safely and successfully undergo breast lift surgery. In general, the surgery is suitable for those with the following characteristics:

  • Frustrated about drooping breasts 
  • Unhappy with the appearance of downward-facing nipples
  • Suffering from breast asymmetry
  • Finished having children
  • At a stable, healthy weight
  • In good health
  • Non-smoker
  • Realistic expectations
  • Willing to follow Dr. Higdon’s instructions
  • Willing to take the proper amount of time off for recovery
Banner media

How Do I Prepare for a Breast Lift?

The first step with a breast lift is to meet with Dr. Higdon for a private consultation in the Nashville area. He will conduct a physical exam and delve into your medical history to check for contraindications and go over the risks, downtime, costs, and expected results for the procedure. Once Dr. Higdon has fully understood your unique goals for improvement, he will curate a personalized surgical plan that restores your appearance and confidence. 

In preparation for your breast lift, you should follow Dr. Higdon’s instructions carefully and fill all prescriptions ahead of time. If you smoke, you will need to quit at least 8 weeks before and 4 weeks after your surgery. Certain medications and supplements may need to be discontinued if they increase your surgical risks. Lastly, you will need to schedule a helper, friend, or family member to drive you home after your procedure and assist with basic tasks for the first 1-2 days.

woman in her underwear shows off her lifted breast to show the potential results of a breast lift with Dr. Higdon

What Can I Expect From the Procedure?

On the day of your surgery, you will be welcomed into one of the state-of-the-art surgery facilities where we perform surgery, briefly review your surgical plan, and answer any lingering questions. We will then administer general anesthesia, making sure that you fall into a deep sleep and feel no pain during your breast lift. Dr. Higdon will then create your incisions according to your unique treatment plan and trim loose, excess skin. He will also reposition the nipples in a location that is more aesthetically pleasing and youthful-looking. Once all changes have been completed, the doctor will use advanced suturing techniques to seal your incisions and place you in the recovery suite to be monitored until it is safe to let you return home.

Breast Lift Recovery

After your Nashville breast lift, Dr. Higdon will wrap your chest in a compression garment and provide you with medication to offset any soreness or discomfort in the chest as you heal.  Dr. Higdon implements an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol that he developed with a multimodal analgesia plan to allow minimal to no narcotic use.  With Dr. Higdon’s advanced techniques, you will not require a drain with your breast lift unless additional procedures are also performed. 

While you are encouraged to engage in short, gentle walks right away after surgery, you should plan on avoiding strenuous workouts and heavy lifting for 4-6 weeks. Make sure you enlist the help of a friend or family member during the first phase of recovery, especially if you have children or pets. Additionally, you should steer clear of stomach and side sleeping at first, instead sleeping on your back with your upper body slightly elevated. This will help reduce swelling.

Recovery Tips After a Breast Lift

After a breast lift, Dr. Higdon suggests the following guidelines to help ensure a seamless, manageable recovery process:

1. Get plenty of rest – In today’s productive and accomplishment-oriented society, it can be difficult to allow yourself to just do nothing. However, to safeguard your investment and make sure you heal properly, you should prioritize sleep and recuperation. 

2. Be careful with incisions – After surgery, make sure to follow Dr. Higdon’s instructions regarding bathing, showering, and resuming exercise. You will need to keep your incisions clean and dry and make sure not to pick at any scabs if they form. The scab is there to protect your wound, so do not disturb it.

3. Wear your compression garment – Your compression garment should be worn continuously after surgery until Dr. Higdon recommends removing it. The garment can help alleviate swelling and hold your new contours in place as the body recovers.

4. Attend all follow-up sessions – Your postoperative visits with Dr. Higdon are an essential component of your treatment plan and should not be skipped. They allow the doctor to respond to any potential complications early, answer your questions or concerns, and check that your healing process is on track.

5. Maintain a healthy diet – After surgery, you should support your healing process by sticking to a healthy diet that includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, grains, and healthy fats. Don’t overindulge in alcohol, as it can increase your risk of bleeding.

6. Practice proper scar care – After your breast lift, make sure to use Silagen Scar Refinement System, vitamin E creams and other serums designed to minimize scarring. Dr. Higdon will provide information on scar reduction techniques as well.

How Much Does a Breast Lift Cost in Nashville?

The cost for a breast lift in Nashville hovers around $9,000, although pricing may increase if surgery is combined with other procedures, such as breast augmentation, a mommy makeover, or facial rejuvenation. Dr. Higdon will make sure you exit your private consultation with clear financial expectations and a personalized quote for services.

Background media

Your Individualized Consultation in Nashville

If you are unhappy with the appearance of sagging breasts and low-hanging nipples and think you might be a good candidate for a breast lift in Nashville, TN, please contact us at Higdon Plastic Surgery in Franklin today to book your private consultation. Dr. Higdon is a vetted, highly skilled body contouring expert who can restore your appearance and heighten your confidence by creating a one-of-a-kind treatment plan that achieves your goals.

Banner media

FAQ

What Risks Are Associated With a Breast Lift?

Dr. Higdon prioritizes your safety and well-being at every juncture. However, all cosmetic surgeries come with certain inherent risks. For a breast lift, risks include, but are not limited to:

  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Bleeding
  • Infection
  • Asymmetry
  • Negative anesthesia reactions
  • Wounds
  • Fluid buildup
  • Poor scarring
  • Changes in skin hue and sensation

Can I Combine a Breast Lift With Breast Augmentation?

Yes, certainly. Pairing a breast lift with augmentation allows for a more comprehensive reshaping result that improves both perkiness and volume. These procedures are very safe to combine in the properly-selected patient, and Dr. Higdon will discuss this at length with you in your consultation.

Will I Have Visible Scarring?

Dr. Higdon places incisions in the areas where he feels that scarring will later be the least noticeable. Typically, this is within the darker areola pigments or along the breast crease, where the scar can be hidden by the bra line.

Will I Be Able to Breastfeed After My Breast Lift?

If you plan to breastfeed at some point after surgery, it is important to let Dr. Higdon know during your consultation so he can select the best incision pattern to support your goals and take steps to minimize the risks of that particular complication.

Should I Wait to Get a Breast Lift Until After I've Had My Last Child?

Dr. Higdon usually recommends completing your family before undergoing a breast lift, only because pregnancy and nursing can impact your cosmetic results and cause you to potentially forfeit your investment.

How Long Will My Results Last?

Breast lift results typically last for around 10-15 years. However, factors such as your age, health, weight fluctuations, exposure to the sun, and lifestyle can all impact the longevity of your changes.

Does Insurance Cover Breast Lifts?

Since a breast lift is an aesthetic procedure and does not serve a medical purpose, insurance companies usually won’t cover it.

Contact us media
Accessibility: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to using this website, please contact our Accessibility Manager at 615-434-4410.
Contact Us