Breast Lift Side Effects and Risks

Like any other surgical procedure, undergoing breast lift surgery carries its own set of side effects & risks. The best way for a breast lift patient to avoid the side effects & risks associated with breast lift mastopexy surgery is to have a board certified, highly qualified plastic surgeon that is experienced in performing this surgical procedure. The consultation stage is an essential portion of any plastic surgery process as the quality of your breast lift results will vary depending on the quality of your plastic surgeon.

Many of the breast lift side effects & risks are common to any surgical technique. For example, patients may have an allergic reaction to the anesthetic used in breast lift surgery, whereas other patients may be allergic to the medications prescribed following the treatment. For your convenience, here is a list of the side effects & risks associated with breast lift surgery:

• Allergic reaction to the anesthetic: Some individuals have an allergic reaction to the anesthetic used during breast lift treatment. Considering that breast lift surgery tends to use general anesthetic, the most powerful and consequently most risky form of anesthesia, it is recommended that you have a qualified medical practitioner that has years of experience with applying anesthesia perform that part o the surgery for you.
• Allergic reaction to medication: As part of the recovery process, your plastic surgeon will prescribe some medication to assist the healing process following breast lift surgery. However, it is possible that patients will have an allergic reaction to this medication. Medications that are most commonly associated with causing an allergic reaction include anticonvulsants, barbiturates, penicillin and other antibiotics, Novocain, Xylocaine, sulfa drugs, and some pain medications. Usually, your plastic surgeon will examine your medical history to see if there you may be potentially allergic to these medications. However, if you find that you have encountered one of the following symptoms (sudden rashes, breathing difficulty, increased or decreased heart rate, hives, wheezing, anxiety, fainting, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc.) it is recommended that you consult your doctor as soon as possible.
• Scarring: The most common problem associated with breast lift surgery is scarring. Unfortunately any surgery that utilizes incisions will leave scars. Although all plastic surgeons are conscious of the appearance of scars and work towards leaving the smallest scar possible, the presence of permanent scars is unavoidable. To counter this, a plastic surgeon will perform precise work and leave permanent scars that can be covered by a bra or bathing suit. However, sometimes scarring irregularities occur. Most common among smokers and individuals with a history of abnormal collagen formation or scarring, scarring irregularities such as hypertrophic scar tissue, keloids or inner scar tissue may occur.
• Loss of sensitivity or numbness: During the breast lift surgery, nerve endings will be severed and it may take several months for these nerve endings to regenerate. Consequently, the patient must accept that a loss of sensitivity or numbness will occur for several months following the treatment. However, the nature of breast lift treatments also means that there is a possibility of permanent sensations loss in the areola area.
• Recurrence of ptosis: Although the point of breast lift surgery is to reverse the effects of ptosis (sagging), unfortunately the long term effects of breast lift treatment is temporary. Aging and gravity will create changes on a person's body that cannot be permanently reversed, such as ptosis.
• Asymmetry: Despite your plastic surgeon's attempts to avoid this problem, asymmetry is a natural occurrence of breast lift surgery. For the most part, differences in the shape and size of a patient's breast will occur following surgery. Although your plastic surgeon will attempt to reshape a patient's breasts so that there is equal volume and height between the breasts, the fact is that the human body makes it almost impossible to avoid asymmetry. However, asymmetry is a common condition in women that do not undergo any plastic surgery. Despite the difficulty in avoiding asymmetry, a patient should expect that the asymmetry should be minimal.