Making Your Breast Lift Results Last
An understandable question we often get from patients here at Atlanta Plastic Surgery is “how long will my breast lift last?” Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to this question. Factors beyond your control, such as age and genetics, have an influence on how your breasts develop over time. Likewise, these factors will continue to affect the breasts after a breast lift, breast augmentation, breast reduction, or any cosmetic plastic surgery procedure. Fortunately, other factors that you can control, such as your exercise, diet, and general health habits, can also contribute to the staying (or going) power of your breast lift:
Control your weight.
One of the most common culprits of sagging breasts is weight fluctuation. When the breasts’ volume increases, the skin tends to stretch. Then, when the breasts’ volume goes back down, younger people’s skin may be able to recover from this to some degree. However, the skin loses elasticity as we age, making it less able to snap back into place the older we get (generally). We recommend reaching your target weight before having a breast lift, then adopting healthy diet and exercise habits to maintain your physique.
Don’t smoke.
In addition to a whole host of negative health and cosmetic effects, habitual tobacco use is also known to make the skin lose elasticity. This is one of the reasons that smokers appear to age faster than nonsmokers. Whether you’re trying to preserve your breast-lift results or your breasts’ natural perkiness, smoking won’t be your ally in the fight against gravity.
Protect your skin from the sun.
Genetics and age play large roles in your skin’s level of elasticity. However, you can exert some control over your skin’s elasticity by protecting it from the sun. Avoid sun exposure as much as you can, and use at least SPF 30 sunscreen any time your skin is exposed to the sun. Shielding your skin from the sun will not only keep it from losing elasticity, but also help prevent wrinkles, discoloration, premature aging signs, and most importantly, skin cancer.
If you’re considering plastic surgery and would like to speak with an experienced surgeon about your options, please contact one of our Atlanta Plastic Surgery offices to schedule a consultation today. In addition to discussing your prospective procedure, we can go over our available financing options for plastic surgery with you. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest plastic surgery news and updates.
